'A period drama sensation': Death Comes To Pemberley is Anna Maxwell Martin's 'terrific' series to binge now

If you can hardly wait for the final three episodes of Ludwig series 2 and need something to fill the void, Anna Maxwell Martin stars in a very different kind of mystery in Death Comes To Pemberley. This period drama sensation revisits Jane Austen's classic Pride And Prejudice and adds in an Agatha Christie-esque mystery – making it exactly the sort of terrific series you'll want to binge now. The drama, which first aired on BBC One in 2013, follows Elizabeth (Anna Maxwell Martin) and Darcy (Matthew Rhys) six years after they married. The couple are preparing to host their esteemed annual Lady Anne Ball in their grand Pemberley home. However, as guests start to make their way to the party, a bloodcurdling scream sends the whole estate into chaos. Here's everything you need to know about Death Comes To Pemberley, including the plot, cast and all the inside details about this series. What is Death Comes To Pemberley about? BBC Adapted from PD James's bestselling 2011 novel, the three-part series reimagines Jane Austen's world by plunging some of her best-known characters into an intriguing murder mystery. The drama begins on the eve of Darcy's (Matthew Rhys) annual Lady Anne ball at the impressive Pemberley estate in 1803. Six years has passed since he married Elizabeth (Anna Maxwell Martin), and they're now happier than ever with their young son Fitzwiliam, 3. Before the guests arrive, Elizabeth visits the Bidwell family, who all work for the Darcys, after learning their son Will is gravely ill. Back at Pemberley, some guests arrive the evening before the party, including Mrs Bennet (Rebecca Front) and Mr Bennet (James Fleet). Georgiana Darcy (Eleanor Tomlinson) has two suitors vying for attention – her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam (Tom Ward) and Henry Alveston (James Norton), an impressive young lawyer, who she clearly prefers. The party are relaxing after supper, until a loud scream stops the festivities and leads them towards the window. Lydia Wickham (Jenna Coleman) tumbles out of a carriage yelling that there's been a murder. The men search Pemberley woods and discover Captain Denny dead, and George Wickham (Matthew Goode), Lydia's husband, covered in blood at the scene. What should've been a dazzling celebration unfurls into a scandal that could jeopardise everything Elizabeth and Darcy have built. What to read next Anna Maxwell Martin previously spoke to the BBC about the difference between Elizabeth in Pride And Prejudice and Death Comes To Pemberley. 'I think, as the story unfolds, we see the real Lizzie Bennet from Pride And Prejudice come out. She's had to temper her ways slightly because she is the head of a very large estate and probably always on show,' she said. 'She is Darcy's wife and she has to respect that. The modern phrase would be: to wind her neck in. Increasingly, you see the Lizzie that we know appear, spirited and quite damning and strident. Lizzie's quite hot headed – she says what she thinks. The whole point in Pride And Prejudice is that she says what she thinks which gets her into hot water,' she added. Is there a trailer for Death Comes To Pemberley? Yes, you can watch the trailer for Death Comes To Pemberley below. Who's in the cast of Death Comes To Pemberley? BBC The cast of Death Comes To Pemberley includes: Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Ludwig, The Bletchley Circle) as Elizabeth Bennet Matthew Rhys (The Beast In Me) as Fitzwilliam Darcy Matthew Goode (Dept. Q) as George Wickham Trevor Eve (Dracula) as Sir Selwyn Hardcastle Tom Ward (Silent Witness) as Colonel Fitzwilliam James Norton (Happy Valley) as Henry Alveston Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) as Georgiana Darcy Jenna Coleman (Victoria) as Lydia Wickham Joanna Scanlan (The Light In The Hall) as Mrs Reynolds Rebecca Front (The Thick Of It) as Mrs Bennet James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley) as Mr Bennet Jennifer Hennessy (Dickensian) as Mrs Bidwell Lewis Rainer (The Girl From The Song) as Will Bidwell Nichola Burley (Lynn + Lucy) as Louisa Bidwell Philip Martin Brown (Waterloo Road) as Bidwell Tom Canton (The Good Karma Hospital) as Captain Denny Penelope Keith (To The Manor Born) as Lady Catherine de Bourgh Alexandra Moen (Dickensian) as Jane Bingley Is Death Comes To Pemberley any good? BBC Yes, it's a brilliant genre-bending series that brings a murder mystery to the magical world of Austen. It's a joy getting to revisit characters such as Lydia, Elizabeth, Darcy and Wickham in a completely new storyline. With beautiful costumes, stunning settings and a highly intriguing central mystery, it's the perfect dose of escapism period drama fans will adore. How can I watch Death Comes To Pemberley? You can watch Death Comes To Pemberley now on U and Channel 4. What other period dramas can I watch now? ITV For a fascinating glimpse into another British era, Mr Selfridge takes us back to the early 20th century where we follow one of history's most flamboyant businessmen, Harry Gordon Selfridge, as he tries to build the world's most impressive department store. Mr Selfridge is available to watch now on ITVX. For a royal period drama, we'd suggest The Queen, which stars Helen Mirren as the late Queen Elizabeth II in the wake of Princess Diana's death. She faces mounting pressure from the former Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) to publicly react to the nation's mourning. The Queen is available to watch now on ITVX.