Tess of the D'Urbervilles
TV Show · Drama · Romance

Gemma Arterton stars in a passionate and sensual version of Thomas Hardy's infamous novel "Tess of the D'Urvervlles". Whilst unstintingly gorgeous and romantic, David Nicholls' adaptation is an intense, moving and provocative depiction of the tragically beautiful story. When the beautiful and innocent Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting the manipulative Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent...

1998 · 52m
Starring Christopher Fairbank, Gemma Arterton, Eddie Redmayne

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Episode 1
    John Durbeyfield, a ‘haggler’ and a drunk, is weaving his way one afternoon towards the pub when he meets the village priest, Parson Tringham. The priest informs him that his family have distinguished ancestry. They are descended from the d’Urbervilles, a wealthy, though now extinct, clan.
    52m
  • EPISODE 2
    Episode 2
    The baby is mortally ill. Because Tess’s father refuses to let him be baptised in a church, she is forced to perform the ceremony herself, calling him ‘Sorrow’. The baby dies. Tess pleads with Parson Tringham to allow the baby to be buried in the churchyard, but the parson says he cannot permit this, so Tess digs a small grave for Sorrow in a field next to the church, on unconsecrated ground.
    52m
  • EPISODE 3
    Episode 3
    A heartbroken Retty does not attend the wedding. As a small but joyful ceremony takes place, she tries to drown herself. Tess and Angel leave for their honeymoon, to be spent at an old mansion once owned by the ancient d’Urberville family.
    52m
  • EPISODE 4
    Episode 4
    Through a cruelly bitter winter, Tess continues to work on the farm. Alec, who seems to have replaced any religious fervour he once had with a passion for Tess alone, continues to plague her with his relentless attention.
    52m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Christopher Fairbank
    Groby
  • Gemma Arterton
    Tess Durbeyfield
  • Eddie Redmayne
    Angel Clare
  • Ruth Jones
    Actor
  • Hans Matheson
    Actor
  • Ian Puleston-Davies
    Actor
  • Jo Woodcock
    Actor
  • Steven Robertson
    Actor
  • Hugh Skinner
    Actor
  • Jodie Whittaker
    Izzy Huett
  • Anna Massey
    Mrs D'Urberville

About

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Drama

Gemma Arterton stars in a passionate and sensual version of Thomas Hardy's infamous novel "Tess of the D'Urvervlles". Whilst unstintingly gorgeous and romantic, David Nicholls' adaptation is an intense, moving and provocative depiction of the tragically beautiful story. When the beautiful and innocent Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting the manipulative Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent...

Information

Studio
BritBox
Released
1998
Rated
TV-PG
Region of Origin
United Kingdom
© 2008 BBC

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom), English
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
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  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
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  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
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