Sanditon season 3 stars have described it as a “pleasure” to be on a show with “the most incredible fans in the world” ahead of the drama’s final episode on ITVX later this month.
The Jane Austen-inspired historical drama was notably saved by its fandom when ITV cancelled it after season one, until a fan petition convinced PBS to rush in and renew it for two more seasons alongside co-producer BritBox in 2021.
After a lengthy wait (it aired in March on US channel PBS), the third and final season has finally arrived on UK shores, with lots in store for leading lady Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) and the other residents of the regency seaside resort.
Ben Lloyd-Hughes, who plays leading man Alexander Colbourne, Turlough Convery, who plays Arthur Parker, and Eloise Webb, who plays Augusta Markham, spoke about their experiences working on Sanditon as both original cast members (Turlough) and newcomers for seasons two and three (Ben and Eloise).
Musing on why Sanditon managed to resonate so well with fans across the globe, Turlough shared: ‘We’ve got the most amazing fans in the world, and they’re dedicated. [With] the circumstances of there being the pandemic and the lockdown, I think it allowed a lot more people to find it and to find connection and a community in the show that I have rarely found in other jobs. It’s not consumed, it’s consuming – and I think that’s wonderful.
‘I wish we could keep on making it for them, but all good things sometimes have to come to an end and be put up on a shelf and [have it be] said, ‘That’s a beautiful thing that I can connect with again,’ – and I think people are!’
Sharing examples of the far-flung interactions he’s had, the Northern Irish star revealed: ‘I’m constantly getting people messaging me on Instagram or Twitter and saying, “Oh, we’re starting a re-watch of episode two in Australia”, and you’re like, “That’s just amazing – and thank you!”
‘It’s the biggest privilege – it’s one of the biggest privileges of my life to have been part of a show that that has connected with people. That’s what acting and storytelling is about – you just want to connect with people, you want to give them a moment where they can escape from their life, and escape into this mad world of fêtes and festivals and dances and balls and feasts. And I think that’s really special that people connected with it.’
‘You do so many jobs that no one cares about at all,’ added Ben of the fan reception to Sanditon.
‘I’ve been trawling through these amazing birthday cards that have been sent to me from Sanditon fans that I’ve only just received, for various postal reasons. It’s just amazing and so rewarding to read all these messages about how much the show and the character means to people.’
The actor, who has previously acted in The Crown and the Divergent film trilogy, stated that this is “the final moment to say goodbye to the programme and the role.”
‘It’s been such an honour and a privilege. I’ve relished every minute of it.’
Ben has thoroughly captured the hearts of the show’s fans as the man who stepped into Theo James’ shoes after season one’s hero Sidney Parker exited (and then died off screen), despite leaving them on another cliffhanger at the end of season 2 after a series of misunderstandings saw Charlotte go home and get engaged to her childhood sweetheart, farmer Ralph Stirling (Cai Brigden).
‘I’m not on social media, so I rarely get to interact directly with anyone full stop, never mind Sanditon fans! But it’s such a privilege to say thank you so much to all the people and who watched Sanditon and campaigned to have it brought back and have been so positive in their reaction to my character and my performance, because they don’t need to do that,’ he shared.
‘I’m sure there are still lots of people who wish it had all gone a different way, but the people who have reached out either via my family’s social media – or there is something called The Ben Lloyd-H.O.E.S (fan group Ben Lloyd-Hughes’ Organisation of Enthusiastic Supporters), which I’m aware of, and I received a sticker off in the post and it’s on my fridge currently…’
Ben, who says the sticker takes ‘pride of place amongst lots of kids’ drawings’, is very appreciative of ‘the vibes and the affection’ from fans.
‘I’m aware that these things don’t last forever and maybe I’ll just be yesterday’s fish and chips paper, once people move on to a new thing, but long may it continue.’
He explained: ‘You go through such a long period of doing these jobs that no one notices at all, so just to have anyone watch it and care passionately enough to actually send letters! Just to open physical cards that wished me both happy birthday and expressed their affection for the show and the character – it reminds you every day, how precious that is because it doesn’t happen all the time.’
Eloise is also touched by the support both the show and she have received, as an emerging star.
‘I won’t, but I could honestly shed a tear over how much love the cast and the crew feel from all the supporters!
‘It’s always really scary watching yourself on screen, especially as I was one of the youngest – obviously Flora [Mitchell, who plays Leo Colbourne] was by far the youngest on set – but of all the adults, I was the youngest.
‘That was a really scary place to be in, especially during that jump from child to adult in in the show, as well as having my 18th birthday on set too – so I was really living in it! And they made it so easy. It made me feel that no one doubted that I was supposed to be that.’
Augusta explores being out as a lady in society in season three, and gets her first taste of romance courtesy of local rogue Sir Edward Denham (Jack Fox), with a more mature narrative than season two’s, which was only recorded a week apart from the final run of episodes.
‘Sometimes every actor suffers a bit from imposter syndrome, especially joining a crew that already knew each other and a cast that already knew each other, it can be daunting, but they filled me with such confidence that that I would go on to set every day and just be like, “Ah this is where I’m meant to be.” And if I ever doubt that all I have to do is turn to [fan group] the Sanditon Sisterhood!’
‘I don’t think everyone is that lucky and I don’t ever want to forget that I was that lucky too,’ the actress reflected.
As for a final tease ahead of the show’s kick-off later in August – and a nice refresher on where things were left – Ben is on hand with his thoughts about Colbourne and Charlotte.
‘I love series three and what it kind of does in between the series. Colbourne has obviously left for Bath, and it’s been that classic Jane Austen moment of slight misunderstanding, a lot of pride, and frustrating emotions that get in the way of what they’re truly saying – and then that crushing final scene between them where they’re both kind of getting mixed up in their messaging and who wants what.’
‘And he comes back refreshed and inspired – subconsciously or consciously – by the months that he shared with Miss Hayward and understanding how he can be a better father and uncle, and he is determined to return to Sanditon a better man. I think he genuinely is determined to find a new life without Charlotte Hayward,’ he mused.
‘But, as we can imagine, life and serendipity seem to continuously bring them together. And the big question is, can they survive without each other? And what will happen?’
Sanditon season 3 premieres all episodes on August 17 on ITVX.
