Mansfield Park had Billie Piper, but was a little bit insignificant. Next week, Persuasion has Rupert Penry-Jones getting soaked at the sea-side, but is really quite downbeat (worth watching though, I’ll preview it next week). Yes, those two might have the big names and all the fanfare, but nestled in between, on ITV1 this Saturday at 9pm, is Northanger Abbey, and trust TV Scoop, it’s the best of the lot.

Both Mansfield Park and Persuasion are filmed with hand-held cameras, presumably to make them look more *real*, but neither this production, nor the novel it is based on, are interested in reality. And you know what? It makes for a fabulously fun two hours’ worth of television.

This novel’s heroine, Catherine Morland always has her head stuck in a book – the more outlandish, Gothic, and naughty the better – and as such the director and actors have clearly had a great time recreating her dreams, populated by swash-buckling heroes and beguiling highwaymen, in the style of 1920s melodrama.

The two leads are great too. Felicity Jones as Catherine is thoroughly ‘good’ without being the least bit boring, and JJ Feild’s Henry Tilney is the pick of the love-interests, yes, even up against Penry-Jones’s Wentworth next week (and it pains me to say that, but it’s true). He makes Tilney the anti-Darcy in every way other than attractiveness: he’s warm, witty and open-hearted, just proving that you don’t need to be stomping around in a huff to be the perfect Austen hero. All in all, this is a beautiful, imaginative and engaging production, and you really should Set The Video.

In the meantime, why not check out our sister books-based-blog Trashionista? The Classic Novels category might be of special interest to you Austen fans…

Set The Video – Northanger Abbey, ITV1, Sunday 25th March, 9pm

[annawaits]