The third and final series of Sanditon set to stream on ITVX

The third and final series of Sanditon set to stream on ITVX from 17 August 2023

Red Planet Pictures’ lavish period drama Sanditon will conclude in its final series on ITVX on 17th August, 2023. Having entertained millions around the world with its charm, romance, risqué storylines and irreverent humour, audiences will be taken on one last journey to the picturesque coastal resort inhabited by the beloved characters that audiences have come to know and love.

Television audiences devoured the sumptuous drama series inspired by Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel. On Masterpiece in the US, series three was the #3 programme of the whole season, with 4.8 million viewers tuning in. The fan favourite was streamed over 4.1 million times across March 19 to May 13, 2023, rising 10% from series two. Series one to three have been sold globally to over 190 territories including Japan, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Spain and Israel.

Rose Williams who plays Sanditon’s beloved heroine Charlotte Heywood, said:

“I’m thrilled that our third and final chapter has reached UK shores. I’m excited for audiences to meet the brilliant new characters of season 3, and to see how all Sanditon’s original inhabitants’ adventures conclude. It’s been a true gift to play Charlotte Heywood.”

The final series features brand new characters set to bring drama, romance, laughter and scandal. Shaking up the sunny seaside town is Lady Montrose played by Emma Fielding, (Van der Valk), the quintessential Austen mother who arrives in Sanditon with one objective: matches for her children, Lydia and Henry. Lydia (Alice Orr-Ewing, Andor, A Very English Scandal) is an independent young woman who is not as eager for a match as her mother, and Lord Henry Montrose (Edward Davis, Emma) is charismatic and confident, but he holds a secret. Rowleigh Pryce, played by James Bolam (New Tricks) is a wealthy, curmudgeonly investor who teams up with Tom Parker (Kris Marshall) on the town’s expansion, but their plans become complicated when Rowleigh runs into the formidable Lady Denham (Anne Reid). Also new to Sanditon is Alexander’s brother, Samuel Colbourne (Liam Garrigan, Cobra, Small Axe) – a lawyer, and a charming bachelor who makes a lasting impression on the returning Lady Susan (Sophie Winkleman).

Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) returns to Sanditon with her fiancé in tow but is forced to come to terms with her unresolved feelings for Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes). He, devastated, tries to move on and open his heart to another. But as they keep getting drawn together, can they keep on ignoring their feelings? Meanwhile, Georgiana (Crystal Clarke) is horrified to discover a claim on her newfound inheritance. With the help of Samuel Colbourne, she battles in court to keep what is hers. Elsewhere, Edward (Jack Fox) has promised Lady Denham he is truly reformed, but will Augusta Markham’s fortune be too an irresistible a proposition?

With weddings and failed engagements, will the Sanditon residents all find true love and happiness after all?

Inspired by Jane Austen’s original 11-chapter fragment, the show was adapted and created by Emmy award winning screenwriter Andrew Davies and produced by Red Planet Pictures. The series took on its own direction and writer Justin Young took the helm as lead writer and executive producer for series 2 and 3.

Executive Producer for Red Planet Pictures Belinda Campbell said:

“I can’t wait for our amazing UK audience to see how Charlotte and Sanditon’s other beloved characters stories end.  Packed full of romance, joy, laughter and love, it’s fantastic that audiences will be able to view the entire 3 seasons on ITVX.  Whilst Austen only left a fragment of text, Andrew Davies’ inspired adaptation and Justin Young’s wonderful continuation, along with the incredible work of all our cast and crew, have created another iconic love story for the ages.”

Sanditon, Series 3 is a co-production of Red Planet Pictures, MASTERPIECE and ITV in association with PBS Distribution. Sanditon 3 has been commissioned for ITVX by ITV's Head of Drama, Polly Hill. 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 final series. Andrew Davies, who originally created the drama, executive produced the third series.  The series producer is Rebecca Hedderly (Casualty), the producers are Ian Hogan (Black Mirror) and Amy Rodriguez (Harlots) and directed by Jennie Paddon (Death in Paradise) and Steve Brett (Death in Paradise, Holby City). 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 series. PBS Distribution is the distributor of all three series in the US and Canada.

All episodes of Series 3 and the full boxset Series 1-3 available on ITVX from 17 August 2023.

