‘Sanditon’ writer explains why he chose to end Season 1 like that

The first season of Sandition reached a surprising conclusion in the US last night.

Based on Jane Austen’s unfinished final novel, the new period drama series launched in the UK last autumn.

It’s been airing in the US on Sunday nights over the past two months.

Austen’s original 11-chapter manuscript, written only months before her death in 1817, was brought to screen by award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride & Prejudice, Les Misérables).

Starring Theo James (Downton Abbey), Kris Marshall (Death in Paradise) and Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax), the eight-part adaptation was a co-production between ITV and PBS Masterpiece.

Unfortuntely, it was recently announced that Sanditon hasn’t been renewed by ITV.

Fans will have to wait and see if PBS can find another production partner to fund making a second season, but the good news is that they’re keen.

In the meantime, Sanditon viewers will have to cope with Season 1’s shocking ending!

Last night’s finale ended on a cliffhanger rather than giving fans a happy ending, with Charlotte and Sidney tearfully bidding each other farewell.

Sanditon writer Andrew Davies has now explained the decision to end the episode how he did: “I don’t know if you could tell from watching it, but we were rather counting on getting a second series!”

He revealed: “We thought if we wrap up Charlotte and Sidney at the end of the first series, we’d have to have a new heroine take over or something like that in series two.”

Davies added: “I do sympathise with everyone who felt upset about Charlotte and Sidney not getting their happy ending. Although, happy endings don’t always happen.”

We’ve got our fingers crossed for news of a second season!

Sanditon is available on DVD on Amazon.