Plotlands

Sold a small plot of land for a tiny outlay, Cockney widow Chloe Marsh and her two daughters flee the slums of post-war London for a better life in the country. But rural life in 1922 is hard. Chloe and her fellow pioneers have no mains water, no gas, no electricity, and no jobs. Forced to live in tents until they can afford a shack, they carve a community out of the hostile countryside.

Directed by —, Plotlands leans on a strong ensemble — Saskia Reeves, Rebecca Callard, Amanda Abbington — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1997.