In this vibrantly acted “revenge romp”, based on Barbara Taylor Bradford’s bestselling novel, a Yorkshire kitchen maid’s plan to acquire wealth and power spirals out of control and leads to unhinged class war. The eight-part Channel 4 series has clearly been influenced by Succession, as well as The Favourite and Parasite, (though, admittedly, it’s dafter than any of the above). The whole thing comes together, gloriously, in the twist-packed final episode.
Anyone new to the material might be surprised that the bonking far outweighs the romance. And AWOS may also outrage fans of BTB’s book, and the moreishly earnest 1980s miniseries, which starred Jenny Seagrove, Deborah Kerr and Liam Neeson. Where the first adaptation stuck closely to the novel, this one offers a radical reboot.
