FAQs for the BBC miniseries North & South, based on Gaskell novel, with actor Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe.
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Frequently Asked Questions—North and South
When was North and South written? Who adapted it for screenplay?
Elizabeth Gaskell wrote North and South as a serial for Charles Dickens’ magazine Household Words. It appeared from September 1854 to January 1855 and was published in a slightly longer novel form later in 1855. Sandy Welch wrote the 2004 screenplay adaptation. Her comments about the changes from the novel are discussed in the C19 Archives.
Who was Elizabeth Gaskell?
Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson Gaskell (1810-1865) was one of the most popular writers of her time. There are echoes of her life in North and South: she was born in Chelsea, London but raised by an aunt in Cheshire; her father was a Unitarian minister who worked as a journalist; her brother was lost at sea. Gaskell married a Unitarian minister and moved to Manchester where she became concerned about textile workers’ lives and urban poverty. She was the author of several works including Mary Barton, Cranford, Ruth, The Life of Charlotte Bronte, Sylvia’s Lovers, and Wives and Daughters, which was unfinished at her death.
How did North and South come to television?
The Internet Movie Database lists a 1975 version of North and South starring Patrick Stewart (best known from his role in Star Trek) as Thornton and Rosalie Shanks as Margaret Hale. No one seems to know anything about this version. According to Kate Bartlett, Producer of the 2004 version, Sandy Welch began adapting the novel for screenplay in 2002. Bartlett was hired for the project in the summer of 2003. Pre-production started in February of 2004 with actual filming starting at the end of April and running for twelve and a half weeks. She has written some notes on the production. There is also more information on filming locations. (Access to both these links requires free registration.) Post-production work ran until the BBC premiere in Great Britain in November 2004. North and South showed in Australia on ABC in May 2005, the same month it premiered in Greece, and was shown in the United States in July 2005 on BBC America, which heavily edited it for advertising. It premiered in Canada in November 2005 on TV Ontario.
Who’s who in the 2004 North and South? Where can I find out more about the cast?
The BBC Drama site for North and South will tell you more about the seven leading actors. Our link page lists other sites that have more information about the two lead actors (Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe).
Brian Percival …Director
Kate Bartlett …Producer
Sandy Welch …Writer
Director of Photography ...Peter Greenhalgh
Art Director ...Bill Crutcher
Martin Phipps …Score
Mike O'Neill ...Costume Designer and Cravat Engineer
Jenny Uglow ...Historical Advisor
Cast
Daniela Denby-Ashe ...Margaret Hale
Richard Armitage ...John Thornton
Sinéad Cusack ...Hannah Thornton
Lesley Manville ...Maria Hale
Tim Pigott-Smith ...Richard Hale
Pauline Quirke ...Dixon
Brendan Coyle ...Nicholas Higgins
Anna Maxwell Martin ...Bessy Higgins
William Houston ...John Boucher
John Light ...Henry Lennox
Ben Crompton ...Inspector Mason
David Cullin ...Mr. Slickson
Richard Evans ...Dr. Donaldson
Rupert Evans ...Frederick Hale
Tim Faraday ...Mr. Watson
David Fleeshman ...Landlord
Shaun Hennessey ...Mr. Henderson
Frank Lauder ...Stephens
Russell Mabey ...Leonards
Travis Oliver ...Capt. Maxwell Lennox
Brian Protheroe ...Mr. Bell
Martin Walsh ...Mr. Hamper
Tom Charnock ...Williams
Emma Ferguson ...Edith Shaw Lennox
Jo Joyner ...Fannie Thornton
Kay Lyons ...Mary Higgins
Jane Booker ...Mrs. Shaw
Lucy Brown ...Anne Latimer
What awards has North and South won?
Why no BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards?
We’re still trying to understand that ourselves. They wuz robbed. 
What’s this I read about videos and fanfic?
Fanfic, or fan fiction, consists of stories written by talented North and South fans worldwide. What happens after Margaret returns to Milton with John? What was John’s life like before he met Margaret? In addition to the fanfic on the C19 board, there are links to other fanfics here. Several music videos using images from North and South have been made and can be viewed at several affiliated sites, including here at FoolishPassion.com. More information can be found on FoolishPassion.com's Links page.
Should I read the novel before I see the adaptation?
Of course only you can decide that! However, many people suggest reading the novel first as there is more detail that cannot fit into a four-hour adaptation. Many viewers have seen North and South without having read it, and some have gone on to read the novel after viewing.
Where can I see the adaptation?
You can order the four hour, 2-DVD set from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. DVD rental services such as Netflix also have the DVD available. This DVD has several additional features, including subtiles, some deleted scenes, and a special interview with actor Richard Armitage.
Where can I learn more about North and South?
Visit the C19 archives! (You must join the board to view these pages—free membership.) There are articles and interviews about the production, letters from the cast and crew, information on filming locations, and some threads saved from the original BBC message board. The last tells a bit about C19’s own history as an international online community.
I've become really interested in the nineteenth century now. What are some good books for further reading?
The history board at C19 has some recommendations.
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