Tuesday 21 July
9.00-10.00pm BBC TWO
John Millais (Samuel Barnett), Fred Walters (Sam Crane), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Aidan Turner) and William Holman Hunt (Rafe Spall) are Desperate Romantics
John Millais (Samuel Barnett), Fred Walters (Sam Crane) Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Aidan Turner) and William Holman Hunt (Rafe Spall) are Desperate Romantics

Rebellious, talented and charismatic, three young men – The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood – are on a mission to change the world of art. This lively new drama for BBC Two, starring Aidan Turner, Rafe Spall, Samuel Barnett and Sam Crane and written by Peter Bowker, is all about the personal life and work of the Brotherhood.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt and John Millais declare their irreverent genius to the Victorian artistic establishment as frequently and as loudly as they can. Unfortunately for them, only one man seems to be listening. Fred Walters is a shy hanger-on who ingratiates himself with the Brotherhood by locating the “perfect model” – flame-haired Lizzie Siddal, a hat-shop assistant. Though none of them quite yet realise it, she is soon to be the most famous model in Britain.

Fred immediately falls in love with Lizzie, but he cannot compete with Rossetti’s charisma and self-belief. Lizzie, meanwhile, begins to model first for the hard-working and pugnacious Hunt.

The boys’ adventurous, anti-establishment style and choice of subject matter and model brings them to the notice of brilliant and influential art critic John Ruskin. Encouraged by Ruskin’s interest, and still smarting over their rejection by the Royal Academy, the boys decide to mount an exhibition of their own. One step away from anonymity and poverty, they invite Ruskin in the hope of securing his approval, which is vital to launching them into a world of fame and fortune.

As they work towards each painting becoming a masterpiece for their make-or-break exhibition, they find themselves distracted by poverty, hunger, jealousy and lust.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti is played by Aidan Turner; William Holman Hunt by Rafe Spall; John Millais by Samuel Barnett; Fred Walters by Sam Crane; Lizzie Siddal by Amy Manson; and John Ruskin by Tom Hollander. Desperate Romantics also stars Jennie Jacques as Annie Miller and Zoë Tapper as Effie Ruskin.