Death Comes to Pemberley (TV series)
A three-part BBC murder mystery set six years after Pride and Prejudice.
Death Comes to Pemberley is a three-part British television drama adapted from P. D. James’s 2011 best-selling novel. The murder mystery draws on the characters and style of Jane Austen’s 1813 novel *Pride and Prejudice*. The series was ordered by Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, and Danny Cohen, then-Controller of BBC One, and aired on BBC One over three consecutive nights from 26 to 28 December 2013.
The story is set in June 1803, six years after the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. One evening, George Wickham and his wife Lydia (Elizabeth’s sister) travel by carriage to Pemberley for a ball with Captain Denny. Wickham and Denny argue and leave the carriage in anger, disappearing into the woods. Lydia hears two gunshots. Darcy sends a search party, which finds Wickham distraught and hysterical, holding Denny’s body and accusing himself of murder.
The cast was announced on 18 June 2013, with casting by Gary Davy. Tom Ward, who plays Colonel Fitzwilliam, is the only cast member to have previously appeared in a *Pride and Prejudice* adaptation, having played Lt Chamberlayne in the 1995 BBC version.
Filming began in June 2013 on location in Yorkshire and Derbyshire, supported by Screen Yorkshire. Chatsworth House in Derbyshire served as the exterior of Pemberley, while rooms at Chatsworth, Castle Howard, and Harewood House (both in Yorkshire) were used for interiors. National Trust sites including Hardcastle Crags, Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal estate, and Treasurer’s House were also used. Beverley’s Guildhall stood in for a courtroom. Gallows scenes were filmed on a purpose-built scaffold outside York Crown Court, with Wickham emerging from the gate of the old debtors’ prison at the York Museum.
Reception was positive. *The Guardian* described the first episode as respectful of Austen’s original but “not afraid to stand out and be its own very different thing as well,” calling it a mashup of period drama and Agatha Christie or *Midsomer Murders*. A later *Guardian* review deemed it “pretty much perfect Christmas TV,” praising its appearance and “satisfying plot.” Lina Talbot of *The Independent* commended the casting of Mr and Mrs Bennet. *Radio Times* praised the production values and noted the “meaty” plot.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Based On
- Death Comes to Pemberley · P. D. James
- Writer
- Juliette Towhidi
- Director
- Daniel Percival
- Composer
- The Insects
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 3
- Executive Producer
- Ed Rubin / Joanie Blaikie / P. D. James / Justin Thomson-Glover (Far Moor) / Patrick Irwin (Far Moor) / Rebecca Eaton (Masterpiece) / Polly Hill (BBC)
- Location
- Yorkshire / Derbyshire
- Cinematography
- Steve Lawes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series is set in June 1803, six years after the marriage of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. One evening, George Wickham and his wife Lydia are travelling by carriage to Pemberley for a ball with Captain Denny. Wickham and Denny argue and leave the carriage, disappearing into woodland, where Lydia hears two gunshots. Darcy sends a search party, who find Wickham distraught, holding Denny's body and blaming himself for the murder.
The cast was announced on 18 June 2013 and was cast by Gary Davy. Actor Tom Ward, who plays Colonel Fitzwilliam, is the only cast member to have previously played a role in an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, having played Lt Chamberlayne in the 1995 BBC adaptation. Filming began in June 2013 on location in Yorkshire and Derbyshire, supported by Screen Yorkshire. Chatsworth House served as the exterior of Pemberley, with interiors filmed at Chatsworth, Castle Howard, and Harewood House. Other locations included National Trust sites such as Hardcastle Crags, Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal estate, and Treasurer's House. Beverley's Guildhall was used as a courtroom, and gallows scenes were filmed on a scaffold outside York Crown Court.
Reader's Guide
Death Comes to Pemberley represents a notable crossover of period drama and murder mystery, blending the world of Jane Austen with the conventions of Agatha Christie or Midsomer Murders. The Guardian described the first episode as respectful of Austen's original but 'not afraid to stand out and be its own very different thing as well.' A later Guardian review called the series 'pretty much perfect Christmas TV,' praising its appearance and 'satisfying plot.' The Radio Times praised the production values and noted a 'meaty' plot. The series was commissioned by BBC executives Ben Stephenson and Danny Cohen, and its broadcast over three consecutive days in December 2013 made it a holiday television event. Its significance lies in extending the literary universe of Pride and Prejudice into a new genre, while maintaining the period setting and character dynamics that fans of Austen expect.
Did You Know?
- The series was first broadcast from 26 to 28 December 2013 on BBC One.
- Chatsworth House in Derbyshire was used as the exterior of Pemberley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Death Comes to Pemberley (TV series)?
It is a three-episode British television drama that adapts P. D. James's 2011 best-selling novel, weaving a murder mystery into the world created by Jane Austen in her 1813 classic Pride and Prejudice.
Who commissioned Death Comes to Pemberley (TV series) for television?
The project was greenlit by Ben Stephenson, then Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, alongside Danny Cohen, who held the role of Controller of BBC One at the time. The finished series ultimately aired on the BBC One channel.
When did Death Comes to Pemberley (TV series) air and how many episodes were there?
The three episodes broadcast on three consecutive evenings, from 26 to 28 December 2013, on BBC One.
What is the plot of Death Comes to Pemberley (TV series)?
Set in June 1803, six years after the Darcy–Bennet wedding, the story begins when George Wickham and his wife Lydia arrive at Pemberley, triggering a murder mystery that draws the extended family into danger.
Why do fans consider Death Comes to Pemberley (TV series) significant?
It offers a rare continuation of the Pride and Prejudice universe, reuniting the original cast of characters in a new narrative while maintaining the tone and style of Austen's work. For long-time readers and viewers, it functions as a legitimate-feeling sequel that honors the source material.
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