MOST ANTICIPATED EPIC & PERIOD SET 2019 SERIES: CATHERINE THE GREAT, BEECHAM HOUSE, MEDICI, WAR OF THE WORLDS, HIS DARK MATERIALS, NAME OF THE ROSE, SPANISH PRINCESS, LES MISERABLES AND OTHERS!

One of the first ones to arrive is BBC One's six part adaptation of LES MISERABLES which will air in UK from December 30th and later on at PBS too. Starring Lily Collins and Dominic West it is set against a backdrop of post-Napoleonic France as unrest begins to grip the city of Paris once more. Spy more here!

Arriving a bit sooner, also on BBC One, from December 18th is three part 19th century saga THE LONG SONG starring Jack Lowden and Hayley Atwell bringing the story of an enslaved woman (Tamara Lawrance) living in Jamaica in 1838 under British rule.Spy more here!

Already airing on BBC is another three part historical drama DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES starring Jamie Dornan and Matthew Rhys. It is an epic tale of love, betrayal, deception, and revenge set in the Irish countryside in 1885. Spy more here!

This one is technically a 2nd season not a new series, but the title and the cast are new: MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT has already aired in Italy but will air soon on Netflix with Daniel Sharman playing Lorenzo De Medici who is now taking over the family's business with his brother played by Bradley James. Spy more here!

BBC is also preparing 19th century series set in Shibden Hall where GENTLEMAN JACK also known as Anne Lister (Surrane Jones) returns to Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832, determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home Shibden Hall. But to do that she will dress and act as a man! Spy more here!

Rival ITV is taking us to 19th century India in six part saga BEECHAM HOUSE starring Tom Bateman, Kabir Bedi and Leo Suter! This lavishly exotic saga will offer us a look at the lives of residents living in a Delhi mansion during the cusp of 19th century. Spy more here!

Sky and HBO will take us to glorious mother Russia and imperial court at Hermitage where Helen Mirren will take the role of CATHERINE THE GREAT in the story of her mature years when she already had many stunning victories and even more lovers. Spy more here!

BBC is also finishing the production of their three part adaptation of THE WAR OF THE WORLDS starring Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear and Eleanor Tomlinson in a story set in London during the Edwardian era, where George and Amy's attempt to start a life together is interrupted by a Martian invasion of Earth. Spy more here!

BBC is also coproducing another major fantasy adaptation but with HBO! Eight part saga HIS DARK MATERIALS will star James McAvoy as Lord Azriel in the story about two children who embark on a magical adventure through parallel universes. Spy more here!

Italian Rai and HBO are also preparing a new eight episode TV adaptation of THE NAME OF THE ROSE following John Turturro as a medieval friar who investigates a series of mysterious deaths at an abbey. The adaptation of Umberto Eco's novel also stars Rupert Everett and Alessio Boni. Spy more here!

Australian Foxtel is preparing gothic tale LAMBS OF GOD in which Ann Dowd, Essie Davis and Jessica Barden are playing three nuns whose life in solitude, far away from the rest of the world in a remote and rugged island on the coast, is interrupted by the arrival of a hot as hell priest played by Sam Reid. Spy more here!

After White Queen and White Princess, Starz will offer us more royal drama in THE SPANISH PRINCESS which will see Charlotte Hope playing the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, as she navigates the royal lineage of England with an eye on the throne. Elliot Cowan and Olly Rix also star. Spy more here!

  RETURNING EPIC DRAMA
Beside the above mentioned new dramas, let us not forget that we can expect the new season of the ones we already love, from the third season of

Victoria returns with the third season this January!

VICTORIA at ITV starting probably in January, to the final seasons of POLDARK and DURRELLS starting probably next spring, and also the

Knightfall returns to History with the second season and new cast!

third season of Sky's 17th century saga JAMESTOWN. And while you are already enjoying the third season of medieval saga THE LAST KINGDOM

Jamestown returns with the second season this spring!

over at Netflix, you can expect more knights in the second season of KNIGHTFALL at History Channel too! Hulu's HARLOTS should also return with the third season next summer!