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About Red Planet Pictures 

Red Planet Pictures, part of the Asacha Media Group, creates ambitious and engaging drama. Run by Joint Managing Directors, Belinda Campbell and Alex Jones, Red Planet Pictures is an independent production company which has built a reputation for making dramas with high-quality storytelling which are loved by audiences across the globe.

Red Planet Pictures has produced some of the UK’s most successful dramas of recent years: BBC One ratings hit DEATH IN PARADISE is broadcast in over 260 territories and has run for over a decade on screen. The second Christmas special broadcast in 2022 became the highest rated drama of the Christmas period for the second year running – followed by the premiere of series 12 which aired in Jan/ Feb 2023 with audiences regularly topping 7.5 million and the thirteenth series is currently in production. The popularity and success of this show led to the BBC and BritBox International expanding the Death in Paradise universe by co-commissioning spin off show BEYOND PARADISE starring Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton as DI Humphrey Goodman and Martha Lloyd which transmitted on BBC One earlier this year with nearly 7 million viewers regularly tuning in every week and has been recommissioned for a second series and a Christmas Special.

The third series of SANDITON, an epic adaptation of the unfinished Jane Austen novel by Emmy and BAFTA-Award winning writer Andrew Davies for MASTERPIECE and BritBox UK, recently finished its run in the US to huge critical acclaim and ranked as seventh highest viewed prime time PBS drama, third in total viewers for a MASTERPIECE title in prime time on PBS for the year to date and second amongst 18-49 year olds. It will air on ITV in the UK later this year.

Last year also saw the transmission of much anticipated OUR HOUSE on ITV – the channel’s third biggest 9pm new drama launch for 2022 – based on the award-winning, best-selling novel by Louise Candlish, adapted by Simon Ashdown, directed by Sheree Folkson and starring Martin Compston, Tuppence Middleton and Rupert Penry-Jones.

Red Planet Pictures has extended the relationship with Candlish to adapt her 2016 thriller, THE SWIMMING POOL, and her newly published book, THE ONLY SUSPECT, as well as working on new, original, drama series ideas and scripts.

The indie, which was founded by award-winning showrunner and Executive Chairman, Tony Jordan in 2006, also produced the innovative, ambitious and critically acclaimed 20-part drama DICKENSIAN and flagship WWI drama THE PASSING BELLS for BBC One, big budget action adventure series HOOTEN & THE LADY for Sky One and co-produced the both series of Balkan hit crime thriller BESA, which Tony created and won a Golden Antenna for best drama at FEDIS. In June 2021, multinational content creator and producer Asacha Media Group (AMG), acquired a controlling stake in Red Planet Pictures in a deal that furthers the ambitions of both companies in producing high end, popular drama that resonates on a global stage.

Red Planet Pictures’ broad development slate also includes an adaptation of Mike Phillips’ ground-breaking novel, BLOOD RIGHTS, by one of the UK’s hottest writing talents, Ryan Calais Cameron, Megan Hunter‘s THE HARPY, New York Times best-selling author Antony Johnston’s THE EXPHORIA CODE and DARK PINES by Will Dean.

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 produce. 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 ITV

ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster consisting of ITV Studios and Media & Entertainment.

ITV Studios is a world-class international creator, producer and distributor. It is the largest commercial producer in the UK, one of the largest producers in Europe and one of the largest independent unscripted producers in the US. 

Through ITV Studios we create, own and distribute high-quality content for broadcasters and platform owners around the world. Our footprint spans 13 countries, and we have 60 labels supplying over 200 channels and 90,000+ hours of active content in our catalogue.

In Media & Entertainment we commission brilliant programmes in a full range of genres, including a wealth of entertainment formats, high-quality drama, must-watch sporting events, impactful factual and award-winning current affairs and journalism. We make this available to audiences through our family of channels, the biggest commercial network in the UK, and through ITVX the new ad-funded, free streaming home for ITV and new programme premieres. ITVX also features a subscription option, for audiences who want to watch ad-free, and get access to BritBox UK. 

ITV's Social Purpose is to shape culture for good. It is an integral part of how ITV sets and delivers its business goals, and has four focus areas: Better Health, Diversity & Inclusion, Climate Action and Giving Back.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with profits (EBITDA) of £226 million on sales of £1.6bn (21/22). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents, with three-quarters of its revenues from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix.  Around 2,400 hours of award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com, BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, has 139 million unique browser visits each month.