The Stage

ITV3 to explore history of costume dramas

Published Friday 15 February 2008 at 12:05 by Matthew Hemley

ITV3 has commissioned a five-part series looking at the history of television costume dramas.

Called The Story of the Costume Drama, it is being made by Leeds-based Shiver and will feature interviews with actors who have appeared in the featured drama series and the people who worked behind the scenes creating them.

Each episode will focus on a different aspect of the genre, which ITV3 controller Emma Tennant said will “give a fantastic insight into the secrets behind and development of one of the country’s favourite genres.”

Shiver’s creative director Mark Robinson said: “Costume dramas have always provided viewers with a great escape from the real world outside but now they seem more popular than ever. This will be the definitive story of a genre which has become appointment-to-view television for millions of fans.”

He added: “We’ll look at each and every aspect of costume and period drama - from how they changed the world of television to the sumptuous looks of the shows, and the long list of leading men and ladies with whom the viewers fell in love.”