A New Year Means a New Season of Classics

A new season of PBS' Masterpiece Classic begins tonight at 9 p.m. As annual tradition calls, this means a night with my fellow classics fan and dear "schmookums," Heather. The season starts off with "My Boy Jack," which is a WWI drama about the author Rudyard Kipling's only son, who ends up missing on the Western Front during the war. Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe stars as the young Kipling, along side Kim Cattrall who plays his American mother, and Carey Mulligan as the Kipling daughter.

Masterpiece Classic

This winter and spring, Masterpiece classic returns with signature period dramas, hosted by Laura Linney.

• 

  January 2, 2011
  My Boy Jack
  (One 120-minute episode; TV-PG)
  Daniel Radcliffe stars in a World War I drama about beloved storyteller Rudyard Kipling's only son, missing on the Western front in 1915. David Haig and Kim Cattrall co-star as the famous author and his American wife, Carrie. (Repeat)

• 

  January 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2011 at 9pm
  Downton Abbey
  (Four 90-minute episodes; TV-PG)
  A stately country house, a noble family and a succession crisis are the backdrop for this epic drama by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) starring Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern and others.

• 

  February 6, 2011
  The Unseen Alistair Cooke
  (One 60-minute episode; TV-PG)
  Told in his own voice and home movies, The Unseen Alistair Cooke shows America as the beloved Masterpiece Theatre host Alistair Cooke saw it — the raw material for a lifetime of journalism. (Repeat)

• 

  February 13, 20 & 27, 2011 at 9pm
  Any Human Heart
  (Three 90-minute episodes; TV-14, S)
  William Boyd adapts his acclaimed 2002 novel about a man making his often precarious way through the 20th century. Matthew Macfadyen, Gillian Anderson, Hayley Atwell, Kim Cattrall and Jim Broadbent star.

• 

  March 27, 2011 at 9pm
  The 39 Steps
  (One 90-minute episode)
  Secret agent Richard Hannay battles German spies on the eve of World War I in a riveting and romantic new version of the thriller by John Buchan. Rupert-Penry Jones (Persuasion) stars as Hannay. (Repeat)

• 

  April 10, 17 & 24, 2011 at 9pm
  Upstairs Downstairs
  (Three 60-minute episodes)
  Upstairs Downstairs is an updated version of one of the most-loved television series. Jean Marsh reprises her Emmy-winning role as Rose along with series co-creator Eileen Atkins (Cranford). Keeley Hawes, Ed Stoppard and Art Malik (The Jewel in the Crown) also star.

Coming Soon

• 

  Coming May 1, 8 & 15, 2011
  South Riding
  (Three 60-minute episodes)
  Anna Maxwell Martin (Bleak House) and David Morrissey (Sense & Sensibility) lead the cast in Andrew Davies's (Bleak House, Little Dorrit) three-part adaptation of Winifred Holtby's moving love story.