'Dark and beautiful' period drama starring Downton Abbey icon is now streaming

BBC enthusiasts have been left gobsmacked by a period drama miniseries they're calling a "masterpiece" – and it's crafted from the pages of a novel by a "queen of the genre". The gothic tale of Jamaica Inn, penned by Daphne Du Maurier in 1936, has been brought to life in a gripping 2014 adaptation.

Set against the backdrop of 1821, Jamaica Inn spins the story of Mary Yellan, who after the heartbreak of losing her mother, goes to live with her aunt at the eponymous coaching inn in Cornwall. However, Mary soon discovers the inn's lack of guests hides a dark secret, as she stumbles upon a nest of criminal dealings and finds herself entangled in romance with a dashing petty thief.

The series features Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay portraying the intrepid Mary and Matthew McNulty as her roguish love interest Jem Merlyn, joined by Emmerdale's own Danny Miller and Andrew Scarborough.

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Upon its initial release, Jamaica Inn faced a barrage of criticism over sound issues, with complaints about the cast's "mumbling" – yet, those revisiting the series over a decade later are now singing its praises for its captivating allure, reports the Express.

One critique read: "This adaptation struck the right mood, it seemed to me - dark and subtly sinister."

Another viewer was enchanted, describing it as "dark and beautiful", and adding: "Very beautiful adaptation of the Du Maurier classic novel to a TV mini-series. There is a reason why Hitchcock directed this back in 1939. The atmosphere set is hypnotic at times.

"The music is well-chosen. It sets the right mood. When I first read the book, I imagined the setting to be similar but not quite as beautiful as shown here."

The New York Times lauded the novel behind the adaptation, hailing it as a work by "the queen of the form", and an ideal read for "readers of Gothic thrillers".

Jamaica Inn is no stranger to screen adaptations; its most renowned version was Alfred Hitchcock's 1939 film.

The story also graced television screens in an ITV miniseries back in 1983 with Jane Seymour taking the lead, and it even crossed over into French television with a TV movie in 1995.

Jamaica Inn is available to stream on ITV Premium.