'Masterpiece' BBC drama streaming free is based on 'greatest novel of all time'

BBC fans have been loving an "incredible" period drama based on a beloved novel - and it's currently free to stream on iPlayer. Set in rural Scotland against the backdrop of the First World War, it follows Chris Guthrie - a young woman facing hardship after hardship as she struggles to keep her family farm going through the conflict.

Starring Vivien Heilbron, Victor Carin and Derek Anders, the series is Sunset Song - a six-episode drama originally released in 1971. The miniseries is based on the 1932 novel by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, considered former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's "favourite novel of all time, without a shadow of a doubt".

The book birthed two sequels, as well as the TV series - which was the first ever colour drama made by BBC Scotland.

In 2015, it was adapted into a film version starring Mark Bonnar, Agyness Deyn and Kevin Guthrie - but it's the TV series that has endured year after year.

The miniseries boasts an 8.1 out of 10 star average rating on IMDb, with one review praising it: "Sunset Song is a good example of what the BBC (and at times ITV too) could do so well in the seventies - a powerful, gripping drama about the lives of ordinary people.

"The series has an austere visual look with muted colours, suitable to its theme. There are fine acting contributions from the lovely Vivien Heilbron as Chris, Andrew Keir as her domineering father, James Grant as the tormented Ewan and Derek Anders as the principled Rob.

"Mention must also be made of composer Thomas Wilson's haunting musical score. BBC4's policy of reviving unjustly forgotten dramas is paying dividends."

Someone else echoed: "In 1971 I saw Sunset Song on Masterpiece Theatre and was mesmerised. I was 16 and could identify completely with Chris Guthrie and her dreams and disappointments. Everything about the six part series from the acting, narration, setting, characters was phenomenal but that haunting opening music was what I remembered and couldn't wait for each new episode."