{"id":505124,"date":"2026-06-17T23:57:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T23:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/505124\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T23:57:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T23:57:10","slug":"martin-clunes-highest-rated-tv-show-is-a-deliciously-entertaining-period-drama-to-stream-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/505124\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin Clunes’ highest-rated TV show is a “deliciously entertaining” period drama to stream now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Martin Clunes might be best known for his turn as the grumpy Doctor Martin Ellingham in ITV’s beloved series Doc Martin, but according to Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, his highest-rated TV drama (when decided by the critics) is actually an historical miniseries. <\/p>\n

The British actor played a standout role in this year’s divisive movie adaptation of Wuthering Heights<\/a>, which is set in Yorkshire in the late 1700s. Before this, however, Clunes took the role of Sir Pitt Crawley in ITV’s 2018 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1848 novel of the same name, Vanity Fair. <\/p>\n

The show’s cast<\/a> also boasted numerous popular actors, including Olivia Cooke (who would go on to star in Apple TV’s breakout hit Slow Horses<\/a>, Game of Thrones’ spinoff House of the Dragon, and Prime Video’s trending thriller The Girlfriend<\/a>) as the main character Becky Sharp. <\/p>\n

\"vanity<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Related: Best streaming services<\/a><\/p>\n

The story centres on this strong-willed lead, as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and navigate upper-class English society.<\/p>\n

Cooke was joined by Suranne Jones (Vigil, Doctor Foster), who played the role of Miss Pinkerton, and Monty Python’s Michael Palin as Thackeray. <\/p>\n

The cast also includes: <\/p>\n

\u2022 Claudia Jessie (Bridgerton)
\u2022 Claire Skinner (Outnumbered)
\u2022 Johnny Flynn (Ripley)
\u2022 Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes)
\u2022 Simon Russell Beale (House of the Dragon)
\u2022 Charlie Rowe (Slow Horses)
\u2022 Frances de La Tour (Professor T)

Vanity Fair – which premiered on ITV in the UK, and Prime Video in the US – had a mixed response from critics at the time, but sits with a respectable 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, based on 38 critical reviews. <\/p>\n

\"Vanity<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

WORLD <\/a>described Vanity Fair as “a deliciously entertaining and edifying place”, while The <\/a>Hollywood Reporter<\/a> said: “This is a core story with good bones and these are those bones, decently played by a decent cast. There’s nothing more definitive or illuminating than that.” <\/p>\n

The Daily Dot opined: “And while Becky seems less unique today, Amazon’s Vanity Fair is still worth watching, if for no other reason than to consider how original she would’ve seemed in Thackeray’s 1848 epic.” <\/p>\n

Den of Geek<\/a> highlighted the central performance, writing: “Cooke is so sparkling here, in fact, the one concern is that everything else and everyone else struggles to be quite as scintillating.”<\/p>\n

\"martin<\/p>\n

ITV\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Related: 6 of the best shows to watch this week – including a gritty new thriller and twisty detective series<\/a><\/p>\n

A common theme, Decider <\/a>added: “There’s nothing inherently wrong with this version of Vanity Fair, so Cooke’s performance puts it over the top.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe<\/a> said: “It’s well-acted all around and paced briskly enough to take up seven hours without filler. There’s nothing particularly ingenious about it; but there’s no looking down on a good story smartly told.”<\/p>\n

If you missed it the first time around and wanted to check out Vanity Fair for yourself, it’s currently streaming on Apple TV and available to purchase on Prime Video. <\/p>\n

Visit our Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating the global phenomenon of BTS, is here! Buy this ultimate fan guide in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

TV Editor, Digital Spy<\/a> Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. \u00a0Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV<\/a> desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. \u00a0As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).\u00a0<\/p>\n

linkedIn<\/a>
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