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11:59am Friday 16th May 2008

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A TELEVISION series based on Elizabeth Gaskell's thinly-veiled novel about Knutsford is now entertaining viewers in America.

Cranford, which aired in Britain last year, has been broadcast on PBS in the United States.

And most critics across the Atlantic have reacted favourably to the drama starring Dame Judi Dench.

The Orlando Sentinel described Cranford as the season's most entertaining programme.

"Don't be surprised if you don't want to leave," wrote Hal Boedeker. "Cranford is an oasis, a landmark and television at its very best."

Some of the reviews do mention the story's links to Knutsford.

But the Seattle Times' critic, Misha Berson, did not get it quite right.

The writer described Cranford as a rural Cheshire town based on the village of Knutsford'.

She said the television series was addictive and classy with a dream cast.

"Pour yourself a cup of tea and settle in," she said. USA Today also enjoyed seeing the long-gone British world of lace, petticoats and hand-written garden party invitations'.

"You have five hours to treasure. Don't let them pass by without you," wrote Robert Bianco.

However, not all critics in America have been so kind.

Ginia Bellafante, of the New York Times, said Cranford veered towards the spirit of modern comedy-drama Desperate Housewives.

"The simplicity of the series makes it hard not to feel as though you are watching children play with their Fisher-Price farm set," she said.

But the Los Angeles Times disagreed.

It described Cranford's cast of women as pretty darn marvellous'.

The paper also said the programme showed how difficult life was in the mid-19th century.

"For all its frills and teacups Cranford does not shy from the grim realities of life in Victorian England," wrote Mary McNamara. The Washington Post said Imelda Staunton's gossipy character was the 1840s equivalent of a social networking website. "Imagine a time before online social networking sites alerted the world to a person's relationship status," wrote Becky Krystal. "Enter Miss Pole, the town crier of sorts in Cranford." The final part of Cranford will be screened on PBS on May 18 at 9pm.