'Masterpiece' BBC series that's a book adaptation fans say is 'best historic fiction'

A critically acclaimed BBC period drama adapted from a book has been hailed as the "best fiction on TV". Aired in 2004, North & South is a highly praised series, adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell's 1855 novel. In fact fans love it so much they have given it an 8.5/10 rating on IMDb.

The story centers on Margaret Hale, a young woman from southern England who relocates to the industrial town of Milton in the north. There, she meets John Thornton, a stern mill owner, and becomes involved in the tensions between factory workers and owners, while a slow-burning romance develops between them. The series is celebrated for its emotional depth, historical richness, and portrayal of Victorian society during the era of the Great Exhibition.

Directed by Brian Percival, with a screenplay written by Sandy Welch, the series consists of four episodes, each running for approximately 58 minutes. Each episode offers a compact yet richly detailed adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's classic novel.

The series was nominated for BAFTA awards. The cast features Daniela Denby-Ashe in the lead role as Margaret Hale, a strong-willed young woman navigating life in an industrial northern town.

Richard Armitage stars as John Thornton, a proud and intense mill owner whose complex relationship with Margaret drives much of the drama. Supporting roles are played by acclaimed actors including Sinéad Cusack, Tim Pigott-Smith, Jo Joyner and Brendan Coyle, all of whom add depth and nuance to the story's portrayal of class conflict, family dynamics and social change in Victorian England.

With a talented cast and evocative music by Martin Phipps, it's a must-watch for fans of period dramas like Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey, blending romance with thoughtful social commentary.

Sharing the review on IMDb, one of the viewers wrote: "I'm a history teacher so I'm very critical of adaptations, especially those that sentimentalize the past in any way. This is a superb rendering of the spirit of the industrial age and the many facets of class struggle within it. It's also a richly romantic love story. The acting by all the cast is uniformly excellent but Richard Armitage as Thornton is a stand-out.

"The BBC is well-known for their meticulous attention to detail with locations and costumes. The working 19C mills used in the film are like watching a Jacob Riis photograph springing to life. The cinematography is gorgeous and the music is outstanding. This is the best historic fiction on screen I've ever seen."

Calling it an "unexpected treat", another user wrote: "North and South took me completely by surprise when it was aired on BBC America. I was flipping through channels and thought I was going to be tuning into the American version based on the John Jakes novels. But Elizabeth Gaskell's work on which the film is based is far more than a mere period romance."

They added: "A true diamond being lost in the rough. Do yourselves a favour and sit back and enjoy the excellent acting and story, then sit back and watch it again and take note of all the layers of social history being shown."