Powerful bbc adaptation of elizabeth gaskell's passionate love story, starring richard armitage, pauline quirke, tim pigott smith and francesca annis. A powerful adaptation of elizabeth gaskell's feisty and passionate novel, set across the social divides in the changing world of victorian industrial society. Margaret hale is from a southern country vicarage newly settled in the industrial town of milton. Unfamiliar with northern ways, she misjudges charismatic cotton mill owner john thornton, whose strength of purpose is a match for her own willfulness. Starring daniela denby ashe, richard armitage, pauline quirke and tim pigott smith. Dvd extras specially recorded interview with richard armitage, commentary on episodes 1 4 with kate bartlett, brian percival and sandy welch, deleted scenes production notes running time 233 minutes region region 2 subtitles english release date 11 04 2005