THE FORSYTES: PERIOD DRAMA REIMAGINING OF JOHN GALSWORTHY NOVELS SECURED BY 5

5 has announced it has secured the UK broadcast rights for the sweeping period drama The Forsytes (6x60’), the major reimagining of John Galsworthy’s novel series The Forsyte Saga. Originally commissioned by MASTERPIECE on PBS and produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, the drama will soon be available to UK audiences exclusively on 5.

Penned by acclaimed British screenwriter Debbie Horsfield (Poldark) the series chronicles the lives of four generations of an upper-class family of stockbrokers, set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving late-Victorian world.

Sticklers for tradition and status, the older Forsytes prize duty and reputation above all else, whilst the younger members rail against the rigidity of family expectations. The question of who will take over  the family firm puts Soames Forsyte and his cousin Jolyon in conflict just as their lives are  turned upside down by the arrival of two remarkable women.  Ultimately each Forsyte family member grapples with the same dilemma – is it better to be ruled by the head or the heart?

John Galsworthy won the Nobel Prize in 1932 for The Forsyte Saga. The series was adapted as a Hollywood film and for television in both 1967 and 2002.

The stellar ensemble cast includes Francesca Annis, Jack Davenport, Tom Durant-Pritchard, Jamie Flatters, Millie Gibson, Danny Griffin, Susan Hampshire, Owen Igiehon, Tuppence Middleton, Stephen Moyer, Joshua Orpin, Josette Simon and Eleanor Tomlinson.

BAFTA winner Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood) plays formidable Forsyte matriarch Ann, with Stephen Moyer (True Blood) as her eldest son, Jolyon Snr, head of the family stockbroking firm Forsyte & Co. Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga) plays his bohemian son Jolyon Jnr, Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey: A New Era) is Jolyon Jnr’s status-driven wife Frances and Eleanor Tomlinson (One Day) is Louisa Byrne, a Soho dressmaker and Jolyon Jnr’s first love.

Jack Davenport (The Morning Show) plays Ann’s competitive younger son James, with Joshua Orpin (Titans) as James’ ambitious son Soames. Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) is Irene Heron, the dancer whom Soames falls in love with. Tom Durant-Pritchard (Baby Reindeer) plays Monty Dartie, James’ son-in-law.

Josette Simon OBE (Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy) is Mrs. Ellen Parker Barrington, a wealthy heiress and friend of the Forsyte family, with Jamie Flatters (Avatar: The Way Of Water) as architect Philip Bosinney and Owen Igiehon (Disclaimer) as lawyer Isaac Cole. Susan Hampshire, OBE (who starred in the 1967 BBC Forsyte Saga and won the first of her three lead actress Emmys for the role) plays Lady Carteret.

The Forsytes is directed by Meenu Gaur (Murder Is Easy) and Annetta Laufer (Get Millie Black) and is produced by Sarah Lewis (The Long Shadow).

Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, 5 said: “We are excited to give The Forsytes its UK home on 5. This lavish new adaptation is a great addition to our rich portfolio of period dramas. With a stellar cast, stunning production, and rich ensemble of characters, it has all the components our audience loves.”

Damien Timmer, Chief Creative Officer and Founder, Mammoth Screen, said: “It’s been a joy working with Debbie Horsfield and our magnificent cast on series 1 of The Forsytes for MASTERPIECE on PBS, and we’re thrilled UK viewers are going to be able to watch it on 5, which has become such a destination for drama audiences. Let the saga commence!”

Susanne Simpson, Head of Scripted Content and Executive Producer at MASTERPIECE said: “We can’t wait to bring The Forsytes to our MASTERPIECE viewers in the US, and we’re thrilled that the series has a UK home at 5. With brilliant actors and an amazing crew, Mammoth Screen has created a sumptuous reimagining of a classic that will delight audiences around the world.”

The newest adaptation is set to air on 5 in late 2025.