BBC fans are ‘speechless’ after beautiful new historical drama blows them away-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

BBC viewers are desperately trying to ration ‘sensational’ new period drama Miss Austen.

TV fans are fighting the urge to binge all four episodes of the show centred on Cassandra Austen (Keeley Hawes), which dropped on iPlayer yesterday.

Miss Austen takes one of literature’s greatest mysteries – why Cassandra burned her sister Jane’s letters – and reimagines it as a ‘heart-breaking story of sisterly love.’

Miss Austen also aims to ‘create in Cassandra a character as captivating as any Austen heroine’, according to the BBC

On X, viewers said they were left ‘speechless’ after watching the series, singling out Line of Duty star Keeley’s performance for praise.

@KeeleyHawesNews raved: ‘Speechless! Keeley Hawes’ performance as Cassandra Austen is nothing less than masterful. #MissAusten.’

BBC viewers have been raving about Miss Austen (Picture: BBC/Bonnie Productions/Masterpiece/Robert Viglasky)

TV fans said they were left speechless by the period drama (Picture: BBC/Bonnie Productions/Masterpiece/Robert Viglasky)

@JaneEllen_ enthused: ‘I’ve already watched all 4 episodes of Miss Austen. It is a wonderful adaptation of Gill Hornby’s book and a beautiful tribute to Jane and Cassandra Austen. I did cry at the end. #MissAusten.’

Echoing their sentiment, @AmandaHLondon said: ‘I am very much enjoying this – great cast, and a different take on one of my favourite authors Trying not to watch it all in one night! #MissAusten.’

@LewisGMedia added: ‘I’m never usually into Period Dramas that much but Keeley Hawes is one of my favourite actresses and she’s absolutely sensational in tonight’s Miss Austen! #MissAusten.’

Speaking about Miss Austen, Keeley, 48, previously told The Guardian that the TV show was a ‘classic’ period drama.

They particularly singled out Keeley’s performance for praise (Picture: BBC/Bonnie Productions/Masterpiece/Robert Viglasky)

“It feels like a classic costume drama, in the vein of Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice,’ she explained.

‘Modern takes like Bridgerton are brilliant but this feels like part of the Austen canon, so her fans will be pleased. I read it and thought: “Why hasn’t this story been told before?”‘

Miss Austen is not the only historical drama to have caught viewers’ attention.

Last month, Netflix fans were thrilled when the streamer added all six seasons of Vikings – a meaty political odyssey set in the Dark Ages.

Netflix viewers were also thrilled the streamer added Vikings (Picture: History Channel/ Bernard Walsh)

The Emmy-winning show, created by Michael Hirst for the History Channel, ran from 2013 to 2019 amassing a large fandom, glowing critics reviews and winning accolades along the way.

Comprised of 89 episodes, the inter-generational Nordic plot follows Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his crew as they navigate choppy waters and bloody political intrigue in his thirst for power after coming from humble beginnings.

Online, fans praised the ‘excellent’ show as ‘one of the greatest TV series ever made’, ‘a god damn masterpiece’, ‘very well written’ and an ‘absolute must-see’.

Miss Austen is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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