The series vwas groundbreaking when it first aired
A BBC period drama adapted from a celebrated novel is currently available for streaming and represents essential viewing for enthusiasts of costume dramas, reports the Mirror.
Viewers have lavished praise upon the limited series on IMDb, with one user awarding a perfect 10/10 score alongside the headline: “A skilled adaptation of an extraordinary novel”.
Another viewer entitled their critique “sublime” and remarked: “The BBC has done it again: this is a wonderful production of a very good book, and they have done it up in style.”
A third reviewer showered the programme with acclaim: “The sets and costumes are flawless, the direction is stylish and the characters are likeable. There is a fair amount of humor [sic] but it has surprisingly dark interludes. The protagonist is really a tragic figure, but not devoid of happiness.”
They continued: “The BBC have made some wonderful productions in the past, and this adventurous period piece only confirms their standard of excellence on all fronts.”
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A fourth viewer observed: “This wonderful 3 part BBC production is one of the sweetest love stories that I have seen in a while.”
They proceeded to note: “The characters are well defined and very believable. I guess this is a by-product of a good adaptation from a well written novel.”
Tipping the Velvet broadcast on the BBC in 2022, drawing from Welsh writer Sarah Waters’ 1998 inaugural novel bearing the identical title.
The three-episode series featured Pride and Prejudice and The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders scriptwriter Andrew Davies supervising the screenplays. Tipping the Velvet was set in the Victorian period and chronicled the sexual discovery of Whitstable local Nan Astley (portrayed by Rachael Stirling) after she ventured to London and became infatuated with male impersonator Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes).
The duo began a fervent affair as Nan financed her existence in London, before they established an onstage partnership.
The programme was a maturation story featuring comedic and sombre elements with a risqué edge.
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Tipping the Velvet boasted an impressive ensemble, featuring Four Weddings and a Funeral’s Anna Chancellor, Game of Thrones’ Jodhi May, Oscar-nominated Sally Hawkins, Line of Duty’s Daniel Mays, Downton Abbey favourite Hugh Bonneville, Appropriate Adult’s Monica Dolan, and even appearances from Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Vegas and Alexei Sayle.
Both the television programme and book have positively influenced the portrayal of queer characters on television and paved the way for additional LGBTQIA+ narratives to be broadcast.
Previously reflecting on her novel’s triumph and the resulting BBC adaptation, author Waters penned extensively about it in 2018, commemorating the book’s 20th milestone.
She revealed in The Guardian how she was “thrilled” by the response from the queer community but the popularity amongst heterosexual readers “took me by surprise”.
Waters also contemplated whether she’d pen a follow-up and would centre on Kitty.
Tipping the Velvet is available to stream on Prime Video for a fee