As Anna expertly explained earlier, Lost In Austen was one of the feel-good television hits of the year. I saw the series’ star, Jemima Rooper, in Sky1′s Hex a few years ago and thought she was lovely and perky and a bit quirky (she played a gay ghost), so it was very gratifying to see her star in a primetime drama. Her character, Amanda Price, lived out every Austen fans dream – to be transported back in time to interact with the fictional characters. I caught up Jemima last week to chat Austen. Read the words that came out of her mouth over the jump.

To keep up to date on who was voted where in our Top 50, go here. To read all our news and reviews on Lost In Austen, go here.

TV Scoop: Jemima, hello. Your reaction to the news that Lost In Austen has been voted in our Top Ten programmes of the year please…
Jemima Rooper: I’m very pleased. Lost In Austen has turned out to be a bit of a sleeper hit; a bit of cult thing. That has continued since it has been shown, and I think that’s quite nice because it has become a word-of-mouth thing. Its the nicest outcome really.

TVS: For ITV1 to do this series was a bit of risk, would you agree with that?
JR: I’d absolutely agree with that. In fact, when I first read the first two scripts were even more risque and ballsy. I remember reading it and thinking, “This is not like an ITV show!” I remember also thinking I really wanted to do it. It actually got toned down for all the right reasons, and softened a little bit. It was still very, very out there for ITV and that was important.

TVS: Can you tell us what ways it was softened?
JR: Certain storylines were abandoned at different stages, because it would have spiralled out of control. We also wanted to protect the original novel and hat was important too.

TVS: Obviously it was based on quite a fantastical idea, but was it important to keep as true to the original novel as possible?
JR: Yes. I think we all enjoyed the fact that we were playing around with the characters. The character Amanda is messing up the storylines that lots of people know and love, but we didn’t want her to muck around with the storylines and characters too much.

TVS: So were you into the whole period drama/Regency thing before Lost In Austen?
JR: I was a massive fan of the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, and then read the book. I like most of Jane Austen’s novels and always wanted to star in one of the films, so this was the next best thing! Hahaha.

TVS: So was it amazing to be involved in, dressing up in all this period costume? Let’s face it, you were living out lots of young women’s dreams… a windswept, bodice-heaving love story.
JR: It’s funny you should describe it like that. There were a couple of days, especially during the ball scenes, where it had been lit amazingly and there were all these extras in beautiful costumes and you were filming in a gorgeous stately home. That was quite awe-inspiring, and I often thought I was so lucky to be involved. However, most of the shoot was getting up at five in the morning and being handed re-writes. When we were finishing in November it suddenly got really cold. In fact we were quite lucky with the weather, but by the end it go absolutely freezing. We could see our breath quite a lot. We were trying not to breath so much because it was so cold. We were also on a very tight schedule and every one was trying to do their best and finest work, so it was hardcore. But it was the loveliest cast I’ve ever worked with. Mr Bingley is now my flatemate, and me and Mr Bingley and Captain Wickham often hang out together.

TVS: Do you get into character when you’re at home. “No my lady, please use the bathroom before me…”
JR: Hahaha! I’d like to say yes, but no.

TVS: Now I think you’re great, and saw you in Hex a few years ago and thought you were great. How nice it was to see you in a primetime ITV drama! Did you feel that it was a big break for you? Or do you just roll with the punches when it comes to your career?
JR: I very much roll with the punches, but I really did think it was time I had a part like that in a show like that. I thought I was ready for it, and the part felt like it was written for me in some ways, because it was so perfect. It all clicked very nicely for me, but in terms of thinking it was my big break, I’ve done about a thousand job where people have told me it was my big break. Inevitably it never is, so I’m very relaxed otherwise you’d go mad.

TVS: What has it been like since Lost In Austen… anything coming up?
JR: Oh God. Hahaha! There are very, very, VERY premature whispers that maybe a Lost In Austen 2 might happen. I don’t know how much I should say about this because it really is… a distant chirping in my ear. That someone else had heard and told me. Hahaha! It was the most ridiculously brilliant cast, so if it did happen, it would be stupid not to do it.

TVS: One thing I did forget to ask you – so much for my seamless, chronological interviewing technique – was what you thought about the show and why it struck such a chord. A lot of reviewers said that it was lovely fluffy stuff. People have had a bit of a grim year, so did this make people happy? Simple escapism?
JR: You’ve completely summed it up. I remember when I was a kid and all the dramas seemed to be more escapist. I think the modern way is to make drama gritty. I’m the biggest fan of grit and a dark side, but I think people forgot you can have stuff that’s a bit lighter. And the fact that a costume drama could have a bit of a sense of humour was important – most costume dramas are quite earnest, and quite dramatic. This was witty, fun – without making fun of the subject matter – tongue in cheek and a little bit ironic.