An overview of the genre, from its beginnings with swashbuckling series The Adventures of Robin Hood to classic period dramas such as The Forsyte Saga, Upstairs Downstairs and Brideshead Revisited. This episode traces the changes the genre has undergone in its 50 year history and speaks to stars of the shows featured including Susan Hampshire, Timothy West, Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Anthony Andrews, Alex Kingston and Art Malik. We also speak to those involved behind the cameras including directors, screenwriters and commissioners - as well as TV critics and journalists.
—Anonymous