‘Downton Abbey’ producers bring all-new drama ‘Jamestown’ to PBS Passport

The first season of the epic eight-part drama “Jamestown” will premiere on PBS Passport and on the PBS Masterpiece Amazon channel beginning March 23, 2018. From the producers of “Downton Abbey,” this new dramatic series follows the lives of three courageous, dynamic women who decide to leave their dark pasts behind in England and make the journey of a lifetime across the ocean for a new life in 17th century America.

Arriving in 1619, Alice, Verity and Jocelyn are among the first women to arrive in the English colony of Jamestown, Virginia. Duty bound to marry the three men who have paid for their passage to the New World, they have little idea of what the future holds or the disruption their arrival is about to bring. Twisting storylines follow the new arrivals as they make an immediate impact and are thrust into a new world of love, desire, power and survival. While love triangles, bitter rivalries and fierce competition cause conflict among the colonists, ultimately they are bound together by their resolute will to survive and thrive in their new lives.

The ensemble cast includes Sophie Rundle, Niamh Walsh and Naomi Battrick in the leading female roles alongside Max Beesley, Jason Flemyng, Kalani Queypo and Raoul Trujillo.

Written by Bill Gallagher (“Lark Rise to Candleford,” “The Paradise”), a new episode of the series will be available each Friday on PBS Masterpiece Amazon channel by subscription. “Jamestown” will also be accessible to stream immediately via PBS Passport, a member benefit for PBS station donors that offers extended access to a rich library of public television programming (see how to sign up for Passport here).

“PBS Distribution is thrilled to offer this new drama series from the producers of ‘Downton Abbey’ to audiences through both PBS Passport and the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel,” said co-president of PBS Distribution, Andrea Downing.

Jamestown is produced by Carnival Films, an NBCUniversal International Studios company, and executive produced by “Downton Abbey” producers Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant, along with Richard Fell and Bill Gallagher, and produced by Sue de Beauvoir.