The BBC's Miss Austen is the latest period drama to keep us entertained on Sunday evenings, as we get to know more about one of England's most-loved authors Jane Austen.
But while we've been staying cosy when watching the show, the cast have revealed that filming was a very different experience – with plenty of scenes being shot outside during winter. Read on for some behind-the-scenes news, as well as to discover the filming locations for Miss Austen.
What is Miss Austen about?
Based on Gill Hornby's book of the same name, Miss Austen is a four-part series which provides some clues on a mystery that's left many Janeites (which includes historian Lucy Worsley) puzzled over the years: why Jane's sister, Cassandra, burnt so many of Jane's personal letters.
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The programme reimagines these events as a witty and heart-breaking tale of sisterly love, and we can't wait to watch it when it starts on 2 February 2025. Although the series is a dramatisation, the characters are all based on Jane Austen's real-life family.
We take a look at the filming locations used in the show.
Filming locations in Miss Austen
Miss Austen was largely filmed in Sussex and Hampshire – with locations frequently being used to replicate the seaside town of Sidmouth.
Rye, East Sussex
Jane Austen famously visited Sidmouth and the Jurassic Coast with her sisters and parents, where it's thought that she found love – but no letters that chronicle this time survive. In Miss Austen, Rye doubles up for Sidmouth.
Rye News reported that filming for Miss Austen took place along Watchbell Street and another street near the Church of Saint Mary in January 2024, with many extras (including a horse) gathering for exterior scenes.
Phyllis Logan, who plays Mrs Austen in the series, said as part of a BBC press pack, "We filmed some of the series in Rye, which was a lovely trip; we used some of the cobbled streets, which were very hard to walk on in the shoes my character wore!"
Camber Sands
As part of a BBC press pack, actor Synnøve Karlsen (who plays young Cassandra) says, "We had a week in Rye in East Sussex which was absolutely stunning. Rye doubled as our Sidmouth; we filmed on the sand dunes around Camber Sands and it was absolutely freezing! I think on one of the days we were filming it was around –5 degrees Celsius, and we were trying to look as comfortable as we could sitting on the beach having a ‘summer’ picnic."
Jane Austen's house, Chawton
A TV drama about Jane Austen's life must surely include her home. While we don't know how many scenes were filmed in Jane Austen's house (now a museum), it will surely help to bring the world of Jane Austen to life on the screen.
Main image: Synnøve Karlsen and Phyllis Logan / BBC/Bonnie Productions/MASTERPIECE/Robert Viglasky
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