Fresh' adaptation of beloved book now 'incredible' Channel 5 period drama

Channel 5’s new Victorian period drama, The Forsytes, adapts John Galsworthy’s classic Forsyte Saga novels and has already been renewed for two additional seasons, adding to the “incredible” momentum around its modernized approach. Set in late-Victorian England, the six-episode series follows an exceptionally affluent stockbroking family across generations, shaped by the damaging, loveless marriage of Soames and Irene Forsyte. Irene’s affair with an architect sparks decades of conflict and further forbidden liaisons, as a younger generation repeats the cycle. The Forsytes was released in 2025 and is expected to run for three seasons. Created and written by Debbie Horsfield, it draws from the source material while adding contemporary elements. The cast includes Francesca Annis, Jack Davenport, Millie Gibson, Danny Griffin, Tuppence Middleton, and Eleanor Tomlinson.