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Arts & Culture

MASTERPIECE: 50 Fabulous Years!

Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark in POLDARK ON MASTERPIECE.
Courtesy of ITV plc (ITV Global Entertainment Ltd)
Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark in POLDARK ON MASTERPIECE.

Airs Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 14 at 6 p.m. on KPBS TV + March 13 at 7 p.m. & March 14 at 6:30 p.m. on KPBS 2 (Not available to stream)

This is a broadcast-only event!

“MASTERPIECE: 50 Fabulous Years!” is a celebration of the iconic PBS series originally called MASTERPIECE THEATRE — the riveting stories, fabulous performances, magnificent costumes and astonishing ability to transport viewers to another time and place.

From UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS and I, CLAUDIUS to THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN and DOWNTON ABBEY, MASTERPIECE has stood the test of time and introduced generations of PBS viewers to the delights of British drama. Hosted by award-winning actor and author Alan Cumming.

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MASTERPIECE THEATRE began its incredible 50-year run on Jan. 10, 1971, becoming the longest-running, most perennially watched weekly primetime drama series in American television history. Since then, the series has won 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, seven Golden Globes and two Oscars.

“MASTERPIECE: 50 Fabulous Years!” features in-depth interviews with Robin Ellis, who starred as the original Poldark and who made an appearance in the current series; Sir Derek Jacobi, who starred in the title role of I, CLAUDIUS; and Phyllis Logan, best known to Americans for her portrayal of Mrs. Hughes on DOWNTON ABBEY.

Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria and Tom Hughes as Prince Albert.
Courtesy of © ITV plc (ITV Global Entertainment Ltd)
Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria and Tom Hughes as Prince Albert.

Others interviewed include DOWNTON ABBEY writer and creator Julian Fellowes; VICTORIA writer and creator Daisy Goodwin; Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of the series for 35 years, now executive-producer-at-large; and Susanne Simpson, current executive producer of MASTERPIECE.

Shown from left to right: Roger Allam as Fred Thursday and Shaun Evans as Endeavour Morse.
Courtesy of (C) Mammoth Screen
Shown from left to right: Roger Allam as Fred Thursday and Shaun Evans as Endeavour Morse.

The program is also full of video clips from classics such as UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, JEWEL IN THE CROWN, I CLAUDIUS, SHERLOCK and current fan favorites, including VICTORIA, ENDEAVOUR, POLDARK, GRANTCHESTER, and many more.

Shown from left to right: Tom Brittney as Will Davenport and Robson Green as Geordie Keating.
Courtesy of Kudos/ITV/Masterpiece
Shown from left to right: Tom Brittney as Will Davenport and Robson Green as Geordie Keating.

Quiz: Do You Know These MASTERPIECE Locations?

Calling all MASTERPIECE fans! Put your knowledge to the test with our new quiz all about the famous locations featured in MASTERPIECE series old and new, from castles, to palaces, to world famous gardens and more. Then, be sure to share the quiz with your MASTERPIECE-loving friends and family and see how well they do, too!

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Episodes will become available to view on demand for a limited time after broadcast. Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn more and activate your benefit now.

Join The Conversation:

MASTERPIECE is on Facebook, Pinterest, and you can follow @masterpiecepbs on Twitter. #MasterpiecePBS

Producer: Inky Dinky Worldwide, Inc.