MASTERPIECE Studio

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode 5 of World on Fire Season 2.  Actor Mark Bonnar turns up the charm this season with his suave and elegant character, Sir James Danemere. But what lies behind this sly demeanor? This week, Mark Bonnar brings us inside the head of Sir James, a man with a sharp sense of the ridiculous. Stay tuned after the interview for real WWII historical commenta...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode 4 of World on Fire Season 2.  Actor Ahad Raza Mir joins Season 2 of World on Fire as the heroic leader of the British Indian Army’s Sapper unit, Rajib Pal. In this interview, he discusses the complexity of his character, and how Rajib can simultaneously follow the rules while throwing caution to the wind.  Stay tuned after the interview for real...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for episode 3 of World on Fire Season 2.  For director Meenu Gaur, it’s important to bring a new perspective to the stories and genres that have been around for decades. And that’s what drew her to World on Fire . In this interview, Gaur discusses how she balanced the big, dramatic moments of battle with the small, tender moments of love, longing, and domest...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for episode 1 of World on Fire Season 2.  Historical advisor Richard Overy joins us as we kick off Season 2 of World on Fire . A lot happened in that first year of WWII, and because this show closely follows the real life history of the war, we want to take a moment to get oriented. If you’re confused about the North African campaign, never ending bombings i...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Unforgotten Season 5.  For actor Sanjeev Bhaskar and writer and creator Chris Lang, Season 5 of Unforgotten was full of new challenges and uncomfortable moments. But by the end of this season, we’re left with a glimmer of hope. As Sanjeev and Chris discuss the final episode of this season, we’re reminded that even in the most difficult of situations, the...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for episode four of Season Five of Unforgotten . Unforgotten creator and writer Chris Lang knew it would take time for both audiences and characters to grieve the loss of the beloved Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker, and welcome in Jessica James, played by Sinéad Keenan. In this episode, Lang reveals some of the decisions he made when crafting this tra...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for  World on Fire  Season 1. It’s been more than three years since MASTERPIECE aired Season 1 of World on Fire in 2020 — so don’t worry if you don’t remember exactly what happened in the first season. But rest assured: we’ve got you covered. With Season 2 of World on Fire just around the corner, let’s go back to the beginning and make sure we’re all caught...

As an Unforgotten fan herself, actor Sinéad Keenan was well aware of the boots she was filling by stepping into the role of the new DCI. And as if that wasn’t enough of a hurdle for her character DCI Jessica James, less than an hour before her first day at work, Jess’s husband Steve drops some shattering news. Sinéad joins the podcast this week to reflect on some of the challenges her character fa...

At the end of Season 4 of Unforgotten DCI Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker, tragically died in a car accident, sending shockwaves out to the other characters, actors, and viewers alike. But Sunny Khan is hit especially hard, given his close working relationship with Cassie. Sanjeev Bhaskar joins us to discuss how Sunny deals with this change, and what struggles and triumphs might lie ahead f...

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode One of  'Little Women'. This is an encore release of an earlier podcast episode. Dame Angela Lansbury was an acting icon for more than 75 years. Her credits spanned from  Gaslight, Mame,  and  Murder, She Wrote  to  Beauty and the Beast  and  Little Women.  She died in October 2022, and left behind a rich legacy of characters that are as iconic a...

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for the series finale of Endeavour . For over a decade, lead actor Shaun Evans has starred as Endeavour Morse. We’ve watched him transform from the young, talented and eager Morse, into the gruff, solitary, and brilliant Morse character portrayed by John Thaw in the original Inspector Morse series. As this series draws to a satisfying conclusion, Shaun Evans...

After 11 years of murder, mystery, and mystifying crossword puzzles, we’ve come to the final season of Endeavour . This episode is from a live conversation our host, Jace Lacob, had with Morse himself — star, director and producer Shaun Evans — during PBS’s virtual Endeavour event. 

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Endeavour Seasons 1-8. As Endeavour fans will know, this show packs its fair share of clever and unpredictable details into every episode. So, let’s make sure we’re all caught up on every clue, every chance meeting, and every furtive glance as we gear up for the final season of Endeavour on this special recap episode of MASTERPIECE Studio.

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Tom Jones episode 4. Solly McLeod joins the podcast to discuss his meteoric rise as an actor and how he relates to his Tom Jones character, as we bid a fond farewell to this joyful coming-of-age love story.

Honour Newton isn’t your typical lady’s maid. She’s outspoken and frank, but always provides unwavering support to her lovesick mistress Sophia Western, despite some very uncomfortable situations. Actor Pearl Mackie joins the podcast to discuss how her Tom Jones character strikes a balance between honesty and duty.

Tom Jones  co-star Sophie Wilde reflects on what it means for her character, Sophia Western, to take charge of her own journey in defiance of her family—and society's expectations—in pursuit of her one true love.

Gwyneth Hughes is no stranger to serious period dramas, but wanted to try something more lighthearted and romantic. Hughes discusses the decisions and joys of adapting Henry Fielding’s 1,000-page, deeply human, mother of all rom coms into four episodes of pure sunshine.

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Six of the Third Season of Sanditon . After three dramatic seasons, the series finale of Sanditon brings the story of Jane Austen’s unfinished final novel to a satisfying conclusion. Rose Williams and Crystal Clarke discuss the resolution of Charlotte Heywood’s and Georgiana Lambe’s stories and reflect on what this series has meant to them as act...

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Five of the Third Season of Sanditon.  Mary Parker has steadfastly supported the dreams of her visionary husband, Tom, but when his vision for Sanditon collides with Mary’s belief in what is right and just, she can support him no longer. Actor Kate Ashfield joins the podcast to discuss how Mary Parker finds her voice by pushing against Tom’s into...

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Three of the Third Season of Sanditon. Georgiana Lambe’s fortune has proven to be a blessing and a curse. While it provides her with safety and independence, it is also a magnet for fortune hunters and gossip mongers. In this interview, Crystal Clarke reveals some of the challenges Georgiana confronts as she defends not only her wealth, but also...

It’s been anything but smooth sailing for Charlotte Heywood since she first arrived in Sanditon. After experiencing heartbreak twice, she returns to the seaside resort this time with her childhood friend and fiancé, Ralph Starling. Actor Rose Williams joins us to discuss Charlotte’s pursuit of self-discovery as we kick off this third and final season of Sanditon.

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Seven of the Third Season of All Creatures Great and Small. At the end of the third season of All Creatures Great and Small , World War II has finally come to the Yorkshire Dales. Series leads Rachel Shenton and Nicholas Ralph reflect on their characters’ first season as a married couple, and anticipate what the arrival of war will mean for the D...

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Six of the Third Season of Miss Scarlet and The Duke . As a title character in Miss Scarlet and The Duke , William ‘Duke’ Wellington has a remarkably poor crime solving rate when compared to his amateur friend and colleague, Eliza Scarlet. But Stuart Martin assures viewers that the Duke is solving 100% of the crimes you don’t see him investigate,...

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Five of the Third Season of All Creatures Great and Small . The character of Mrs. Hall is knowing, and quick and quietly competent, but there’s much about her viewers still don’t know. Until this week, that is. In a gripping new episode, we learn the backstory of her long estrangement from her son, and Anna Madeley reveals how that story came to...

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Four of the Third Season of Miss Scarlet and the Duke. Ivy Woods is Eliza Scarlet’s surrogate mother, best friend and biggest critic. But thanks to Eliza, Ivy’s seen new possibilities for women in the Victorian Era, which is a thrilling journey for actor Cathy Belton to chart. Belton traces Ivy’s arc in the last three seasons, and looks ahead to...