A tender love story played out amid the intrigues of the Stuart era English court , the lives of John and Sarah Churchill are depicted in this biographical BBC drama tracing their relationship from their initial meeting at the court of King Charles II to their rule under the reign of Queen Anne.

At a time when most marriages were motivated by money and position, Sarah Jennings and John Churchill married for love. Their union lasted through long lives spent at the epicenter of political power in 17th- and 18th-century England. He was a military genius who never lost a battle; she was the intimate friend of a queen.

Based on Sir Winston Churchill’s biography of his ancestors, the first Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, this addictive BBC drama follows the couple from their budding romance in the bawdy court of King Charles II through five tumultuous decades and five Stuart monarchs. Starring John Neville (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The X-Files) and Susan Hampshire (Monarch of the Glen, The Pallisers) in an Emmy®-winning performance, this classic miniseries helped establish Masterpiece Theatre as the venue for acclaimed British productions.

John Churchill was the first Duke of Marlborough, a military genius whose brilliance on the battlefield saved England from defeat–just as his descendant, Winston Churchill, saved England 300 years later. John and Sarah Churchill met at the Court of the English king, Charles II. Their power grew and, under the reign of Queen Anne, they were the virtual rulers of England. As a general, John Churchill ranks with Caesar, Napoleon and Hannibal. And Sarah was his match in political brilliance. Her arrogance, uncompromising honesty, wit and devilish temper add spice to their story and also precipitate disaster.

“Lavish period piece” —Los Angeles Times

“Humor, bawdiness . . . good fun” —The New York Times

“Rich in wit, lust, love, ambition, intrigue” —The Sunday Times (U.K.)

Shown on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.

Starring John Neville, Susan Hampshire, John Standing.

Note: This 10 hour miniseries dramatization of the lives of John and Sarah Churchill was aired in the first season of Masterpiece Theatre. While it is not nearly of the same caliber, for another Charles II court saga, you may also want to watch [Forever Amber (1947)](http://amzn.to/1OavI7R) starring Linda Darnell, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, George Sanders: In this romantic costumer, a blond, ambitious woman has many scandalous affairs as she struggles to ascend within the court of Charles II. “The naughty (and controversial) first novel by the much-publicized and photogenic Kathleen Winsor came out in 1944: it was an instant best-seller competing with the likes of Maugham’s THE RAZOR’S EDGE & A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith. It became THE top selling book of 1945 and eventually sold a total of over 3 million copies in both hardback and paperback versions. Linda Darnell plays Amber St. Clair, a poor English lass who sees promiscuity as the only way to wealth and happiness. Amber bed-hops her way through lovers Wilde, Russell and Langan and eventually winds up as the favourite concubine of Sanders, who plays King Charles II. But promiscuity has its price…” – Amazon reviewer