Story of Costume Drama (2 Disc Set)

They’re appointments to view, add sparkle to the schedule – they are rich, regal and romantic. And these are the amazing stories behind the most watched, most beautiful tales ever told on television…from the team which knows its TV history. The television costume drama has reached a new peak in popularity. It seems every week a different star, like Billie Piper or Daniel Radcliffe, is signed up for the latest adaptation. The story of the costume drama is wide-ranging, covering love and war, birth and death, the rich and the poor. British costume dramas have upset the Royal Family, been banned by American TV, helped pull down the Iron Curtain, and overcome strikes, riots and freak weather on their way to creating massive stars – meaning incredible drama off screen as well as on it. And this is the story of how it all happened – fantastic clips and revealing memories from those who were there – all put together by ITV Productions’ in-house archive specialists.