Beecham House: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
You asked, we answered! We’ve compiled a list of answers to some of the most commonly asked fan questions about Beecham House, starring Tom Bateman, Lesley Nicol, Leo Suter and more.
- 1.
How many episodes are there of Beecham House?
Tom Bateman as John Beecham There are six episodes of Beecham House, which aired from Sunday, June 14 through Sunday, July 19, 2020 on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
- 2.
Will there be a Season 2 of Beecham House?
Unfortunately, there are no plans for a second season of Beecham House.
The best way to stay current about what shows are airing on MASTERPIECE is to subscribe to our email newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
- 3.
Is Beecham House a true story?
Beecham House is not based on a true story, but creator Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham, Viceroy’s House) took inspiration from the time period that Beecham House is set — 19th century Delhi — as well as inspiration from other works of her own and works that she enjoyed as a viewer, herself.
“A couple of years ago Paul [Mayeda Berges, Gurinder’s husband and co-writer] and I were writing this movie, Viceroy’s House, which was set during the end of the British Empire,” Chadha explained. “With a movie, you have to wait for ages for anything to happen so while we were waiting I said to Paul, ‘All this research we’ve done, we could write a TV series’, and that’s where the idea originally came from. Downton Abbey was very popular at the time and I had always loved Upstairs Downstairs, so I thought I’d like to do my own version of one of those shows with a twist.”
Chadha continued, “We decided to set it at the beginning of the British Empire because that period was very interesting to me. It was a time when India was literally up for grabs. It was the end of the Mogul Empire and the British had a strong presence but only really as a trading company, because they were only interested in business. And France also had a presence, and Napoleon had an interest in India. The maharajas were very conscious that the Mogul Empire was beginning to wane.”
- 4.
Where can I learn more about the cast and characters of Beecham House?
Find out about the stars of Beecham House in our guide to the cast and their characters here. Get the scoop on where you’ve seen them before, and how they would describe their characters in their own words.
Plus, learn more about the leading man with our list of 5 Things to Know About Actor Tom Bateman, like how many siblings Bateman has (you’ll never guess!), what surprising award he’s won, and more.
- 5.
Where was Beecham House filmed?
In the words of creator Gurinder Chadha: “You can’t beat India on camera.” Learn all about the stunning, real-life Indian locations seen in Beecham House and some of the history behind those forts and palaces, with our special feature all about the locations and sets.
Plus, watch an exclusive, behind-the-scenes video touring the scenic sets with Chadha, stars Tom Bateman, Leo Suter, Dakota Blue Richards and more.
- 6.
How can I watch Beecham House?
You can revisit the luscious Indian landscapes, dazzling costumes, and heart-racing full episodes of Beecham House all over again (plus tons more MASTERPIECE on PBS favorites!) with PBS Passport, an added member benefit that offers extended access to a digital, on-demand library of more than 1,500 episodes of PBS favorites, including select MASTERPIECE shows.
