THEY DON’T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE! — BBC FANS ARE CALLING THIS THE GREATEST PERIOD DRAMA YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER WATCHED. Starring an Emmerdale favourite, this extraordinary BBC classic has earned a reputation as one of the most unforgettable historical dramas ever made, with viewers insisting it deserves to stand among the finest in television history. From its breathtaking performances and beautifully crafted world to its heartbreaking storylines and unforgettable characters, every episode delivers the kind of emotional power that few period dramas have ever matched. Fans say it’s richer than most modern costume dramas, more emotionally devastating than they ever expected, and one of the rare series that only gets better with every rewatch. Many are even calling it the BBC’s most underrated period masterpiece of all time. But the reason it continues to captivate audiences decades later… Is that it tells one of the most beautiful—and most unforgettable—stories British television has ever brought to life.

Tenko

An Emmerdale favourite stars in a heartbreaking period drama (Image: BBC/UKTV)

Emmerdale favourite Louise Jameson stars in a heartbreaking period drama that’s currently free to stream. ITV soap viewers will know that Louise has played Mary Goskirk since 2022, who was first introduced as Rhona’s (Zoe Henry) mother. Mary has been involved in several memorable storylines over the years, including opening up about her sexuality, and losing her love, Suzy Merton (Martelle Edinborough), in a tragic limo crash.

Actress Louise is also known for her role as Leela in Doctor Who, as well as making appearances in The Omega Factor, Bergerac, EastEnders, and River City. That’s not all, as the 75-year-old star is also known for featuring in an “exceptional” period drama on the BBC. Tenko is a highly acclaimed 1980s drama that follows a diverse group of women who are captured by invading Japanese forces during World War II, reports the Mirror.

Mary Goskirk in Emmerdale

Louise Jameson plays Mary Goskirk in Emmerdale (Image: ITV)

The series was created by Lavinia Warner after she had conducted research into the internment of nursing corps officer Margot Turner for an edition of This Is Your Life. She was soon convinced of the dramatic potential of the stories of women prisoners of the Japanese.

A total of 30 episodes were produced over three series between 1981 and 1984, followed by a one-off special, titled the Tenko Reunion, in 1985. All instalments are currently streaming for free on U, so viewers can explore the various devastating scenerios that the women prisoners were faced with.

“As the war in Europe suddenly erupts into a world war, a group of British and Dutch women find themselves forced to cope with captivity in a Japanese internment camp. They also must find a way to live together as a community, breaking down the barriers of class and race between them, if they are to survive,” the official synopsis reads.

Louise notably played Blanche Simmons, who was a prominent, working-class character that featured heavily in the first two series of the show. She was joined by Ann Bell, Stephanie Cole, Stephanie Beacham, Patricia Lawrence, Emily Bolton, and Veronica Roberts.

Tenko

Tenko is streaming for free (Image: BBC/UKTV)

Viewers have been left in awe after watching the series, with one IMDb user describing the drama as “all round perfection”. They added: “I can’t think of a single flaw.”

Another simply stated: “The best BBC series,” while a third remarked: “Tenko is a true masterpiece. Layered, engaging, challenging, compelling, it has stayed with me for years and I often think about the characters as real people…wondering how their lives continued, wondering what I would do in their company.”

Another fan branded the series as an “unforgettable” drama that is “never to be repeated on BBC television”. They continued by saying: “[It’s] one of the most intense and powerful pieces of television I have ever seen.”

Someone else shared: “Best war drama ever made. Truly exceptional. I was in tears watching it.”

Tenko is currently streaming for free on U

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