The Forsytes is Channel 5’s new period drama which follows the lives wealthy, upper-middle-class family in late-Victorian and Edwardian England. The series, based on the books by John Galsworthy, offers a new adaptation of the original Forsyte Sagas and has been a hit with viewers since it premiered last month.
The six-part series is led by a star-studded cast which includes former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson as Irene Heron alongside Joshua Orpin as Soames Forsyte. Francesca Annis stars as Ann Forsyte, Jack Davenport as James Forsyte and Tom Durant-Pritchard as Monty Dartie.
The Channel 5 show, which aired last month, is centred around the Forsyte family and the events that disrupt their stable but rigid lives. It explores the conflicts between tradition and personal desires in the Victorian world.
The show focuses on the battle between Soames Forsyte Joshua Orpin and his cousin Jolyon in their battle to take over the family firm.
The show’s synopsis reads: “The series chronicles the lives, loves, trials and triumphs of a wealthy late Victorian stockbroking family, whose generations are torn between the tradition and self-sacrifice versus personal happiness and the pursuit of love.
“Family stability is threatened by two chance encounters for rival cousins, Jolyon and Soames, throwing their previously steady lives into disarray. Married Jolyon contends with the reappearance of his former lover, Louisa, a lady’s maid-turned-dressmaker, while daughter June falls for a penniless architect.
“Soames, meanwhile, is enchanted by the beautiful and free-spirited dancer Irene. All must decide whether to be ruled by the head or the heart.”
The first episode of The Forsytes aired on Monday, October 20. It has been broadcast each week at 9pm on Channel 5 and is set to come to an end later this month.
There are six episodes in the series, which means there are two left after tonight’s episode.
The Forsyte Saga is a series of three novels by the English author John Galsworthy. In this first novel of the Forsyte Saga, readers learn of Soames Forsyte’s desire to own things, including his beautiful wife, Irene Forsyte.
The story focusses on the strained marriage of Soames Forsyte and Irene, whose love for another man, Philip Bosinney, leads to tragedy.
The story begins with Soames Forsyte, who marries the beautiful but unloving Irene. He sees her as his property, which leads her to seek love elsewhere with architect Philip Bosinney.
The story then follows the next generation, including Soames’ daughter Fleur and Irene’s son Jon, who meet and fall in love.
At the end of The Forsyte Saga, Jon and Fleur’s love affair ends when they learn the truth about their parents’ past, and Jon chooses his mother, Irene, over Fleur. Jon and Irene then leave for Canada, while a heartbroken Fleur marries Michael Mont
