hen it comes to swoon-worthy period dramas, the BBC knows just how to captivate an audience. From Colin Firth’s Pride & Prejudice to Aidan Turner’s Poldark and the recent Jane Austen spin-off, The Other Bennet Sister, there are always plenty of shows to choose from.

However, if you’ve already made your way through those suggestions and are looking for an easy period drama to get through in just one night, Sense and Sensibility (2008) could just be the perfect pick for you.

Based on the 1811 novel by Jane Austen, this three-part series follows the coming-of-age lives and loves of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who are played by Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield.

Not only does Sense and Sensibility feature a stack of British acting talent like Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia), Janet McTeer (The White Queen), David Morrissey (Sherwood) and Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife), but it’s also written by Welsh screenwriter Andrew Davies, who has penned adaptations of Middlemarch, Pride and Prejudice, War & Peace and Les Misérables.

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If you love Austen’s story of the Dashwood sisters but crave a slightly more seductive interpretation of Ang Lee’s 1995 film, starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet, this 2008 series is definitely worth tuning into.

What is Sense and Sensibility about?

The story centres around the Dashwood family, whose family and fortune is turned upside down when Mr Dashwood passes away. Starting a new life in Devon, the young women must find their way through a society that is governed by class and financial restraints.

The synopsis reads: “Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve when she falls in love with the charming but unsuitable John Willoughby, ignoring her sister Elinor’s warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo.

“Elinor, sensitive to social convention, struggles to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Will the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love?”

Hattie Morahan, Janet McTeer and Charity Wakefield© BBC
The series is made up of three one-hour episodes

Who stars in Sense and Sensibility?

The series is led by Charity Wakefield and Hattie Morahan as sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, while Janet McTeer plays their mother, Mrs Dashwood.

Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield play Elinor and Marianne © Getty Images
Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield play Elinor and Marianne

They’re joined by Dominic Cooper as John Willoughby, Lucy Boynton as Margaret Dashwood, David Morrissey as Colonel Brandon and Linda Bassett as Mrs Jennings.

Other names include Mark Williams as Sir John Middleton, Claire Skinner as Fanny Dashwood, Mark Gatiss as John Dashwood, Anna Madeley as Lucy Steele and Daisy Haggard as Anne Steele.

What have viewers said about Sense and Sensibility?

The series was received positively at the time of its release, earning an eight out of ten rating on IMDb and being hailed as a forgotten gem.

“By far the most accurate and best adaptation. The casting is brilliant,” said one viewer, while another penned: “I’ve never read Jane Austen’s novel of the same name, but this was an excellent romantic drama. Having read Pride and Prejudice and thoroughly enjoyed the BBC version of that title, this version of Sense and Sensibility certainly captures the wit, humor and spirit of Austen.”

Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)© Getty Images
Jane Austen (1775 – 1817)

Meanwhile, a third added: “I would absolutely recommend this version to any true Jane Austen fan, it does not disappoint. In fact, it leaves you with that same warm, fuzzy feeling that each novel and most of the film adaptations always do!”