12 Best Period Dramas To Watch After The Other Bennet Sister

If you’ve been watching the BBC adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister, you’ll know it’s become a big hit. It’s based on the novel by Janice Hadlow. It managed an impressive audience of 7.3 million viewers for its very first episode.

I absolutely fell in love with it. I was especially drawn to the way this adaptation shifts the spotlight onto Mary Bennet. She is the sister we’ve historically known the least about, yet holds huge potential. You would be completely entertained by every episode, particularly the romance element.

Now that the series has come to an end – and we’re all left missing it – I’ve put together a list of twelve of the best period dramas to fill the void.

Rundown of The Other Bennet Sister – What you need to know:

• Genre: Period drama, romance
• Stars: Ella Bruccoleri, Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Dónal Finn
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 10
• Runtime: 30 minutes per episode
• Creators: Jennifer Sheridan, Asim Abbasi
• Release date: 2026
• Where to watch (UK): BBC One and BBC iPlayer

What is The Other Bennet Sister about?

In The Other Bennet Sister, we follow the life of one of the five Bennet sisters, Mary. Mary Bennet always has her head in her books and suffers from terrible low self-esteem. She believes she isn’t as beautiful or as worthy of attention as her other sisters, Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia, and Kitty.

But after her sisters all marry, she is forced to choose her own path in life. Nothing comes easy for her due to society’s expectations of women, and Mary must follow her own heart. She meets new friends on her journey of self-discovery, explores new places, and finds somewhere she believes she can finally call home.

The Other Bennet Sister is a touching tale of relationships, family, and learning to love yourself despite what you were taught growing up, as well as conquering the battles within. It’s also a story of romance and quiet gestures that can often be the most powerful.

Here are some recommendations similar to the show for you:

Pride and Prejudice

• Genre: Romantic drama, period drama
• Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Judi Dench and Tom Hollander
• Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
• Creator: Joe Wright
• Release date: 2005
• Where to watch (UK): BritBox, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV

I can’t create a list of shows similar to The Other Bennet Sister without mentioning Pride and Prejudice. It’s the very story that inspired it. This classic follows Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates love, society, and her complicated first impressions of the seemingly stern and difficult-to-read Mr. Darcy. Both the 1995 series and the 2005 film have been favourites of mine for as long as I can remember.

Sanditon

• Genre: Romantic drama, period drama
• Stars: Rose Williams, Theo James, Crystal Clarke, Kris Marshall, Anne Reid, Jack Fox, Charlotte Spencer and Ben Lloyd-Hughes
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 20
• Runtime: 50 minutes per episode
• Creator: Andrew Davies
• Release date: 2019
• Where to watch (UK): ITVX

Sanditon follows Charlotte Heywood, who – much like Mary Bennet – finds herself in a new environment and must learn to adapt. The show also features a compelling enemies-to-lovers storyline. Starring Theo James, the series first aired in 2019 and concluded in 2023.

Belgravia

• Genre: Romantic drama, period drama, historical drama
• Stars: Philip Glenister, Tamsin Greig, Alice Eve, Harriet Walter, Tom Wilkinson, Ella Purnell, Jack Bardoe and Richard Goulding
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 6
• Runtime: 45–46 minutes per episode
• Creator: Julian Fellowes
• Release date: 2020
• Where to watch (UK): Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Sky Store

Belgravia may have only run for one season, but it remains well regarded by viewers. It is similar in tone to The Other Bennet Sister and is based on the novel of the same name by Julian Fellowes. The series follows a high-society drama set in 19th-century London, exploring themes of secrets, ambition, and class within the upper echelons of society. The cast includes Tamsin Greig, Philip Glenister, Harriet Walter, and Alice Eve.

Victoria

• Genre: Historical Drama / Romance
• Stars: Jenna Coleman, Tom Hughes, Rufus Sewell, Daniela Holtz, Nell Hudson, Catherine Flemming
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 25
• Runtime: 45–60 mins per episode
• Creator: Daisy Goodwin
• Release date: 2016
• Where to Watch (UK) : ITVX

The series chronicles the life of Queen Victoria, spanning the early years of her reign, which includes romance and court politics. It follows Victoria’s formative years on the throne, exploring both her personal and public life. It is includes a strong performance from Jenna Coleman in the title role.

