Viewers have declared ITV's Sanditon a 'masterpiece' that surpasses even Pride and Prejudice, with audiences raving about the 'profoundly juicy' adaptation of Jane Austen's unfinished novel. The series, streaming for free on ITVX, has left fans 'intensely swept away' and 'completely hooked'.
Andrew Davies Brings Austen's Unfinished Work to Life
Sanditon was written and created by Andrew Davies, who previously adapted Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice for television in 1995. Davies also helmed acclaimed adaptations of Middlemarch and Bleak House. The series is based on Austen's last known work, an unfinished manuscript of 24,000 words penned before her death in 1817. The first episode largely follows Austen's original text, after which Davies used her developed characters to complete the story.
Plot and Setting
The Regency-era drama follows Charlotte Heywood, a spirited young woman who moves from her rural home to Sanditon, a fishing village attempting to transform into a seaside resort. The series premiered in the UK in August 2019 in eight parts but was cancelled by ITV that December. After fan campaigns and support from PBS as part of its 'Masterpiece' anthology with BritBox, Sanditon was revived for a second and third series.
Cast and Filming Locations
Starring Rose Williams, Theo James, Kate Ashfield, Crystal Clarke, Turlough Convery, Jack Fox, Kris Marshall, Anne Reid, Lily Sacofsky, and Charlotte Spencer, Sanditon has become a fan-favourite. Filming took place in Somerset, including Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, and Brean, with Dyrham Park near Bath serving as Sanditon House.
Critical and Audience Acclaim
Critics have praised the series as an 'intoxicating pleasure bomb' and 'sexy escapism for winter, tart and political, gorgeous and honest. Austen would have loved it.' One reviewer noted, 'A profoundly juicy watch that will both enrapture and enrage its audience - and I loved every second of it.' Fans have echoed this sentiment, with one writing, 'Never in my life have I been so intensely swept away by a series. Sanditon is literally the best thing I've ever watched.' Another stated, 'This could be my favourite Austen adaptation and I thought that nothing could top the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.'
Streaming Availability
Sanditon is available to stream for free on ITVX.
