Beecham House: Everything You Need To Know
Beecham House, is an epic drama about India on the cusp of change. Before you watch full episodes with PBS Passport, find out about the swoon-worthy stars (including some MASTERPIECE audience favorites), the intrigue-filled plot, the lush Indian filming locations, and the creator of the series you will likely recognize!
- 1.
What Is It About?
Set in the 1795, amidst the clashing forces of British and French militaries and the decline of the centuries-old Mughal Empire, Beecham House tells the story of enigmatic Englishman and former soldier John Beecham (Tom Bateman, Vanity Fair, Murder on the Orient Express).
When Beecham arrives at his grand new Delhi estate to great fanfare, the presence of a (mixed-race and apparently motherless!) baby is more than just a surprise to the staff—it’s a mystery that only deepens as he falls for English governess Margaret Osbourne. As his overbearing mother (Downton Abbey‘s Lesley Nicol, in a very un-Miss Patmore turn!) his rebellious brother (Leo Suter, Sanditon and Victoria), and even more complicated guests arrive, politics, passion, ambition and revenge collide, all under the roof of Beecham House.
“John Beecham is a good person but people react to him with suspicion,” said creator Gurinder Chadha. “His brother and mother also come out to join him, and he hasn’t seen them for many years, so at its core is the drama of a family who are a bit broken.”
- 2.
Who Is Starring In It?
Beecham House showcases an international cast, a number of whom will be familiar to MASTERPIECE fans! Click through the below slideshow for a brief introduction to the characters and the actors who portray them.
Tom Bateman as John Beecham
Tom Bateman plays John Beecham, a former soldier with a mysterious past looking to find peace in India.
Dakota Blue Richards as Margaret Osborne
Dakota Blue Richards plays Margaret Osborne, an English governess working for the family of Murad Beg. When she meets John, she finds herself instantly drawn to the mysterious newcomer. MASTERPIECE fans may remember Richards from her time on Endeavour as WPC Shirley Trewlove.
Lesley Nicol as Henrietta Beecham
Lesley Nicol plays Henrietta Beecham, the lively mother of John and Daniel. Living in India is an adjustment for Mrs. Beecham, and she has strong opinions about it. Nicol is best known for playing Mrs. Patmore on Downton Abbey.
Leo Suter as Daniel Beecham
Leo Suter plays Daniel Beecham, the mischievous, rebellious younger brother of John. Suter is starred in Sanditon as Young Stringer, and previously appeared in Victoria as the tragically fated Drummond.
Shriya Pilgaonkar as Chanchal
Shriya Pilgaonkar plays Chanchal, who came with John to Delhi to care for baby August. She’s devoted to John and August, but she dreams of a different life for herself someday.
Marc Warren as Samuel Parker
Marc Warren plays Samuel Parker, an old army friend of John’s from the Company who goes into business with him when they reunite. MASTERPIECE fans will soon be able to see Warren in the upcoming mystery series Van Der Valk as the title character.
Pallavi Sharda as Chandrika
Pallavi Sharda plays Chandrika, the proud daughter of the Maharajah of Kalyan, whose close bond with John speaks to a secret and tragic past that they share.
Gregory Fitoussi as General Castillion
Gregory Fitoussi plays General Castillion, the proud and honorable General Castillon, a French mercenary who serves Emperor Shah Alam. MASTERPIECE fans will remember Fitoussi as Henri Leclair from Mr. Selfridge.
Bessie Carter is Violet Woodhouse
Bessie Carter plays Violet Woodhouse, a friend of the Beecham family’s from England, who comes to India with Mrs. Beecham in the hopes of winning John’s heart. She has previously appeared in Howards End (as Evie Wilcox) and Cranford.
Roshan Seth is Emperor Shah Alam
Roshan Seth plays Shah Alam, ruler of the great Mughal Empire, who presides over an era of great change and turmoil. Despite his blindness he is a great tactician, and John will have to tread carefully if he is to win the Emperor’s favor and establish himself in Delhi. MASTERPIECE fans will remember Seth from Indian Summers as Darius.
- 3.
When Is It On?
All episodes of Beecham House are available right now when you watch with PBS Passport, an added member benefit. New to PBS Passport? With PBS Passport, you get extended access to a digital, on-demand library of more than 1,500 episodes of PBS favorites, including select MASTERPIECE shows.
- 4.
Where Was It Filmed?
Opulent homes, lush gardens, peacocks, monkeys, elephants, and even the Taj Mahal are just a few of the authentic elements that bring this series, largely shot on location in India, to magnificent life.
Creator Gurinder Chadha was adamant that Beecham House needed to be filmed in part in India. “You can’t beat India on camera,” she explained. “One of the things about India that existed long before the British came along and carried on long after they left, and will carry on, is their architecture, the palaces, the forts. We have used many, many shots of those amazing buildings and that is India, for me. You cannot shoot that anywhere else.”
- 5.
Who Created the Show?
Fans may recognize creator Gurinder Chadha’s name from her movie hits such as Bend It Like Beckham, Viceroy’s House (starring Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson) and the recent Bruce Springsteen music inspired film Blinded by the Light.
The idea for Beecham House came to Chadha when she was writing Viceroy’s House with her co-writer and husband Paul Mayeda Berges. “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,” she said. “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.”
- 6.
Watch The Trailer
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