Beecham House is a brilliant new drama airing Sunday nights on ITV – here’s all you need to know.
Co-created, written and directed by one of the UK’s most respected filmmakers, Gurinder Chadha OBE, Beecham House continues tonight, Sunday July 14 at 9PM.
Set on the cusp of the 19th century in Delhi before the British ruled in that region, the drama depicts the fortunes of the residents of Beecham House, an imposing mansion surrounded by acres of exotic woods and pristine lawns.
Tom Bateman (Vanity Fair, Jekyll and Hyde) takes the role of enigmatic, soulful John Beecham, a handsome former soldier who has purchased the magnificent mansion, Beecham House, to begin a new life with his family.
Wealthy and distinguished, John has witnessed profiteering and exploitation during his time with the controlling East India Company and has resolved to conduct his business as a trader in a more equitable manner.
Determined to escape his previous life, John appears haunted by his past, but is inspired to become an honourable member of the region’s trading community.
Beecham House cast
- John Beecham – TOM BATEMAN
- Henrietta Beecham – LESLEY NICOL
- Begum Samru – LARA DUTTA
- Daniel Beecham – LEO SUTER
- Margaret Osborne – DAKOTA BLUE RICHARDS
- General Castillon – GRÉGORY FITOUSSI
- Chandrika – PALLAVI SHARDA
- Violet Woodhouse – BESSIE CARTER
- Murad Beg – ADIL RAY
- Baadal – VIVEIK KALRA
- Mool Chand – KULVINDER GHIR
- Bindu – GOLDY NOTAY
- Chanchal – SHRIYA PILGAONKAR
- Ram Lal – AMER CHADHA-PATEL
- Maya – TRUPTI KHAMKAR
- Emperor Shah Alam – ROSHAN SETH
- Samuel Parker – MARC WARREN
- Maharaja of Kalyan – DENZIL SMITH
- Gopal – VICKY ARORA
- August Beecham – SHONA and SIENNA OBEROI
- Vijay Singh – ARUNODAY SINGH
- Roshanara – MEDHA SHANKAR
- Prince Akbar – RUDRAKSH SINGH
The six episode series was co-created by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Viceroy’s House, Bhaji On The Beach) and Shahrukh Husain (In Custody). It was written by Gurinder Chadha (who also directs), Paul Mayeda Berges (Viceroy’s House, The Mistress of Spices, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging) Victor Levin (Destination Wedding, Mad Men, Mad About You) and Shahrukh Husain.
Beecham House spoilers
In tonight’s latest episode, John is shocked to discover that Margaret has left Delhi. Determined to go after her he is stopped in his tracks by Ram Lal who reveals the truth about Chanchal and Daniel’s relationship.
Daniel has been summoned back to the Company and he is intent on leaving. An angry John tells him that Chanchal is pregnant. He shirks the responsibility. The brothers come to blows in front of the entire household and the secret around the pregnancy is exposed. Servants, Henrietta and Violet are shocked by the news.
But there is worse to come as Castillon bursts into Beecham House. He accuses John of theft and arrests him for stealing the Agra Diamond from the Royal Emperor’s household. John pleads his innocence but is thrown in jail by the Emperor for refusing to reveal his accomplice.
Daniel’s suspicions about Samuel increase when he follows him through the Delhi docks and market to the Red Fort. Samuel is clearly up to no good. The shock of John’s arrest forces Chandrika to leave. Daniel now takes charge of the household and finally steps up to his responsibility of fighting for the return of his brother.
In a race against time Ram Lal, John’s loyal servant, rushes to find Margaret and tell her the news. Can anyone save John from this false accusation or is he fated to spend the rest of his days in jail?
Beecham House airs on ITV on Sundays at 9PM.
You can catch up on episodes online via the ITV Hub.
