A little-known BBC period drama from 1996 is gaining renewed attention from viewers, who are calling it the most realistic adaptation of a Brontë novel. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, based on Anne Brontë's 1848 novel, has been praised as superior to the more famous adaptations of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.
The three-episode miniseries, directed by Mike Barker, stars Tara Fitzgerald as Helen Graham, Rupert Graves as Arthur Huntington, and Toby Stephens as Gilbert Markham. The supporting cast includes Sarah Badel, Jackson Leach, Sean Gallagher, Jonathan Cake, Joe Absolom, and Kenneth Cranham.
The show was nominated for four BAFTAs, winning the award for Best Make-Up and Hair Design. It was also nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Design, and Best Photography and Lighting (Fiction/Entertainment).
Viewers have taken to IMDb to praise the series, with one calling it 'a wonderful romance' and another stating: 'Tenant is far more believable than Wuthering Heights or even Jane Eyre; here is an adaptation that does the novel justice.' A third reviewer said: 'The actors are superb, the best Brits have to offer. The love story is beautifully handled.'
The official plot summary reads: 'A mysterious woman with a hidden past arrives at crumbling Wildfell Hall. Through her story a tale of betrayal, abuse, and defiance unfolds in haunting detail.'
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
