Period Drama 'Jamaica Inn' Will Air on PBS This Winter

Fun fact: The 2014 period drama Jamaica Inn was one of former Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay's first major roles after leaving Highclere Castle behind (RIP, Lady Sybil), yet the three-part series has never actually aired in America. 

Sure, motivated viewers can track it down online: it's been available to PBS Passport members since June and can also be streamed as part of the Masterpiece subchannel on Prime Video. But somehow, despite featuring one of the buzziest actresses of the moment at the time of its release and being based on a novel by popular author Daphne du Maurier, it just never managed to find a broadcast home here in the United States.

Now, nearly a decade after its initial U.K. premiere, when the three-part will finally arrive on PBS stations nationwide. (Though, as we'll get to in a minute, you'll have to do a little homework to figure out precisely when your local station might air it.) 

Jamaica Inn is one of Du Maurier's most infrequently adapted stories, with just a single feature film and a scant few television versions in existence. (The author's most famous work, Rebecca, can claim over half a dozen television adaptations, several plays, and, of course, the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock feature film.) This could be because of its complex, morally murky plot, the fact that few modern-day viewers know much about the cultural trope of "wreckers" in southwest England, or some combination of both, but whatever the reason, this is a story that's much less well known,

Set in 1920s Cornwall and inspired by du Maurier’s own stay at the real Jamaica Inn (which still exists today as a pub in the middle of Bodmin Moor), the drama follows the story of Mary Yellan (Findlay), who comes to live with her Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss following the death of her mother. But she quickly discovers the inn has no guests and is actually the unsavory center of her uncle’s secret criminal enterprise, which revolves around misleading ships to run aground and subsequently plundering their wreckage. 

Life at Jamaica Inn challenges Mary’s black-and-white perceptions of morality as she finds herself living among smugglers in a lawless land where no one is quite who they seem. When she thinks she has witnessed a murder, Mary wonders at what cost she will stay silent and what will happen if she should decide to speak out. 

Findlay leads an ensemble cast full of familiar faces, including Domina’s Matthew McNulty, The Crown’s Ben Daniels, Wolf Hall’s Joanne Whalley, and The Green Knight’s Sean Harris. The series was written by Emma Frost, who went on to pen several hit female-focused period dramas for Starz, including The White Queen, The White Princess, and The Spanish Princess. 

The synopsis describes the series as follows. 

Following the death of her mother, Mary Yellen arrives at Jamaica Inn, where she finds she must fight to hold onto her morality and resist being drawn into the dangerous world of smuggling. Mary becomes much compromised when she falls for the rough and handsome Jem Merlyn. Mary’s morals and loyalties become deeply conflicted and she is uncertain of who she can trust.

Jamaica Inn is currently slated to air on PBS stations starting Thursday, January 12. But, since it's not being broadcast as part of the designated Sunday night Masterpiece block, its premiere date will likely not be exactly the same across the country. WETA, for instance, generally airs mysteries on Thursday nights in primetime as part of our Thriller Thursday block, and other stations may have similar theme nights in place. What I'm saying is, even more so than usual, please check your local listings to find out your station's broadcast plans for the series.