The Creator of 'Downton Abbey' Has Done It Again with This Addictive Period Drama
When Belgravia, the new series from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, premieres April 12 on EPIX, it’ll invite viewers into a world full of intrigue, secrets, and lies among 19th-century England’s upper crust. The series, based on a book Fellowes published in 2016, follows two families—the newly rich Trenchards and the established Earl and Countess of Brockenhurst—who meet at first by chance and then are brought back together more than 25 years later by a shared secret.
The series features a cast chock full of big-name British talent, including Tamsin Greig as Anne Trenchard, Philip Glenister as her husband, James Trenchard, Downton alum Harriet Walter as the Countess of Brockenhurst, Alice Eve as Susan Trenchard, Ella Purnell as Lady Maria Grey, and Tom Wilkinson as the Earl of Brockenhurst, among others.
While Belgravia has plenty in common with Downton Abbey—including high-society intrigue, class struggles, political upheaval, and sumptuous production design—Fellowes has insisted that the two aren’t overly similar. “It seems to me a perfectly reasonable comparison but apart from the fact they’re both period dramas, obviously, and they’re both quite a lot about love, but then so is most of fiction,” he recently said. “People who enjoy period dramas, I would hope, would enjoy them both.”
Actor Richard Goulding, who plays Oliver Trenchard in the series, says, “It’s got more edge than Downton Abbey—a bit more sex and a bit more violence.” What else does Belgravia have? Check out this video (premiering with T&C) to see a sneak peek of it all, from hints at the mystery the season has in store to commentary from Fellowes himself. Once you’ve watched, tune in at 9 p.m. on April 12 to see the rest of what the anticipated series has in store—and don’t say we didn’t warn you.
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