It is a truth universally acknowledged that every article about Jane Austen must begin with “It is a truth universally acknowledged”. Now we’ve got it out of the way, we can proceed.
To mark the 250th anniversary of her birth, new Sunday night BBC drama Miss Austen stars Keeley Hawes as the novelist’s sister, Cassandra, and tackles the long-standing literary mystery of why Cassie burned her famous sibling’s letters after she died. But how does it stack up within the canon of small-screen Austens? We’ve cast our net wide to include riffs and reboots as well as straight-up bonnet-and-breeches adaptations. Here are our all-time top 20, ranked from Plain Janes to Superbrains …
20. Mansfield Park (1983)
Mansfield Park is one of Austen’s least adapted novels and this stodgy BBC Two six-parter – the first-ever screen version, remarkably – demonstrated why. An earnest Fanny Price shared a screen with her terribly-coiffed cousin (and, ick, love interest) Edmund, joined distractingly by Gorden Kaye. At which point viewers said: “Sacre bleu, isn’t that René From ’Allo ’Allo?”
19. Clueless (1996-99)
Hello? As if. OK, so we’re stretching the definition of Austen dramas a tad but this TV take on the Californian high school comedy was based on the film which was, in turn, inspired by Emma. Sadly, the series lacked either Alicia Silverstone or Paul Rudd. If it were the film it would rank way higher. But it totally isn’t. Whatever.
18. The Real Jane Austen (2002)
This serviceable docudrama starred former Brookside and Emmerdale actor Gillian Kearney as the author but it was narrator Anna Chancellor – a distant relative of Austen, fact fans – who stole the show. Erring more towards docu than drama, it was a little dry.
17. Northanger Abbey (1987)
Made for the BBC’s Screen Two strand, this feature-length adaptation of Austen’s Gothic pastiche was atmospheric enough, if lacking in chemistry between its leads. Without Austen’s arch narrator, it struggled for nuance and ye olde lolz.
16. Sense & Sensibility (1981)
A year after their second-best pop at P&P (see No 12), the BBC made this version of S&S with some of the same cast and crew. The visuals have dated, the humour clunks and it’s all a bit boringly beige.
15. Sanditon (2019-2023)
Adapted from Austen’s unfinished novel, this frothy saga set in the titular seaside resort never found its feet. Nor indeed its channel. After one series, it switched from ITV to BritBox. But later still aired on ITV, confusingly. Top-hatted hunk Theo James also bailed after the first series, so they had to retrospectively kill him off. Not ideal.
14. Miss Austen Regrets (1987)
Based on Austen’s surviving letters, this bittersweet quasi-biopic starred Olivia Williams as the author. Approaching her 40th birthday (she died at 41), Jane reflects wistfully on her life and loves, while helping her favourite niece Fanny (Imogen Poots) vet potential husbands. The new Miss Austen (minus the regrets) is way better.
13. Sense and Sensibility (2008)
Prolific adaptor Andrew Davies’s stated aim with this sexed-up BBC three-parter was to make viewers forget Ang Lee’s 1995 film. Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield played the Dashwood sisters, with David Morrissey and Dominic Cooper as their love interests. The weather was so soggy during filming that Davies added a gratuitous shot of wet-shirted Dan Stevens chopping logs in the rain. A knowing nod to “that” Pride & Predge lake scene.
12. Pride & Prejudice (1980)
It would later be blown out of the Pemberley lake water by the peerless 1995 version, but this five-parter adapted by novelist Fay Weldon is unjustly forgotten. Faithful to the novel and slyly funny, it looks a little fusty by today’s standards but otherwise stands up well.
11. Emma (1996)
Overshadowed by the Gwyneth Paltrow version, which was released the same year, this ITV film pulled in 12 million viewers. Samantha Morton was great as Harriet Smith but Mark Strong’s receding hairline drew attention to the age gap between Mr Knightley and Kate Beckinsale’s girlish Emma. Everyone’s relentless rudeness to the servants may have been period appropriate but it was still annoying.
10. Mansfield Park (2007)
Fresh from the Tardis, Billie Piper managed to perk up one of Austen’s dullest heroines in this ITV adaptation, which turned moralistic Mansfield Park into a soapy Regency romp. Blake Ritson made for a winningly gawky Edmund, while Hayley Atwell stole scenes as Fanny Price’s two-faced frenemy Mary.
9. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2012-2013)
The first ever web series to win an Emmy neatly reworked Pride & Prejudice in 100 snappy episodes, originally released on YouTube twice per week. A media student starts a vlog for her thesis, a wealthy dimwit called Bing Lee moves into a nearby mansion, his try-hard hipster mate Darcy visits and we’re off. Supporting characters get their own episodes. Characters’ tweets pop up on screen. Addictive and innovative.
8. Persuasion (2007)
One of Austen’s more subtle stories was adapted with fitting nuance for ITV. Sally Hawkins was superb as Anne Elliot, with diary entries in voiceover taking us inside her head. Rupert Penry-Jones smouldered as Captain Wentworth, while Julia Davis and Tobias Menzies lent sterling support. Understated, perhaps, but it looks like a work of unparalleled genius compared to the 2022 Dakota Johnson aberration.
7. Northanger Abbey (2007)
This ITV iteration is underseen and underrated. Felicity Jones sparkled as the Goth-fixated heroine with a rampant imagination. A young Carey Mulligan caught the eye as her two-faced friend, while JJ Feild made for a dashing romantic hero. With its steamy dream sequences, it was like Twilight with corsets and carriages.
6. Miss Austen (2025)
Why did Cassandra Austen commit “an act of literary vandalism” by burning her sister’s letters? Cleverly adapted from Gill Hornby’s bestselling novel, this gorgeous new series persuasively suggests Cassandra has been misunderstood by history, and paints a poignant picture of sisterly love. The fantastic Patsy Ferran is heartbreaking in flashback as young Jane. In case you need further invitation, it also boasts an amusingly idiotic vicar and some adorable pygmy goats.
5. Emma (2009)
Smug busybody Emma Woodhouse can be irritating in the wrong hands but Romola Garai’s terrific portrayal in this BBC series made viewers root for her. Jonny Lee Miller charmed as Mr Knightley, the great Michael Gambon twinkled as Emma’s father, and Miranda Hart provided comic relief as the wittering Miss Bates. Sensitively rendered and gently ironic with a swooningly soppy ending.
4. Death Comes to Pemberley (2013)
Austen meets Agatha Christie anyone? This gripping three-part murder mystery, based on PD James’s novel, was a cosy-crime continuation of Pride & Prejudice. Handsome production values and a smart script made it a respectful mashup. A killer cast was led by Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Rhys and Jenna Coleman. It aired at Christmas and made for near perfect festive viewing. Pass the Quality Street, darling mother.
3. Lost in Austen (2008)
This playful fantasy followed Amanda (Jemima Rooper), a modern-day Austen fan who stumbled into the world of Pride & Prejudice through a portal in her bathroom. She joined the Bennet family and tried not to ruin everything, while Lizzie (Gemma Arterton) was stuck in 21st-century London. A riotously fun romcom ensued. Hugh Bonneville and Alex Kingston were a hoot as Mr and Mrs Bennet.
2. Persuasion (1995)
This feature-length BBC Two drama had the misfortune to drop in the same year as Andrew Davies’s Pride & Prejudice and Emma Thompson’s Sense & Sensibility, meaning it is often overlooked. Directed by Roger Michell, it deserves way better. Amanda Root captured the essence of Anne Elliot and Ciarán Hinds was downright magnificent as Captain Wentworth. A tender tale of lost love and second chances with an exquisite ending. It rightly won five Baftas. Aye aye, Captain.
1. Pride & Prejudice (1995)
“Ooh, Mr Darcy,” indeed. A nation came over aflutter and had to fan itself when Colin Firth emerged wet-shirted from a lake like a Penguin Classics edition of Daniel Craig. Yet this peerless series was far more than its signature scene. Screenwriter Andrew Davies deftly combined Austen’s social satire with unabashed romance. An audience of 10 million were rapt as sparks flew between Jennifer Ehle’s spirited Elizabeth Bennet and Firth’s aloof Fitzwilliam Darcy. The all-conquering series kickstarted the Austen-aissance, flinging open the ballroom doors to everything from Bridget Jones to Bridgerton. Did we mention the wet shirt already?
• Miss Austen starts on Sunday 2 February at 9.05pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
