From the beautiful, sweeping costumes to spectacular scenery and glimpsing how people used to live, period dramas make up some of the most popular shows on TV.
The history behind the shows can be just as fascinating if not more, so we’ve put together some of the most popular historical dramas from recent years and the real stories that inspired them.
Call the Midwife
Call the Midwife is a heartwarming tale that follows the story of a group of midwives and sisters in London in the 1950s and 60s, based on the real life experiences of Jeniffer Worth.
In the show, the midwives and sisters work in Nonnatus House in Poplar, providing maternity care for communities in London’s East End. In real life, the sisters were the Sisters of Saint John the Divine. Established in 1848, the sisters worked across London until settling in Poplar in the 1880s. There, they became a huge part of the community and would often be seen in the iconic uniforms, using bicycles to get around just as they do in the show.
While Call the Midwife has been on our screens since 2012, it draws in as many viewers as ever, with the 2023 Christmas special gaining more than 7.6 million views – the most-watched scripted terrestrial show of the festive season. Season 14 of the show is due on our screens in 2025.
Bridgerton
Between ripped bodices and unspeakable things done in the backs of carriages, we couldn’t make a list like this without including one of Netflix’s most popular shows to date. While Bridgerton isn’t really known for its historical accuracy, it is set during a real period of British history spanning from 1811 – 1820 that was just as obsessed with high society and scandal – the Regency Era.
Every year, a group of royals, aristocrats and other high-standing members of society would get together for a season of balls and soirées where they would network, conduct business and, of course, begin courtships.
As the influencers of their time, these people would set the standards of fashion and beauty and became known as the ton, from the French ‘le bon ton’, meaning a good or elegant fashion. They also enjoyed partaking in gossip columns which, much like Lady Whistledown’s writing, would spread rumours and reveal scandals of high society.
We can’t wait to see Benjamin’s season next time around, though it isn’t likely to reach us until 2026.
Shōgun
Away from the glitzy ball gowns and gossip, Shōgun is a much darker, brutal historical drama from FX (currently available to UK viewers through Disney+) that’s beautifully shot, has wonderfully elaborate costumes, along with layers of deception and political manoeuvring.
Almost immediately gaining critical acclaim after its release, this limited series is based on a book of the same name and tells the story of a real power struggle that happened hundreds of years ago in Feudal Japan.
Following the death of Japan’s leader, Toranaga Yoshii (Tokugawa Ieyasu in real life) is one of five lords vying for power and the position of Shōgun – a military commander who would effectively rule Japan. This would lead to the formation of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled for over 250 years between 1603 and 1867, a time that became known as the Edo Era, Edo being the city that would later be renamed as Tokyo.
The show is largely told from the perspective of John Blackthorne (William Adams in real life) and how after arriving in Japan he ends up befriending Toranaga and becoming one of his closest advisors.
The Gilded Age
This drama from HBO follows the stories of two rival families living in the titular Gilded Age in late 19th century America. This was a time of rapid transformation and development in America’s history and saw a widening gap between the upper and lower classes. Sheer opulence masked a dark underbelly of corruption and greed – hence the term ‘Gilded Age’ which was coined by Mark Twain in 1873 in a satirical novel of the same name.
The characters depicted in the show are largely fictional but based on the real-life figures of the Vanderbilts and the Astors, who came into conflict when the Vanderbilts aimed to buy their way into New York’s high society. Coming from ‘old money’, the Astors, specifically Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, could not abide by the Vanderbilt’s ‘new money’ and sought to gatekeep who was and was not considered socially acceptable.
Season 3 of the Gilded Age is predicted to be released in 2025.
Peaky Blinders
While Peaky Blinders has been off our screens since 2022, there’s no denying its popularity and its influence on popular culture.
The show is set in late 19th century in Birmingham, where poverty, huge levels of inequality and poor living conditions for many working class people in England lead to the formation of violent, criminal gangs – such as the Peaky Blinders. In the show, the gang is led by the formidable Thomas Shelby and along with the rest of his family, rises to power and deftly navigates the criminal world.
The Shelbys may be fictional but the Peaky Blinders were a very real gang who held much control over the streets of Birmingham. While corrupt police looked the other way, the Peaky Blinders continued to operate freely for almost 20 years. They would also wear the characteristic suits and flat caps as a way to show off their status and make them stand out from other gangs. If you want to replicate their style, check out our designer umbrellas to make sure you’re looking as sharp as one of the Shelbys.
Do you ever wonder if these historical figures ever imagined that hundreds of years later we’d still be talking about them and watching their stories? If you want to keep reading about historical TV, fashion and more, take a look at our blog.