'Downton Abbey' creator Carnival to produce 'Jamestown'

LONDON — "Downton Abbey" creator Carnival Films is to produce eight-part drama series "Jamestown," which charts the early days of the first British settlers as they embark on their new lives in America.

The show, which has been commissioned by European pay TV operator Sky, is written by Bill Gallagher ("Lark Rise to Candleford," "The Paradise"), and will go into production this month.

Leading the cast of male settlers are Max Beesley, Jason Flemyng, Dean Lennox-Kelly, Shaun Dooley, Stuart Martin, Steven Waddington, Matt Stokoe and Burn Gorman. The female settlers are played by Naomi Battrick, Sophie Rundle and Niamh Walsh.

Set in 1619, "Jamestown" follows the settlers as they establish a community in the New World. Amongst those landing onshore are a group of women destined to be married to the men of Jamestown, including three spirited women from England: Jocelyn (Battrick), Alice (Rundle) and Verity (Walsh).

Leaving their old lives behind, these women have embarked on this journey to start afresh, fulfill their dreams and become the female pioneers of an exciting new western outpost.