: ''For the American TV series starring
Diana Rigg
Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July 1938 – 10 September 2020) was an English actress of stage and screen. Her roles include Emma Peel in the TV series ''The Avengers (TV series), The Avengers'' (1965–1968); Countess Tracy Bond, Teresa di ...
, see
Diana (American TV series)''.
''Diana'' is a British television drama series first broadcast by the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
in 1984. It was adapted by
Andrew Davies from two
R. F. Delderfield novels.
It follows the intersecting but very different lives of Jan Leigh (
Kevin McNally), a poor but studious young country lad and Diana Gayelorde-Sutton (
Jenny Seagrove), the equally single minded daughter of a rich landowner, from the 1920s through to post-war Britain. The early story revolves around the class mismatch between the pair; the besotted Jan attempts to elevate his status through hard work and the more aloof Diana attempts to keep her affections in check and pursue her own goals.
The story is mainly told from Jan's POV, as Diana comes unexpectedly (and disruptively) back into his life at various points, then departs as unpredictably as she came. A recurrent theme (depicted memorably in the show's animated opening credits sequence) is a pair of
Common Buzzards they used to see as children, circling each other over a field—coming together to rear young during the breeding season, then parting for a time. Somehow always together, even when separated. Mated for life.
The complete series of ten episodes is available on DVD in the UK through Simply Media.
Episodes
Broadcast Thursday evenings on BBC1 at 9:25pm, except Episode 10, broadcast at 9:35pm. Produced by Ken Riddington.
Main cast:
Kevin McNally,
Jenny Seagrove,
Patsy Kensit
Patricia Jude Francis Kensit (born 4 March 1968) is an English actress and singer. Beginning her career as a child actor, Kensit gained attention when she acted in a string of commercials for Birds Eye frozen peas. She went on to appear in films ...
,
Harold Innocent,
Mary Morris,
Fulton Mackay,
Jonathan Lynn,
Moray Watson,
Gillian Raine,
Michael Melia &
Gertan Klauber.
References
External links
*
BBC television dramas
1984 British television series debuts
Television shows written by Andrew Davies
1984 British television series endings
1980s British drama television series
British English-language television shows
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