The Edwardians (1972)

The Edwardian Age spanned Edward VII's ascent to the throne in 1901 through World War II. It was an era of rapid industrialization, pioneering artistic and literary achievements, and great social and political upheaval. This classic eight-part BBC series profiles the captivating characters, progressives and eccentrics who left their mark on British society and the world at large. Academy Award® winner Sir Anthony Hopkins, Judy Parfitt and Nigel Davenport lead a stellar cast.

The Edwardian period was an era of rapid industrialization, pioneering artistic and literary achievements, and great social and political upheaval. It is filled with captivating characters who left their mark upon British society and the world at large. This 8-part BBC series profiles the movers and shakers who exemplify the era's progressive spirit as well as its colorful eccentricities.

British statesman David Lloyd George (Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins, Hannibal, The Silence of the Lambs) was a paradox, a Liberal activist and untiring force for social change but also a notorious philanderer. Horatio Bottomley (Timothy West, Bleak House) was founder of Financial Times but also possessed a remarkable side talent for getting people to part with their money. Other figures profiled in this series include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Nigel Davenport), E. Nesbitt (Judy Parfitt, Dolores Claiborne), Charles Rolls and Frederick Royce (Michael Jayston and Robert Powell), and Daisy Greville (Virginia McKenna). Together, these profiles paint a fascinating portrait of this remarkable period in British history.

Episode 1 - Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce looks at the relationship between Mr. Henry Royce (Michael Jayston), the electical engineer who had just made his first car, and Mr. Charles Rolls (Robert Powell), a motor dealer looking for a reliable model to sell.

Episode 2 -  Horatio Bottomly - Timothy West plays the financier, founder of John Bull, fraud and swindler.

Episode 3 - E. Nesbitt - Judy Parfitt stars as the author of "The Railway Children" who lived in a menage a trois with her husband and his mistress.

Episode 4 -  Conan Doyle - Nigel Davenport stars as the author of Sherlock Holmes, who starts behaving like his character.

Episode 5 -  Baden Powell - Is our image of the heroic Boer War General correct? This closer look at the founder of the scout movement stars Robert Moody.

Episode 6 -  The Reluctant Juggler - A look at music hall performer Marie Lloyd (Georgia Brown) and her role in the 1907 Music Hall strike.

Episode 7 -  Daisy - Virginia McKenna stars as the mistress of Edward VII, who became a convert to socialism.

Episode 8 - Lloyd George - The paradox of a government politician (Anthony Hopkins) who was a force for social change and a great negotiator but an untiring philanderer as well.

Written by Ian Curteis, Keith Dewhurst, Jeremy Paul, Alan Plater
Directed by Robert Knights, Gerald Blake, James Cellan Jones, Alan Clarke, John Howard Davies
Produced by Mark Shivas