Sign language

BBC One

BBC One West Midlands

Desperate Romantics

BBC HD

BBC Four

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One London

London

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One North West

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Oxfordshire

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Wales

Wales

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Cambridgeshire

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC Four HD

Rafe Spall

Aidan Turner

Samuel Barnett

Sam Crane

Tom Hollander

Zoe Tapper

Amy Manson

Jennie Jacques

Phil Davis

Ian Puleston-Davies

Polly Kemp

Josie Farmiloe

Mark Heap

Georgie Glen

Maimie McCoy

Julian Stolzenberg

Hilary Salmon

Franny Moyle

Ben Evans

Paul Gay

Peter Bowker

Desperate Romantics: Episode 2

Drama

Drama: Classic & Period

Episode 2

BBC Two - Desperate Romantics, Episode 2

Millais sets to work on a masterpiece for art critic John Ruskin. Hunt is in turmoil.

Millais sets to work on a masterpiece for art critic John Ruskin, but Rossetti is furious when Millais chooses his muse Lizzie to sit for him. Hunt finds himself in turmoil.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood continue their quest for credibility, celebrity and success.

With the help of their new friend, journalist Fred Walters, they have caught the attention of the pre-eminent art critic of the day, John Ruskin, and they now have to persuade Ruskin to buy their work. The prodigious and impossibly talented John Millais sets about rustling up a masterpiece to show Ruskin. The work is Ophelia, and he chooses Lizzie Siddal to sit for it. Rossetti, who is convinced that he is nothing without Lizzie as his muse, is furious with Millais for taking her from under his nose. 

Hunt, meanwhile, attempts a masterpiece of his own, with street girl Annie Miller once again sitting for him. Having lost his virginity to Annie, Hunt remains unable to resist her charms and is cast into turmoil as he battles with his deep-felt religiosity and conflicting sexual desire.

Everything in the Brothers' world comes crashing to a halt when Lizzie falls unconscious with pneumonia while posing as Ophelia in a bath of cold water. Millais, distracted by thoughts of Effie, Ruskin's beautiful young wife, had failed to notice Lizzie sinking into a decline. As Lizzie's life hangs in the balance, so does Millais' masterpiece and thereby the Brotherhood's most promising chance of gaining recognition. However, Rossetti no longer cares about the future of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood as he contemplates a future without the woman he loves.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Rollicking drama about the scandalous love lives of artists in Victorian London.

A maverick group of revolutionary artists whose scandalous love lives rocked the gossip-filled halls of Victorian London. Rollicking drama starring Aidan Turner and Rafe Spall.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Desperate Romantics

Episode 2

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC One West Midlands

About BBC One