Published: 13 December 2022
It’s a thrill to be bringing Sanditon back to audiences for one more trip to the seaside."— Belinda Campbell, Executive Producer, Red Planet PicturesThe new characters set to bring drama, laughter, and romance in the third series of Sanditon are revealed as ITV1, in partnership with Masterpiece, announce that the third series will be the final series. The acclaimed drama that has transported audiences to the sunny seaside of Regency England will premiere on Masterpiece on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at 9/8c on PBS. The series will also be available to stream on PBS.org, PBS Passport, and the MASTERPIECE PBS Prime Video Channel. The series will air in the UK on leading commercial broadcaster, ITV1 (date TBC).
The new arrivals set to shake up the coastal resort include Lady Montrose (Emma Fielding, Years and Years, Van der Valk), the quintessential Austen mother who arrives in Sanditon with one objective: matches for her children, Lydia and Henry. Lydia (Alice Orr-Ewing, Andor, A Very English Scandal) is an independent young woman who is not as eager for a match as her mother, and Lord Henry Montrose (Edward Davis, Emma) is charismatic and confident, but he holds a secret. Rowleigh Pryce (James Bolam, New Tricks) is a wealthy, curmudgeonly investor who is interested in teaming up with Tom Parker on the seaside resort’s expansion. Their plans become complicated when Rowleigh runs into Lady Denham. Also new to Sanditon is Alexander’s brother, Samuel Colbourne (Liam Garrigan, Cobra, Small Axe) –a lawyer, and a charming bachelor.
Inspired by Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel, the show was adapted and created by Emmy award winning screenwriter Andrew Davies and produced by Red Planet Pictures. The series took on its own direction (Austen only finished 11 chapters before her death) and writer Justin Young took the helm as lead writer and executive producer for seasons 2 and 3.
Executive Producer for Red Planet Pictures Belinda Campbell says, “It’s a thrill to be bringing Sanditon back to audiences for one more trip to the seaside. This third and final season is full of the heart and joyful spirit that viewers will connect with. Our dedicated fans have been absolutely amazing in their support of the show, and we hope they’ll enjoy the conclusion of Charlotte and Georgiana’s stories.”
Susanne Simpson, Executive Producer of MASTERPIECE adds, “Sanditon has been an incredibly special series for MASTERPIECE, and we know it has found its way into the hearts of countless fans. While we are sad to say goodbye to the series, we know our audience has a lot to look forward to in this new season.”
Sanditon, Season 3 is a co-production of Red Planet Pictures, MASTERPIECE and ITV1 in association with PBS Distribution. Justin Young (Death in Paradise) is lead writer and executive producer. Joe Ainsworth, Andrea Gibb, Robin French, Colin Bytheway, Jo Spain also wrote on the series. Andrew Davies, who originally created the drama, wrote and executive produced it.
The series producer is Rebecca Hedderly (Casualty), the producers are Ian Hogan (Black Mirror) and Amy Rodriguez (Harlots) and lead director is Jennie Paddon (Death in Paradise). Executive producers are Belinda Campbell and Tim Key for Red Planet Pictures and Susanne Simpson for MASTERPIECE. BBC Studios are the international distributors of all three series. PBS Distribution is the distributor of all three seasons in the US and Canada.
-ENDS-
For more information please contact:
SJ Peyton | Premier | sj.peyton@premiercomms.com
Sanditon Press Team: sanditon@premiercomms.com
About Red Planet Pictures
Red Planet Pictures, part of the Asacha Media Group, creates ambitious and engaging drama. Run by Joint Managing Directors, Belinda Campbell and Alex Jones, Red Planet Pictures is an independent production company which has built a reputation for making dramas with high-quality storytelling which are loved by audiences across the globe.
Red Planet Pictures has produced some of the UK’s most successful dramas of recent years: BBC One ratings hit DEATH IN PARADISE is broadcast in over 260 territories and has run for over a decade on screen in the UK with the broadcast of the show's first Christmas special broadcast on BBC One on Boxing Day 2021 - becoming the highest rated drama of the Christmas period – followed by series 11 airing at the start of 2022 regularly gaining audiences of over 8 million. Series 12 and a second Christmas special are soon to air on the channel. The popularity and success of this show has led to the BBC and BritBox International expanding the Death in Paradise universe by co-commissioning spin off show BEYOND PARADISE starring Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton, which will transmit in early 2023.
The second series of SANDITON, an epic adaptation of the unfinished Jane Austen novel by Emmy and BAFTA-Award winning writer Andrew Davies for ITV1, MASTERPIECE and BritBox UK, broadcast in March 2022 – ranking fifth in total viewers for all PBS primetime drama series this year so far in the US – and series three is due to air in 2023.
This year also saw the transmission of much anticipated OUR HOUSE on ITV1 – the channel’s third biggest 9pm new drama launch this year so far – based on the award-winning, best-selling novel by Louise Candlish, adapted by Simon Ashdown, directed by Sheree Folkson and starring Martin Compston, Tuppence Middleton and Rupert Penry-Jones.
Red Planet Pictures has extended their relationship with Candlish to adapt her 2016 thriller, THE SWIMMING POOL, and her next as yet unpublished book, THE ONLY SUSPECT which is due for publication in February 2023 as well as working on new, original, drama series ideas and scripts.
The indie, which was founded by award-winning showrunner and Executive Chairman, Tony Jordan in 2006, also produced the innovative, ambitious and critically acclaimed 20-part drama DICKENSIAN and flagship WWI drama THE PASSING BELLS for BBC One, big budget action adventure series HOOTEN & THE LADY for Sky One and co-produced the both series of Balkan hit crime thriller BESA, which Tony created and recently won a Golden Antenna for best drama at FEDIS. In June 2021, multinational content creator and producer Asacha Media Group (AMG), acquired a controlling stake in Red Planet Pictures in a deal that will further the ambitions of both companies in producing high end, popular drama that resonates on a global stage.
Red Planet Pictures’ broad development slate also includes Megan Hunter‘s THE HARPY and New York Times best-selling author Antony Johnston’s THE EXPHORIA CODE. .
For more information, visit: redplanetpictures.co.uk
About MASTERPIECE
Winner of 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been essential Sunday-night viewing for millions of fans since 1971. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer and Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer-at-large for the series. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for hits such as All Creatures Great and Small, Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and for beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga and Poldark.
About ITV
ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster consisting of ITV Studios and Media & Entertainment.
ITV Studios is a world-class international creator, producer and distributor. It is the largest commercial producer in the UK, one of the largest producers in Europe and one of the largest independent unscripted producers in the US.
Through ITV Studios we create, own and distribute high-quality content for broadcasters and platform owners around the world. Our footprint spans 13 countries, and we have 60 labels supplying over 200 channels and 90,000+ hours of active content in our catalogue.
In Media & Entertainment we commission brilliant programmes in a full range of genres, including a wealth of entertainment formats, high-quality drama, must-watch sporting events, impactful factual and award-winning current affairs and journalism. We make this available to audiences through our family of channels, the biggest commercial network in the UK, and through ITVX the new ad-funded, free streaming home for ITV and new programme premieres. ITVX also features a subscription option, for audiences who want to watch ad-free, and get access to BritBox UK.
ITV's Social Purpose is to shape culture for good. It is an integral part of how ITV sets and delivers its business goals, and has four focus areas: Better Health, Diversity & Inclusion, Climate Action and Giving Back.
BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with profits (EBITDA) of £226 million on sales of £1.6bn (21/22). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents, with three-quarters of its revenues from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Around 2,400 hours of award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com, BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, has 139 million unique browser visits each month.
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