Downton Abbey enthusiasts in search of another grand, meticulously detailed period drama can now revisit a true television classic. The highly praised 1981 adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited is available to stream for free on ITVX, over four decades after it first enthralled viewers.
Featuring Jeremy Irons as Charles Ryder and Anthony Andrews as Lord Sebastian Flyte, the 11-part Granada Television series is regarded as one of the finest small-screen adaptations ever created.
Faithfully based on Waugh's 1945 novel, it follows Ryder's life and romances from the 1920s through the Second World War, whilst delving into his profound friendship with Sebastian and the broader aristocratic Flyte family, who live at the lavish Brideshead Castle - actually Castle Howard, North Yorkshire.
The production itself boasts an extraordinary legacy. Time Magazine ranked it among the 100 best TV shows of all time, while The Guardian placed it second on its list of the top 50 dramas in 2010.
The British Film Institute also included it in its list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, compiled by industry experts in 2000, reports the Express.
A significant part of its success lies in its dedication to Waugh's original prose. Producer Derek Granger and director Charles Sturridge insisted that 95% of the dialogue was lifted directly from the book, giving the series a literary gravitas that few adaptations have equalled.
The programme also garnered critical acclaim during awards season. It claimed two Golden Globes, including Best Miniseries, and bagged an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
Audiences revisiting it today remain equally captivated. On IMDb, one fan hailed it "the best miniseries ever made," praising its "beautiful" direction, "remarkable" cast and "amazing impact."
Another wrote: "Everyone is of course entitled to an opinion about matters such as this, but how anyone can rate this series as anything less than a great milestone in television is, to my mind at least, quite difficult to understand."
A third branded it "the finest series I've ever seen on television," highlighting its flawless blend of music, locations and acting talent.
For those who missed it originally, or fancy reliving it in its entirety, the series is currently available to stream on ITVX.
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