‘Stunning’ period drama hailed 'one of the best' is streaming free on ITVX

If you're looking for an easy Sunday night series with hints of Downton Abbey thrown in, then this could be your next watch. Beecham House is now free to stream on ITVX and is a lavish period drama set on the cusp of 19th-century Delhi, India. Created by film-maker Gurinder Chadha, who worked on Bend It Like Beckham, the series focuses on John Beecham, who - you guessed it - buys a beautiful mansion staffed by servants and has magnificent features. It also offers a new and unique insight into British rule before the Raj, and gives an equal voice to the masters and their servants. The character of John is fictional, but he is inspired by several characters from the era who went to India along with the East India Company.

The cast of this lavish historical drama includes the likes of Tom Bateman as John, Lesley Nicol as Henrietta Beecham, and Leo Suter as Daniel Beecham. Other notable members include Dakota Blue Richards and Adil Ray.

Speaking about the show, Gurinder told ITV: "Beecham House is a passion project that is driven by my commitment to telling diverse, emotionally engaging stories for mainstream international audiences… I am assembling a vibrant cast of British and Indian actors to play original characters that will appeal to global audiences hungry to see stories from a unique point of view.

"I grew up with Raj dramas like Jewel in the Crown, The Far Pavilions and A Passage To India. Beecham House is my chance to tell those stories from a British Asian perspective."

What did viewers at home think? One person on IMDb praised the show, saying, "One of the best series I've ever watched. This series is so underrated, and it really does deserve some appreciation. The actors and the whole setup just wow. I mean, the series really provides something to the audience. The fictional story of the Mughal period, East India Company, and a good love story—everything is there. [...] Please bring season 2 soon."

Another user also commented, "Better than what other people have said. This show, much like Gurinder Chadha's films, is extremely accurate at portraying a story that is authentic to Indian people as well as entertaining. Somebody who just consumes British TV would not understand the depths of this show - there are famous Bollywood actors in this, and the dialogue is particularly sarcastic, and you can't help but want to watch the next episode to see what happens. It is a DRAMA, with mystery and particularly caters to an asian audience as it shows the clashes in culture."

A third typed, "Stunning cinematography. It's a very addictive, touching story, and the shots are so beautiful that you are just lost in it and feel every bit of the story. Waiting for season 2."

Beecham House can be streamed now on ITVX.