'The Forsytes' Character Posters Are Swoon-Worthy

It’s been a minute since Masterpiece went full-court press for an upcoming all-star costume drama, at least in the way it used to do for Downton Abbey back in the day. Viewers couldn’t get enough of the Granthams, and images from filming used to cross the pond regularly, as did all of the ITV marketing. Fans were recently reminded of the extensive amount of Downton Abbey material that would be released in the months leading up to the new season’s arrival in January, when the character posters for the final film were released. Character posters were a staple, as were trailers and teaser images, all of which debuted in the depths of summer, before the new series arrived in the U.K. in September.

There have been hits since then, All Creatures Great & Small, Miss Scarlet, Sanditon, etc., but none of these shows have ever reached the level of a character poster drop, partly because the casts aren’t sprawling in that way, and, moreover, the outfits just aren’t extravagant enough to warrant them. 

That ends now.  

The Forsytes, the new series spearheaded by Masterpiece and co-produced by Channel 5, has been marketed as a modern reimagining of an old-school throwback. With an all-star cast, a story that spans from the late Victorian era through the interwar period, and outfits galore, if there was ever a series that was coming fully loaded with character posters, this is it.

Based on John Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga novels from the early 20th century, this epic saga, spanning generations, has been a touchstone for PBS and high-end U.K. costume dramas. The original 1967 BBC version, titled The Forsyte Saga, became PBS’s first significant hit, inspiring the creation of Masterpiece as a series. The 2002 remake, also titled The Forsyte Saga, was one of the last shows it co-produced under the original Masterpiece Theater banner before it was retired in 2006, and still streams on most PBS Passports for members two decades on. 

The confirmation that The Forsytes will air on Channel 5 in the fall, in the same way as All Creatures Great & Small (also a co-production between Masterpiece and Channel 5), does raise some questions regarding how long American viewers will have to wait. Traditionally, if the show debuts in the U.K. in the fall, it debuts on PBS in January of the following year, a pattern set by Downton Abbey, and which All Creatures has successfully followed.

However, the assumption thus far has been that The Forsytes would not debut in the winter, since that already has Miss Scarlet and All Creatures as a solid double act that has worked well paired with mysteries like Vienna Blood or more contemporary period dramas like Funny Woman. Instead, most PBS watchers have expected The Forsytes to take Sanditon's old springtime slot and run from March to May 2026 at 9 p.m. ET, most likely with Call the Midwife as a solid lead-in at 8 p.m., and Jeremy Irons' return to PBS in The Count of Monte Cristo bookending the trio at 10 p.m.

Here's Channel 5's version of the synopsis:

Desire, ambition, and betrayal are at the heart of this sumptuous costume drama that follows the romances, family bonds, and ambitions of the Forsytes, a prominent upper-class family in late 1800s London. The series is inspired by the novels known as The Forsyte Saga, which were previously adapted with the same title. This new reimagining portrays events that occur before those covered in Galsworthy's classic books, bringing romance to the forefront.   

The Forsytes' all-star cast features Francesca Annis (Flesh & Blood) as matriarch, Ann; Stephen Moyer (Art Detectives) as her eldest son, Jolyon Senior; and Jack Davenport (Ten Percent) as the competitive younger son, James. Danny Griffin (The Gentlemen) plays Jolyon Sr.’s bohemian son Jo, Tuppence Middleton (Our House) is Jo’s status-driven wife, Frances; Eleanor Tomlinson (The Outlaws) plays Louisa Byrne, a Soho dressmaker and Jo’s first love. Joshua Orpin (Titans) is James’s son, Soames; Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) is his true love, Irene; and Tom Durant Pritchard (Miss Scarlet) plays Monty Dartie, James’s son-in-law. 

Other notable members of the series’ sprawling ensemble cast include Josette Simon (Broadchurch), Tristan Sturrock (Poldark), Justine Moore (Call the Midwife), Jamie Flatters (Liar), Naomi Frederick (Belgravia), Sharon Rose (Silent Witness), Owen Igiehon (Disclaimer), Fiona Button (Truelove), Eleanor Jackson (The Royal Mob), and OG 1967 The Forsyte Saga star Susan Hampshire OBE, who plays Lady Carteret in this version.

All six episodes of The Forsytes Season 1 are written by Debbie Horsfield, who brought PBS's 2015 Poldark adaptation to the small screen. Directors Meenu Gaur (Murder Is Easy) and Annetta Laufer (Get Millie Black) are splitting helming duties, and Sarah Lewis (The Long Shadow) is producing. Horsfield and Gaur executive produce with Sheena Bucktowonsing, Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece. 

The Forsytes Season 1 does not have a release date yet, other than Channel 5's "Autumn 2025" and Masterpiece's "Coming in 2026." Season 2 is already filming and expected to follow in 2026/2027. The 2002 adaptation of The Forsyte Saga is available for members to stream on most PBS Passports, while the original 1967 version is available as a streaming rental via Amazon. As always, check your local listings and streaming services.