'Masterpiece' BBC period drama's future finally confirmed

The future of an "exceptional" period drama that fans have hailed "the best of the BBC" has finally been confirmed. After it first aired in February this year, Miss Austen has been given a major update.

The mini-series reimagines the life of Jane Austen's sister, Cassandra, played by Keeley Hawes.

It tells the story of her life attempting to protect her sister's legacy, as she comes to terms with her past through a series of flashbacks.

Fans fell in love with the drama, branding it "engaging, heartfelt," and "absolutely superb" in raving reviews.

It's now been confirmed that Miss Austen will return for a second season. The first was based on Gill Hornby's novel, and ran for four episodes, and a second will be "largely based" on her latest novel The Elopement.

The follow-up is set in 1820 and follow the life of Mary Dorothea Knatchbull, the daughter of Jane Austen's niece, Fanny Knight. Andrea Gibb wrote the first season and will also be writing the second, as per Deadline.

"After the success of Miss Austen, I am thrilled to be working again with the incredible author Gill Hornby, and the impressive team of Andrea Gibb and Christine Langan, who created the first series that was such a moving experience and a joy to watch. I am pleased to be able to announce the return of the series just as we are about to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth," Masterpiece executive producer Susanne Simpson said.

Executive producer Christine Langan added: "Fueled by another wonderful Gill Hornby novel, the journey of Miss Austen continues, going deeper into the intimate life of the Austen family. Love, loss and laughter mingle irresistibly in this fresh take on Jane Austen's world brought to life by a dazzling array of characters both familiar and brand new."

Miss Austen was set in 1830, and began with Cassandra visiting the Fowle family, as patriarch Reverend Fowle is dying. Vowing to help his daughter Isabella find a new home, she also looks for letters Jane, who died in 1817, had written as a younger woman to Fowle's wife Elizabeth, in the hope to destroy them.

Meanwhile, Mary Austen, the widow of Cassandra and Jane's brother James, also hunts for the letters, to write a biography about her late husband.

Discovering them, Cassandra is confronted by her past, with the letters covering her engagement to the late Tom Fowle, James' marriage to Mary, other relatives they lost and chances at love, and Jane's literary journey to become the novelist she's known today.

Flashbacks from the early 1800s show Jane and Cassandra's lives together, and the societal challenges of the era they grew up in.

The series stars Patsy Ferran as Jane and Jessica Hynes as Mary, as well as Rose Leslie, Max Irons and Phyllis Logan.

Fans fell in love with the four-part drama when it aired earlier this year, with one saying: "Fantastic series, we loved every minute. What a brilliant script and storytelling- so clever and so well done. We are Jane Austen fans and watched one episode each night this week. For us that's a binge. The very best of the BBC at its best. Totally engaging, heartfelt, emotional and humorous. The actors were superbly cast and they all shone. I'll give it a month then watch it again."

Another said: "This 4 part series is absolutely superb, telling the story in a manner that I think Jane herself would have been proud of. The acting from all the cast is exceptional. I found Jane's deathbed scene, being comforted by her beloved sister Cassandra, heartbreaking. This series will stay with me for a long time."

Someone else wrote: "This show is absolutely superb. In excels in every possible way as a piece of entertainment. The ladies who play young Cassandra and Jane are perfection and the story is thoroughly intriguing. Loved it more than I can say."

Another said: "A wonderful series -brilliantly portrayed by first class acting. I found this so moving and emotional- yet had many humorous scenes. Very rarely do we now find such a masterpiece on our screens. Well done BBC!"

Miss Austen is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.e