Bbc period drama 'better than downton abbey' axed after one series

The 2007 period-drama series Lilies, a creation of Heidi Thomas, captivated audiences for eight episodes on the BBC. Set in 1920s Liverpool, the show followed the challenging lives of the

Ross sisters – Iris (portrayed by Catherine Tyldesley), Mary (Leanne Rowe), and Ruby (Kerrie Hayes) – and their struggle to get by alongside their widowed father and brother. Heidi, also the

writer behind the BBC mainstay Call The Midwife, was inspired to craft Lilies based on her grandmother's tales of growing up in Liverpool after the war. Ahead of the programme's

2007 debut, she shared with the BBC: "My family were all terrific raconteurs, and I grew up hearing tales that could make you weep, and rock with laughter. They evoked a hard world, but

one that was thrilled with energy." Furthermore, she remarked: "There is not one single episode that doesn't contain something handed down in anecdote." Despite

receiving rave reviews and earning The Sunday Times' pick of the week title for two consecutive months, Lilies surprisingly did not secure a second series. Nonetheless, the show has

left a lasting impact, with some avid viewers claiming it surpasses the esteemed ITV drama Downton Abbey, which not only enjoyed immense TV success but also expanded into a film franchise.

One fan expressed their admiration on IMDB, saying: "I found this mini-series by accident, and what a delight. From beginning to end, I felt transported back in time. Throughout the

series, you get a slice, perhaps, of a less sugar-coated time of transition after the First World War. This story unfolds through the eyes of three close but very different sisters and the

surrounding family and friends." Another viewer was captivated from the start, sharing: "I was totally drawn in from the first episode. The spirited Moss family, so much like my

own family, was that believable? It was written from the reminisces of a grandmother of her family, and that is probably why it rang so true. This is one of those shows that so deserved a

much longer run that it is a travesty that it was not given one. What WAS made is a gem to be savoured for eight episodes." A third fan even preferred it to Downton Abbey, noting:

"The series did portray the division between Catholics and Northern Irish Protestants very well." They elaborated on the religious divide depicted in the show: "Unless you

grew up in that environment, it is hard to understand today that neither could enter a church of the other faith without condemning their immortal soul to hell forever more." Meanwhile,

a Rotten Tomatoes user praised the show's authenticity: "Well done, and a lot more grounded than some of the BBC's other costume pieces. It dealt with touchy topics in a

realistic manner. Shame it was cancelled." CURRENTLY, LILIES IS NOT AVAILABLE ON BBC IPLAYER OR PRIME, BUT IT CAN BE PURCHASED ON AMAZON.