Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Miss Austen is set to be the perfect cosy viewing for the start of February. The four-part drama has been adapted from Gill Hornby’s best-selling novel of the same name and will star Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard, Line of Duty, It’s A Sin) in the role of Cassandra Austen, Jane Austen’s older sister and devoted best friend. “I was sent the first episode of Miss Austen knowing nothing at all about this story, and instantly I found it absolutely fascinating and charming,” says Keeley. “I think people will love it, because for anyone who is not aware of this backstory it’s almost like we are getting a new Jane Austen story in itself, and what a lovely surprise that is.”
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When will Miss Austen be released?
All four episodes will be released in the UK on BBC iPlayer on Sunday 2nd February at 6am. The episodes will also be released weekly on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
Is there a trailer for Miss Austen?
What is the plot of Miss Austen?
The story, adapted for the BBC by BAFTA-winning writer Andrea Gibb, explores the mystery of Cassandra’s decision to burn her sister Jane’s letters. The recently released trailer shows the transformation of this historical story into a compelling, witty, and poignant story of sisterly devotion, placing Cassandra at the heart of the narrative as a character as rich and captivating as any Jane Austen heroine.
Set in 1830 and 1840, 13 and 23 years after Jane’s passing, the story begins when Cassandra visits Isabella (Rose Leslie of Game of Thrones fame), the niece of her long-dead fiancé, who is on the verge of losing her home following her father’s death. While she appears to be there to support Isabella, Cassandra’s true mission is to recover a hidden bundle of private letters that could jeopardise Jane’s reputation. As she uncovers them, she is transported back in time, reliving the joys and heartbreaks of her youth. Flashbacks introduce Young Cassy (Synnøve Karlsen) and Jane (Patsy Ferran), as they experience the romantic entanglements, friendships, and disappointments that shaped their lives and inspired Jane’s timeless novels.
Who will star in Miss Austen?
The cast also features an impressive ensemble, including Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Shetland), Max Irons (Condor, The Wife), Alfred Enoch (How to Get Away with Murder, Foundation), Jessica Hynes (Life After Life, Years and Years), Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Nest), Kevin McNally (The Crown, Ten Percent), Calam Lynch (Bridgerton, Sweetpea), and Liv Hill (The Serpent Queen, Elizabeth Is Missing).
Where was Miss Austen filmed?
Filming reportedly took place in Rye, East Sussex, where the cobbled streets doubled as Sidmouth, where Jane Austen is thought to have found love. The crew also shot near Kew Gardens and in other old stately homes around west London, as well as in Camber Sands. The team also filmed some scenes in Jane Austen’s actual family home, which is now preserved as Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton.
The series will launch in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Sunday, 2 February.
