A brand new period drama adaptation has arrived on BBC iPlayer, and viewers are already captivated. The Lady Grace Mysteries is a series of children’s detective fiction novels, originally penned by English author Patricia Finney, before Sara Volger and Jan Burchett later came aboard as co-authors.

Written in diary format, the story centres on Lady Grace Cavendish, a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I, who sets about unravelling a series of mysteries within the royal court. The series comprises 12 books in total, with the earliest instalments regarded as the most beloved titles. These include Assassin, Betrayal, and Conspiracy – all released in 2004 and 2005. The final instalment, Loot, was published in 2010.

Now, audiences can immerse themselves in the 16th-century royal court as the beloved books have been brought to life in a new BBC adaptation. The “vibrant” new drama captures the excitement, humour and intrigue of Queen Elizabeth I’s court for younger viewers, as well as older fans who grew up devouring the books, reports the Liverpool Echo.

“The series introduces 14-year-old Grace Cavendish, a spirited lady-in-waiting with a sharp mind, a strong sense of justice and one enormous secret: she is the Queen’s top secret teenage spy,” reads the official synopsis for the series.

“Moving through the glittering but treacherous world of the Tudor court, Grace must juggle her official duties with undercover missions as she tackles everything from stolen crowns and mysterious hauntings to political plots and deadly traitors hiding in plain sight (Claudia Winkleman not included).

“With picture perfect palaces, sweeping gardens, secret passageways and lavish royal celebrations, The Lady Grace Mysteries brings the Elizabethan Golden Age to the screen in a way that feels both authentic and fresh. Alongside her best friends, Ellie, a fearless scullery maid, and Masou, an ambitious young actor, Grace’s world is packed with daring escapades, heartfelt friendships and relatable teenage drama, just with more ruffs, royal balls and assassination attempts.”

Sarah Muller, Head of Commissioning 7+ at the BBC, said: “The Lady Grace Mysteries is everything we love in co-viewing a series: it’s warm, funny and full of adventure, with a brilliant young heroine at its heart. It blends mystery, history and big emotional stories in a way that feels fresh and exciting for today’s audience, while giving parents and grandparents something richly nostalgic and visually spectacular to enjoy too. We’re so proud of this show and can’t wait for families to discover Grace’s world together.”

Evie Coles takes on the role of Grace, while Rebecca Scott portrays Queen Elizabeth I. The ensemble cast further comprises Carys John, Twinkle Jaiswal, Rafael Alessandro, Georgia Farrow, and Fintan Buckard. All ten episodes of The Lady Grace Mysteries arrived on BBC iPlayer earlier this month (April 20), with viewers already devouring the entire series in one sitting.

Numerous fans have taken to social media to express their enthusiasm, with one user posting on X (formerly Twitter): “The Lady Grace Mysteries are heaps of fun.” Another commented: “It’s actually a kids show but I’m liking the teenage spy at the Elizabethan court. Great fun with FAB costumes. Each character has their own colour scheme, Lady Grace in greens, the Queen in orange/gold, another in purple, one in blue. NICE!”

The official CBBC Instagram account likewise posted: “If you like and miss Malory Towers… we’ve got you! Brand new series, with familiar faces… #TheLadyGraceMysteries is available right now.”

The Lady Grace Mysteries is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

SOURCE: EXPRESS