'10/10' BBC period drama based on beloved book is called 'perfect adaptation'

Jules Verne's beloved 1872 novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, has seen numerous adaptations over the years. While some have been successful, others have missed the mark. The latest interpretation, a 2021 co-production by PBS and BBC, has proven to be a resounding success. The series made its debut on BBC One in the UK on Boxing Day, 2021. It is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer for any period drama fans.

David Tennant takes on the role of Phileas Fogg in this grand retelling of Verne's classic, with Ibrahim Koma as Jean Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as Abigail Fix Fortescue. The fictional narrative cleverly weaves in historical figures such as Bass Reeves, Adolphe Thiers, and Jane Digby.

The series, which boasts of eight episodes, has been well-received, earning an 81 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, indicating strong admiration for this modern take on the epic journey in 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

Critics have shared their verdicts, with one praising: "There's a reason that Jules Verne's novel has been made and re-made over the decades - it's a riveting adventure tale, and this version is no exception."

One fan called it "a serious delight," adding: "This mini-series (with a possibility to expand into other Jules Verne stories) is a sheer delight - all characters are vivid yet completely believable, the motives are not immediately clear but become apparent as the show progresses, the emotions are subtle yet noticeable and the cinematography is amazing."

Another agreed that they "loved every second", giving it a 10/10 on IMDb as they said: "The characters are brilliant and well developed. Fogg is shown as a person and has his own character development which some people in this reveiw section seem to think makes him a 'wimp' but i feel makes him endearing and likeable," and another gave it another 10/10 review, calling it "the best thing I've watched all Christmas." Another 10/10 review was given, as one fan said: "Across the episodes the series is well narrated, with perfect cliff hangers. I'd like to highlight the good casting competence in this production (perfect actor/character fit) and also the strong title music (by Hans Zimmer!)."

One fan penned: "There is something about this time of year that demands a good, solid adaptation of a literary classic. Right on cue, here is Around the World in 80 Days for the entire family to enjoy."

Numerous admirers celebrated the 2021 interpretation, as another devotee remarked: "It's about time Jules Verne's famous story got the screen adaptation it deserves.

"Around the World in 80 Days is a fresh take on the timeless classic with a few tweaks to suit a modern audience. The cast is phenomenal. The writing, directing, cinematography, and production design are all brilliant and bring back memories of a time when TV productions weren't the c**p streaming services spit out nowadays."

Around the World in 80 Days is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.