Downton Abbey

• Genre: Period Drama / Historical Drama
• Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Brown Findlay, Maggie Smith, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle
• Seasons: 6
• Episodes: 52
• Runtime: 50–65 mins per episode
• Creator: Julian Fellowes
• Release date: 2010
• Where to Watch (UK): ITVX

Spanning six seasons and three films, Downton Abbey follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants as they navigate life in early 20th-century Britain. Beginning with the fallout of the Sinking of the Titanic, the story is shown through major events like World War I, as both the upper class and their staff adapt to a changing social order. The cast includes Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern lead as Lord and Lady Grantham, while Maggie Smith plays the sharp-witted Dowager Countess.

North & South

• Genre: Period Drama / Romance
• Stars: Daniela Denby-Ashe, Richard Armitage, Sinéad Cusack, Tim Pigott-Smith
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 4
• Runtime: 60 mins per episode
• Creator: Brian Percival
• Release date: 2004
• Where to Watch (UK): BBC iPlayer

A true BBC classic starring none other than Richard Armitage. This series follows Margaret Hale, a southerner adjusting to life in the industrial north of England. In the little town of Milton, she encounters a host of colourful characters inclduingthe handsoem and charming, John Thornton (Armitage).

Emma

• Genre: Romantic comedy, period drama
• Stars: Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon, Tamsin Greig, Rupert Evans, Jodhi May, Louise Dylan and Blake Ritson
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 4
• Runtime: 1 hour per episode
• Creator: Sandy Welch
• Release date: 2009
• Where to watch (UK): Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV

This adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma was released by the BBC in 2009. The series is presented in four episodes, each following the life and social world of Emma Woodhouse, a confident and well-meaning young woman. It is set in the fictional town of Highbury.

The Gilded Age

• Genre: Period Drama
• Starring: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski
• Seasons: 3 (with another on the way)
• Epsiodes: 25
• Runtime: 80 minutes per episode
• Creator: Julian Fellowes
• Release date: 2019
• Where to Watch (UK): HBO Max / NOW

The Gilded Age is a historical drama series created by Julian Fellowes, which first premiered in 2022. Set in late 19th-century New York, the series follows Marian Brook, a young woman navigating the rigid hierarchies of high society.

Call the Midwife

• Genre: Period drama, historical drama, medical drama
• Stars: Vanessa Redgrave, Jenny Agutter, Helen George, Stephen McGann, Judy Parfitt, Laura Main, Linda Bassett and Cliff Parisi
• Seasons: 15 seasons, with a Christmas special each year
• Episodes: Over 100 episodes
• Runtime: 58 minutes per episode
• Creator: Heidi Thomas
• Release date: 2012
• Where to watch (UK): BBC iPlayer, Sky Go and UKTV Play. Episodes can also be bought on Amazon Video and Sky Store

Call the Midwife is one of those shows you can easily become completely immersed in. It’s both entertaining and quietly educational as it portrays real-life health issues in the 1950s. The BBC drama follows a group of nurses and midwives living and working in London’s East End and doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, covering issues such as stillbirth, disability, and abortion, among many others.

Gentleman Jack

• Genre: Romantic drama, period drama, historical drama
• Stars: Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle, Gemma Whelan, Timothy West, Gemma Jones, Stephanie Cole, Peter Davison and Amelia Bullmore
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 16
• Runtime: 1 hour per episode
• Creator: Sally Wainwright
• Release date: 2019
• Where to watch (UK): BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Sky Store

Gentleman Jack is set in Regency-era Yorkshire and follows the remarkable life of Anne Lister. The drama tells the story of her relationship with Ann Walker, as they navigate love and life together in a time when same-sex relationships were not accepted by society.

Bridgerton

• Genre: Romantic drama, period drama, Regency romance
• Stars: Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Phoebe Dynevor, Luke Newton, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Golda Rosheuvel and Regé-Jean Page
• Seasons: 4
• Episodes: 32
• Runtime: 1 hour per episode (52–73 minutes)
• Creator: Chris Van Dusen
• Release date: 2020
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix

Nothing is quite as entertaining as Bridgerton. Each season follows a different romance within the Bridgerton family. The show is full of romance, scandal and drama and is set in Regency-era London.

Little Dorrit

• Genre: Romantic drama, period drama, historical drama
• Stars: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Judy Parfitt, Andy Serkis, Alun Armstrong, Eddie Marsan, Emma Pierson, Amanda Redman and Ruth Jones
• Seaons: 1
• Episodes: 14
• Runtime: 30 minutes per episode
• Creator: Andrew Davies
• Release date: 2008
• Where to watch (UK): BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Sky Store

This adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Little Dorrit was produced by the BBC and released in 2008. Set in Victorian London, this series is told across multiple episodes, following the life of Amy Dorrit, a kind and selfless young woman who grows up in the shadow of her father’s imprisonment for debt.