Jane Austen fans urged to watch 'delightful' drama with Downton Abbey actress

Jane Austen enthusiasts are in for a treat with the gripping docudrama The Real Jane Austen, reports Surrey Live.

Blending enacted scenes with insightful commentary, this programme delves into the life of the esteemed novelist.

Hosted by Pride and Prejudice and Four Weddings and a Funeral star Anna Chancellor, the show explores the depths of Austen's universe.

Chancellor, a distant kinswoman to Austen herself, embarks on a quest to unravel the real woman behind the celebrated novels through dramatic readings and enactments.

The star-studded lineup includes Emmerdale's Gillian Kearney as Austen, Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan reprising her role as Mrs Austen from BBC's Miss Austen, John Standing of The Elephant Man as Mr Austen, Lucy Cohu from Gosford Park playing Jane's sister Cassandra, Jack Davenport of Pirates of the Caribbean as Henry Austen, Wendy Craig from The Worst Witch as Aunt Lefroy, and Motherland's Oliver Chris portraying Tom Lefroy.

Originally aired in 2002, the docudrama returns to our screens on BBC Four tomorrow (Wednesday, June 25) and will also be accessible on BBC iPlayer thereafter.

Praise has been widespread among audiences, with a glowing 10/10 review making its way to IMDb, where one viewer remarked: "The life of Jane Austen is hardly the stuff of high drama - eschewing romantic liaisons and social life and preferring to stay home like some old-before-her-time puritan matriarch.

"However, this wonderful drama doc, which benefits from perfect casting and a subtle, gentle approach to editing and camera work, makes perfect use of what dramatic events did occur in the life of our favourite literary spinster."

Another viewer lavished praise on the programme: "Being something of an Austen fanatic and having read the Letters and other reliable sources, it was delightful to see Ms. Austen so beautifully brought to life."

To commemorate Austen's 250th birthday, The Real Jane Austen is being rebroadcast. This comes shortly after the BBC and PBS's charming adaptation of Miss Austen, starring Keeley Hawes and Rose Leslie.

Earlier this year, the BBC released another docudrama, Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius.

The BBC iPlayer has also made available a plethora of Austen adaptations, including its renowned 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, as well as Joe Wright's 2005 Hollywood film version.

Austen fever is undoubtedly sweeping the globe, with Miss Austen having been recommissioned for a second series.

While the first series was based on Gill Hornby's novel Miss Austen, the second season will draw inspiration from her follow-up novel, The Elopement.

Hawes will reprise her role as Cassandra, with Andrea Gibb returning as scriptwriter.

In the meantime, Netflix has announced that it is working on a new television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, respectively. Furthermore, The Jane Austen Society will be hosting a series of events throughout the year to honour the author, encompassing lectures and discussions.

The Real Jane Austen airs on BBC Four tomorrow at 9pm