Guest Author - Pam Lawrence

The Masterpiece Theatre schedule for this autumn is diverse, and although only one new series is featured, the encore presentations represent a varied cross section of drama, comedy and costume drama for which MT has become so famous.

Airing first, beginning on October 21st, is the five parter starring the wonderful Jane Horrocks as the eponymous Amazing Mrs Pritchard. The Little Voice star plays an ordinary Yorkshire supermarket manager who, disillusioned with the politicians in charge, decides to run her own campaign. Under the banner of her own Purple Alliance Party, she soon finds what began as a joke gathers momentum very rapidly, and soon she has some political heavy hitters on her side.

She is a plain speaking, warm hearted woman who rapidly wins over voters, and she finds herself becoming Prime Minister in a landslide victory. Sally Wainwright (Jane Hall , At Home With The Braithwaites) was so fed up during the last UK General Election that she turned the creative spotlight on her disillusionment to create MrsPritchard.

She is quoted on the PBS website as saying: "I hit on the notion of someone so disillusioned with normal politics that she decides to go into it herself. I thought that was a great starting point for a drama. Also, the fact that at the beginning this character knows nothing about politics is a good way to take the audience with you."

My Family and Other Animals is the charmingly eccentric story of a family escaping the dreary weather in 1930s England for the sun drenched island of Corfu. Based on the memoirs of Gerald Durrell, the young lad in the story, this hugely entertaining production is perfect viewing for those dark November nights.

Starring Imelda Staunton as the matriarch of the family and Eugene Simon as the intrepid Gerald, the series follows the bohemian family as they experience quirky misadventures in their new home. Gerald discovers his lifelong passion for animals and nature, and does a lot of growing up along the way. A wonderful adaptation of one of the most popular books of all time.

Be sure to catch The Best of Masterpiece Theatre which originally aired earlier this year. Host Derek Jacobi pays tribute to the best loved shows from 35 seasons, and we get to hear from some of the most popular stars including Robson Green, Hugh Laurie and Jean Marsh. Airs December 2nd.

If you missed Helen Mirren's Emmy winning performance in Prime Suspect: The Final Act, be sure to tune in on the 16th and 23rd of December for a repeat showing of the brilliant swan song of one of the small screen's greatest detectives.

Wrapping up the year is another encore presentation of the most recent, rather sexy, retelling of the Charlotte Bronte classic, Jane Eyre, starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. Watch out for the young Georgie Henley (The Chronicles of Narnia) as the young Jane. The programme will go out on December 30th and January 6th .

As with all PBS programming, be sure to check your listings for possible changes in these dates.