I am a great fan of Richmal Crompton’s “Just William” series of stories which were set in mid century middle England and which concerned the misadventures of a middle class boy.
In one of the books William gets involved in a local ladies amateur dramatic society’s production which, it is decided, by one of the ladies, should be “a period piece”.
When asked by one of the other members to what period she was referring she answered, witheringly;” the costume period”.

I’m with her in this and as a sworn hater of nearly everything on the box (having spent 35 years working nights I think I just never developed the habit) I must consider myself a sucker for anything of the costume period.
Cranford, the BBC adaptation of several of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novels must have been one of the best I have seen yet.
Impeccable performances from three British actors in their prime, Judy Dench, Eileen Atkins and Francesca Annis alone made it essential viewing but it was much more than just this, I gather that several liberties were taken with Gaskell’s originals but this did make terrific television.
Roll on the repeats