5 unmissable Jane Austen dramas to binge-watch on BBC iPlayer now

Keeley Hawes is fantastic in this moving and beautiful story about Cassandra Austen, who famously destroyed her sister Jane's private letters after her death at the age of 41.

The four-part drama, which is set to return with a second season, is based on Gill Hornby's book of the same name.

Told across two timelines, the series follows Cassandra in 1830 as she sets out to find her sister's letters, which, in the wrong hands, she fears could destroy Jane's reputation. The second timeline sees Cassandra and Jane in their youth as they navigate love and heartbreak.

This tear-jerking tale of love, loss and sisterhood really is a gem. 

Rose Leslie, Synnøve Karlsen and Max Irons also star. 

The BBC's swoon-worthy 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most iconic Jane Austen dramas ever made. 

Colin Firth, in my opinion, is the best Mr Darcy. He perfectly captures Darcy's gradual transition from a cold and arrogant snob to a sincere and vulnerable romantic hero.

He stars opposite Jennifer Ehle, who is perfectly cast as our heroine, Elizabeth Bennet.

I regularly tune into this brilliant, six-part series, and not just to see Mr Darcy emerge from a lake in a soaking wet, see-through shirt. From the delightful soundtrack to the excellent cast performances, this BBC miniseries is utterly charming and a must-watch for Austen fans. 

Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield star as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood in this charming and faithful adaptation of the 1811 story. They're joined by top British acting talent, including Lucy Boynton as Margaret Dashwood and David Morrissey as Colonel Brandon.

If the cast of familiar faces isn't enough to tempt you, then perhaps the fact that the show is penned by Andrew Davies (who wrote the BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice) will. 

With gorgeous scenery, a brilliant script and superb performances, this three-part series will not disappoint.

The drama, which boasts an impressive 88 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love, loss and financial insecurity after being forced to leave their family home. 

Romola Garai perfectly portrays the lively, meddling heroine Emma Woodhouse in this superb and witty four-part adaptation of the Austen classic. 

Tamsin Greig is particularly good as the kind-hearted yet silly Miss Bates, while Jonny Lee Miller is brilliantly cast as Emma's handsome and sensible love interest, Mr. Knightly.

For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows rich and enthusiastic 21-year-old Emma, who enjoys meddling in the love lives of others. With no need to marry herself, Emma takes great pleasure in matchmaking those around her. 

She turns her efforts to the young and pretty Harriet Smith, who she convinces is far too good to marry her suitor, farmer Robert Martin. What follows is a tale of love, class and self-discovery. 

While it might not be an adaptation of one of Austen's stories, this three-part docudrama is well worth watching.

The three-part series, narrated by actress Juliet Stevenson, is an in-depth look at the prolific author's life. It combines contributions from experts, novelists and actors who have portrayed Austen's characters on screen, with dramatic reconstructions and vignettes to bring the writer back to life. 

The documentary explores Jane's "surprising life" and how the world famous author "ripped up the rulebook and reinvented the novel, allowing her readers into the minds of characters as never before". 

The series, released last year, has been hailed as a "masterpiece" by viewers, while critics called it "unmissable" viewing. 

Authors Helen Fielding and Kate Atkinson are among the contributors, alongside actors Charity Wakefield, Samuel West and Tamsin Greig, to name a few.