A BBC period drama based on the memoirs of Giacomo Casanova, starring David Tennant and Peter O'Toole, is now available to stream on Amazon Prime and has been hailed as a must-watch for costume drama fans.
Written by Russell T. Davies, the showrunner behind Doctor Who and creator of Queer as Folk, the 2005 three-part series adapts Casanova's 12-volume autobiography, Histoire de ma vie. It chronicles the adventures and romantic conquests of the young Venetian adventurer, with O'Toole playing the older Casanova and Tennant portraying his younger self.
The series also features Rose Byrne, Laura Fraser, Rupert Penry-Jones, Nina Sosanya, Shaun Parkes, Freddie Jones, Lucinda Raikes, and Tom Burke, with cameos from comedians Matt Lucas, Mark Heap, Simon Day, and Matthew Holness.
Released the same year as the Heath Ledger film Casanova, the BBC series has outshone its Hollywood counterpart, scoring 7.8/10 on IMDb compared to the film's 6.5/10. One reviewer called it a 'dazzling spectacle' and 'another triumph for Davies', praising the witty writing, charming performances, and lavish costumes and sets.
The role proved a springboard for Tennant, who later became the 10th Doctor in Doctor Who, making his first appearance on Christmas Day 2005. His performance in the sci-fi series cemented his status as a national treasure.
