The 'must-watch' BBC period drama hailed as 'riveting' and 'action-filled' by fans

Edinburgh Live

18-06-2025

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Jules Verne's beloved 1872 novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, has seen countless adaptations over the years.
While some renditions have hit the mark, others have missed it. Thankfully, the latest take on the classic - a joint venture by PBS and BBC in 2021 - has been hailed as a triumph.
Tagged as a historical period drama, Around the World in 80 Days (2021) was greenlit by the European Alliance, a cooperative effort involving Germany's ZDF, Italy's RAI, and France Télévisions, with Belgium's Be-Films/RTBF and America's Masterpiece also chipping in as co-production partners. The series was shot in South Africa, France, and the UK, with additional filming carried out in Romania.
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The programme first graced screens on La Une in Belgium in 2021, before making its grand entrance on BBC One in the UK on Boxing Day, 2021. Ahead of its launch, it was revealed that the show had already bagged a second series.
However, come October 2024, the Express reported that there were no current plans to extend the series beyond its debut season, reports Surrey Live.
David Tennant stars as intrepid explorer Phileas Fogg, with Ibrahim Koma playing his valet Jean Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as the adventurous Abigail Fix Fortescue in the high-stakes drama set after Fogg wagers a bet against a smug Reform Club member and embarks on an 80-day global odyssey. Amidst the fictional escapade, the series also brings historical personas like Bass Reeves, Adolphe Thiers, and Jane Digby to life within its plot.
The adaptation of Jules Verne's classic "Around the World in 80 Days" has been well received, securing an 81 per cent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting a general thumbs-up for this new take. One critic lauded the series, noting: "There's a reason that Jules Verne's novel has been made and re-made over the decades -- it's a riveting adventure tale, and this version is no exception."
Another remarked positively: "This new adaptation of Around The World In 80 Days more or less tells new stories that may have more parallels into the 21st century than the 19th. But it's also an action-filled, fast-moving delight."
Still, not everyone was impressed, with a dissenting voice stating: "It's ultimately a middling, entirely unnecessary new take on Verne's classic adventure novel, and its main cast seems aware they're starring in what amounts to an afterschool special."
Some viewers found the adaptation a triumph, with comments such as: "There is something about this time of year that demands a good, solid adaptation of a literary classic. Right on cue, here is Around the World in 80 Days for the entire family to enjoy."
Echoing these kudos, one fan said: "Nice cast, good work, I read the book and watched all the previous versions (also the anime). I like how it was changed."
Others lavished praise on the recent 2021 remake, as another enthusiast expressed: "It's about time Jules Verne's famous story got the screen adaptation it deserves. Around the World in 80 Days is a fresh take on the timeless classic with a few tweaks to suit a modern audience. The cast is phenomenal. The writing, directing, cinematography, and production design are all brilliant and bring back memories of a time when TV productions weren't the c**p streaming services spit out nowadays."
However, not everyone was entirely convinced, as one viewer noted: "A solid enough adaptation of the Verne classic, that does play it rather safe at times. It tries to tackle some important social issues along the way, but it does come across at times as rather forced and half baked."