PICK OF THE WEEK

THE FORSYTE SAGA UPPER-CRUST EPIC

The Forsyte family, from the books by John Galsworthy, are a sprawling upper-class clan of schemers, romantics, bounders and dowagers. Principle schemer is stiff Soames (Damian Lewis) who, despite being enchanted by Irene (Gina Mckee, above with Lewis), views her only as something to be possessed. This is no Downton Abbey, though it paved the way for it, and as a well-appointed modern adaptation, it proved that the classics can move with the times.