Brideshead Revisited is an 11-episode British television drama series produced by Granada Television and first broadcast on ITV in 1981. It is based on the acclaimed 1945 novel of the same name by Evelyn Waugh.
The story spans from the 1920s to the Second World War and follows Charles Ryder, a student at Oxford University. There, he befriends Sebastian Flyte, a charming and eccentric young man from the aristocratic Marchmain family. Through Sebastian, Charles becomes entwined with the family’s world at Brideshead Castle, where he encounters a complex web of relationships, faith, and personal transformation.
The series explores themes of love, faith, memory, and the decline of the British aristocracy. It is celebrated for its elegant storytelling, rich character development, and its atmospheric portrayal of interwar England. With standout performances by Jeremy Irons (as Charles Ryder) and Anthony Andrews (as Sebastian Flyte), and stunning visuals shot largely at Castle Howard, Brideshead Revisited is considered one of the greatest British television dramas ever made.
Genre: Drama, Romance, Historical
Episodes: 11 (Total runtime ~659 minutes)
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Laurence Olivier
Directed by: Charles Sturridge, Michael Lindsay-Hogg