See How ‘The Forsytes’ Compare Across All 3 TV Adaptations

The original story of The Forsyte Saga chronicles the deeply unhappy lives of three generations of an upper-middle-class British family as the series explores themes of wealth, property, obsession, and forbidden romance from the 1870s to the 1920s. The saga has been adapted for television three different times, each reflecting the storytelling style and audience expectations of its era.

The first adaptation aired on the BBC in 1967 and became a global television phenomenon. Based on John Galsworthy’s novels, it was a slow-burning period drama that leaned heavily into the rigid class structures, moral repression, and tragic marriages.

More than three decades later, ITV revisited the material with a glossy 2002 adaptation starring Damian Lewis as Soames and Gina McKee as Irene. This version retained the core narrative from Galsworthy’s books, but presented it with a more cinematic style and greater emotional intensity.

The newest adaptation, produced for PBS and written by Debbie Horsfield, takes a different approach. Rather than functioning as a direct remake, it reimagines the saga as a prequel that begins before the events of the original novels. The series shifts its focus to younger members of the Forsyte family and introduces new storylines that place women more firmly at the center of the narrative.

Though all three versions offer distinct tones and interpretations of the Forsyte family saga, the characters themselves remain firmly at the center of the story. Here is a look at the actors who portray the members of the Forsyte family across the three adaptations.

The Forsytes, Series Premiere, Sunday, March 22, 9/8c, PBS