Masterpiece Theatre

Masterpiece Theatre -- renamed to simply Masterpiece in 2008 -- is a Long-Running primetime series on PBS that usually showcases BBC productions (Channel 4 and ITV material are occasionally featured). The series premiered in 1971 and was originally hosted by Alistair Cooke, but has had a number of presenters since his retirement in 1992. Its well-known classical title theme is Jean-Joseph Mouret's Rondeau.

The series features dramatic adaptations of notable, usually British, literary works—for instance, its Austen adaptations—which are currently hosted by Laura Linney (Masterpiece Classic) and David Tennant (Masterpiece Contemporary).

Adaptations for TV by the BBC of Shakespeare and other classic works are very often syndicated to appear on Masterpiece in the US, usually through WGBH-Television in Boston, often in multiple parts.

In 2008, the word "Theatre" was dropped from the title, and the show, now officially known as Masterpiece, was split into three different sections. Masterpiece Classic was initially hosted by Gillian Anderson; the following year, Laura Linney took her place. Masterpiece Mystery! is hosted by Alan Cumming. Masterpiece Contemporary was hosted initially by Matthew Goode, who was replaced by David Tennant in 2009.

Not to be confused with World Masterpiece Theater, another long runner anime children's classics series in Japan.

See also Merchant-Ivory Productions, Hallmark Hall of Fame.


 * A Town Like Alice
 * Bertie and Elizabeth
 * I, Claudius
 * Downton Abbey
 * Elizabeth R
 * The First Churchills—The first series aired
 * House of Cards (British series)
 * Jeeves and Wooster
 * Sherlock
 * The Six Wives of Henry VIII
 * The Choir
 * Tom Brown's Schooldays
 * Upstairs, Downstairs

As an Anthology series Masterpiece Theater/Master has few tropes of its own, since it is little more than an envelope for presenting other works. Put tropes for individual works in their pages, not here.


 * Presenters: Alistaire Cooke is of course the one everyone remembers from the early years of the show, but other famous faces have sat in that leather chair and introduced the week's episode, including Gillian Anderson and David Tennant.


 * Standard Snippet: The 30 seconds or so of Jean-Joseph Mouret's Rondeau heard at the beginning of every episode firmly anchored that piece of music to the concepts of dignified elegance and erudition.