All Creatures Great and Small fans will love 'masterpiece' period drama

According to television fans, this Victorian drama set in the 1850s has captivated audiences with its authentic performances, political storylines and, naturally, swoon-worthy romance.

North & South is a British BBC production adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell's Victorian novel, positioned against the setting of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

The series has earned praise for its accurate portrayal of social and class divisions throughout the nation, whilst its stunning period details create compelling viewing.

One fan shared on review platform IMDB: "I'm a history teacher, so I'm very critical of adaptations, especially those that sentimentalise the past in any way. This is a superb rendering of the spirit of the industrial age and the many facets of class struggle within it. It's also a richly romantic love story. The acting by all the cast is uniformly excellent, but Richard Armitage as Thornton is a standout."

The brief series chronicles young Margaret Hale, portrayed by Daniela Denby-Ashe, who must relocate from the comforts of southern England to the North following her father's devastating death, reports the Express.

She confronts the cultural contrasts of industrial life head-on whilst battling to adapt to her new circumstances.

These sharp distinctions become increasingly evident when she encounters the Thorntons, a cotton mill-owning family who have developed an aversion to her southern mannerisms.

Over time, her compassion for them deepens, alongside her fondness and romantic feelings for John Thornton, brought to life by Richard Armitage. Another fan wrote: "North and South took me completely by surprise... But Elizabeth Gaskell's work on which the film is based is far more than a mere period romance. This is social commentary and a love story, the struggle of workers and masters/managers, as well as the misunderstanding of the intellectuals that forms a triangle in the film that is still alive today.

"The lead characters all take on a social conscience that grows with their love for each other to an understanding of the different worlds that lived together in this time of radical change."

Fellow viewers have lauded the programme's stellar performances.

They wrote: "The acting is superb - the lead characters John and Hannah Thornton, Margaret Hale, and union man Nicholas Higgins are so natural that you forget that you are watching a movie and get simply enthralled in their story. The supporting characters are also strong, making this an unexpected gem of a movie."

During its initial broadcast, the BBC held minimal expectations for the programme, resulting in limited publicity and marketing efforts, yet it swiftly gained momentum.

Numerous observers attributed this success to the relatively unknown performer Armitage, who sparked comparisons to Colin Firth's iconic portrayal in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.