WATERTOWN, NY (March 8, 2023) – Jane Austen’s last, incomplete novel gets a glorious finish in the third and final season of Sanditon, MASTERPIECE’s acclaimed continuation of the story and characters created by Austen in her fascinating fragmentary work. Sanditon, Season 3 wraps up the plot in six satisfying episodes airing March 19 to April 23, 2023 at 9:00 pm on WPBS-TV and on the PBS App.
“We’re sad to take leave of this marvelous series, which has all the wit and joy expected of a Jane Austen-inspired drama,” says Susanne Simpson, Executive Producer of MASTERPIECE. “We know viewers will be on the edge of their seats as the final pieces fall into place.”
Belinda Campbell, Joint Managing Director of Red Planet Pictures adds, “Telling the stories of these Austenian heroines over three seasons has been a joy- their journeys, hopes, dreams, and romances have resonated with fans all over the world. The characters have grown just as beautifully as the town of Sanditon itself, and we’re delighted to showcase the enchanting coastal resort for a final time.”
Set amid the romantic intrigues of an English seaside resort in the early 1800s, the MASTERPIECE series has been called “a balmy retreat” (Salon), “lush and fun” (New York Times), and “perfect escapist fare” (Indiewire).
True to themes from other Austen novels, the first two seasons raised and dashed various matrimonial prospects for the heroines, played by Rose Williams (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) and Crystal Clarke (Empire of Light).
Williams appears as Charlotte Heywood, a young woman from the country whom fate has thrust into the social scene in Sanditon, which is vying to become the go-to spa for fashionable aristocrats and gentry. Although her father intends her to marry local farmer Ralph Starling (Cai Brigden, Summer of Rockets), Charlotte has attracted the attention of some of Sanditon’s most eligible bachelors—among them the enigmatic Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes, The Crown), a landowner with a mysterious past.
Clarke’s character, Georgiana Lambe, faces an entirely different problem. A mixed-race heiress from the West Indies, she can’t trust any of her suitors, because in all probability they are only interested in her fortune. The two women bond over these courtship dilemmas as well as their resolve to forge their own destinies.
The returning cast includes Flora Mitchell as Colbourne’s tomboyish young daughter, Leonora, and Eloise Webb (The Queen’s Gambit) as his rebellious niece, Augusta, who falls for a questionable admirer. Kris Marshall (Death in Paradise) reprises his role as Sanditon’s tireless promoter, Tom Parker, joined by Kate Ashfield (A Confession) as his principled wife, Mary, and Turlough Convery (Les Misérables) as his ebullient brother Arthur.
Also back are Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax) as the imperious Lady Denham; Jack Fox (Cheaters) as her dissolute nephew, Edward; and Sophie Winkleman (The Chronicles of Narnia) as Charlotte’s high-society friend, Lady Susan, who happens to be the king’s mistress.
Romantic possibilities this season are enhanced by new cast members, including Emma Fielding (Cranford) as the financially distressed Lady Montrose, who arrives in Sanditon to snare matches for her grown children: Lydia (Alice Orr-Ewing, The Theory of Everything), who is an independent-minded young woman; and Lord Henry Montrose (Edward Davis, Emma), a duke whose title alone is an attractive selling point, if he is perhaps less suitable in other ways. James Bolam (The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner) plays Rowleigh Pryce, a crusty investor whom Tom Parker is courting to bankroll a new hotel in Sanditon, subject to Lady Denham’s approval. It turns out that Pryce and Lady Denham share a very interesting past.
And there is Liam Garrigan (The Pillars of the Earth), who appears as Alexander Colbourne’s brother, Samuel, a London attorney whose legal help is crucial as the plot approaches its climax. An eligible bachelor himself, Samuel gets caught up in the Sanditon marriage market. Intrigued by this former sleepy village which has become a place of hidden passions, he eyes a new female acquaintance and muses, “There are so many interesting things going on in Sanditon that require careful observation.”
Season 3 of Sanditon will be available to watch on-demand on all station-branded PBS platforms, including wpbstv.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
WPBS members can view the entire series the day of its premiere via WPBS Passport – a member benefit that provides you with extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming. Learn more about WPBS Passport at: watch.wpbstv.org/passport/learn-more.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode One – 3/19/23
The first episode of Sanditon Season 3 sees Charlotte arrive back at the Regency era seaside resort—fiancé in tow—for the society event of the year. Seeing Colbourne again leaves her feeling uncertain. Meanwhile, Georgiana receives a shocking threat to her fortune, and Edward tries to prove to Lady Denham that he is a changed man.
Episode Two – 3/26/23
Georgiana faces a nearly impossible task in trying to find a lawyer, but help arrives from a surprising place. Lady Denham accepts a new vision for the town and spars with an old flame. Arthur makes a new friend.
Episode Three – 4/2/23
Georgiana gets a surprise visit. Colbourne’s shooting party goes ahead and Charlotte has to confront all that she’s lost. Mary and Tom cross swords over his plans for the old town.
Episode Four – 4/9/23
Charlotte attempts to distance herself from Colbourne but as they are repeatedly thrown into each other’s orbit, their chemistry rises. Meanwhile Georgiana is unravelling and makes a surprising decision to protect herself.
Episode Five – 4/16/23
Charlotte and Colbourne rush to Augusta’s aid. Tom secures a financial investment… but is delivered some devastating news. And while love blossoms elsewhere, Arthur’s heart is broken.
Episode Six – 4/23/23
Charlotte desperately wants to tell Colbourne the truth about her feelings, but a shocking revelation stops her in her tracks. Having opened her heart, Georgiana’s worst fears are realized when she discovers she has been abandoned.
Sanditon, Season 3 is a co-production of Red Planet Pictures, MASTERPIECE and ITV in association with PBS Distribution. Justin Young (Death in Paradise) is lead writer and executive producer. Joe Ainsworth, Andrea Gibb, Robin French, Colin Bytheway, Jo Spain also wrote on the series. Andrew Davies, who originally created the drama, wrote and executive produced. The series producer is Rebecca Hedderly (Casualty), the producers are Ian Hogan (Black Mirror) and Amy Rodriguez (Harlots) and lead director is Jennie Paddon (Death in Paradise). Executive producers are Belinda Campbell and Tim Key for Red Planet Pictures and Susanne Simpson for MASTERPIECE. BBC Studios are the international distributors of all three seasons. PBS Distribution is the distributor of all three seasons in the US and Canada.
About MASTERPIECE
Winner of 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans since 1971. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer and Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer-at-large for the series. Series funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking Cruises, Raymond James, The MASTERPIECE Trust, and public television viewers. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for hits such as All Creatures Great and Small, Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga and Poldark.
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform, and engage its two-nation region with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of extraordinary public media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and borders. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
