The British are coming. According to The Hollywood Reporter, PBS has acquired the period drama Victoria from UK network ITV.
The series stars Doctor Who’s Jenna Coleman in the title role as Queen Victoria.
From novelist Daisy Goodwin, the eight-part drama follows the ascendancy of Victoria as she becomes Queen of the United Kingdom in 1837 at the age of 18. Tom Hughes is set to play her husband Prince Albert alongside Rufus Sewell as Lord Melbourne, the first prime minister to serve under Victoria.
The period drama is slated to premiere in 2017 in the same time slot as Downton Abbey, which ends this March on PBS. The network is hoping Victoria will be a sufficient follow-up to Downton Abbey.
From Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton:
Downton Abbey has proved that millions of viewers will turn up year after year for a beautifully-crafted period drama, Victoria has it all: a riveting script, brilliant cast, and spectacular locations. And it’s a true story! This is exactly the king of programming Masterpiece fans will love.”
What do you think? Would you watch Victoria?
I absolutely love British history, & anything that has to do with Queen Victoria who was quite the handful in her times! She was far from a silent monarch, but a willful, strong-minded woman with firm ideas of her own. I can’t wait to see how they portray this great woman!