Jane Austen Endures

(classical music) - [Andrew] The thing about Jane Austen is that she could tell a wonderful story that just goes straight to your heart.

- [Tom] There, there is the sea itself!

- [Charlotte] Yes, I see it!

- This is civilization indeed!

- And combined with that, she had a really deep insight into character and an extraordinary witty way of putting it across and that kind of combination is just absolutely winning.

(soft music) - Jane Austen's work is very timeless because of the themes that she was tackling but also she was a feminist of her time, she was an intellect, someone who was attempting to push and progress the understanding of women and their role in society.

- I think Jane Austen really, truly, deeply understood the human condition.

- Ladies.

- Miss Lambe's journey is really relevant to today, because it's giving us a character of color who's story you really, really follow.

- We've made strides, but we still live in a very patriarchal, male-dominated world, so I think those things are still extremely current and resonate in a really important way.

On top of that, I think she represents this slice of Britain; there's a romance to it.

- There's such a place in Britain's heart for a Jane Austen story.

It's a fun Regency drama, but equally it has the Jane Austen tropes that we know and love, so the romantic arc; there's a love story.

- Action!

- [Rose] It's Jane Austen as we know it, but also dynamic and different.

- Cut!

- That sounds stimulating.

- Yes, well, I suppose it is.

- It's based upon 11 chapters written by Jane Austen right before her death, and all of the characters in the show are true to the characters in those 11 chapters.

- So, this is the young lady.

- Lady Denham, may I present Charlotte Heywood?

- How'd you do?

- Very prettily done, my dear.

- Where does the line cross between Jane Austen and Andrew Davies?

The great thing about Andrew Davies is, if anyone was going to adapt and develop and finish an untold Jane Austen story he is the man to do it.

- Miss Parker, Miss Heywood, well met.

I was growing sick of my own company.

- She'd given her such a strong start, and introduced the characters, so now it's up to me to fill in the rest.

- Would you like to see it taking shape?

- Very much.

- Excellent.

(laughs) - There's never been a television adaptation of Sanditon.

- It's very, very exciting to be involved in a Jane Austen that's never been shown on screen before.

It brings with it all the history of how great Jane Austen adaptations have been, and that comes with a responsibility; we want to do justice to it.

- May I have the pleasure?

- Not only has it not been done before, but literally, Andrew has been given a complete empty pallet to find these characters and paint this world for us.

- You have this great thing, that it's set by the sea and developing that, the story can actually go anywhere.

I think it's a television producer's dream!

- Here we are.

A perfect day as I promised you.

- The direction she was going in was a satire on the kind of people who go to the seaside.

Hypochondriacs, and enthusiasts.

- We've all been very ill.

Almost at death's door, haven't we, Arthur?

- I thought I'd never leave my bed.

- We carry this vein of humor all the way through.

What I love about Andrew's stuff is that there's a sort of humor and a slight naughtiness to it, which I think epitomizes it and sort of captures the essence of Jane Austen, which is full of intrigue and romance.

- The joy of the English countryside and seaside.

- Naked sea bathing.

(laughter) And all sorts of stuff (laughs) - Jane Austen, a period drama, we all love that, who doesn't.

- This is a story not just about will heroine find love?

In fact, that's almost a secondary thing.

Will these enterprising brothers succeed in making their own fortunes and making Sanditon a popular seaside resort?

(classical music) - Is it possible for your affections towards a male to alter entirely within a single day?

- When it comes to love, there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion.

- Love?

Love?

What does love have to do with anything?

- There is a certain gentleman... - How simply shocking.

- It was.

- Splendid, excellent.

Something for everyone to enjoy.

- Think of it as a promise.

- Promise of what?

- Of things to come, my dear.

- Well, I for one feel utterly invigorated.

(classical string music)