‘Masterpiece’ Encores

PBS will celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Masterpiece Theatre” by repeating some episodes of the program’s most popular miniseries:

“Upstairs, Downstairs”

Jan. 13

Featured: Three episodes of the nine-time Emmy Award-winning series about the rich Bellamy family and their downstairs help in early 20th-century London. Among them: “Guest of Honour,” in which King George dines with the Bellamys’ and “All the King’s Horses,” the next to the last episode, about James’ return after two years in the United States and the tragic consequences of the stock market crash.

Starring: Jean Marsh, Gordon Jackson, Simon Williams and David Langton.

Originally aired: 1973-74, 1975-76 and 1976-77 seasons.

“The Flame Trees of Thika”

Jan. 20

Featured: The “Happy New Year” episode set on New Year’s Eve, 1914, in Kenya. “Flame Trees,” regarded as the most popular “Masterpiece Theatre” series, was based on Elspeth Huxley’s memoirs of her childhood in Africa.

Starring: Hayley Mills, David Robb, Holly Aird and Ben Cross.

Originally aired: 1981-82 season.

“On Approval”

Jan. 27

Featured: Frederick Londsale’s 1926 hit comedy about two unmarried upper-class British couples who live together for a month before deciding to marry.

Starring: Jeremy Brett, Penelope Keith, Benjamin Whitrow and Lindsay Duncan.

Originally aired: 1982-83 season.

“I, Claudius”

Feb. 3

Featured: The “Zeus, By Jove” episode, about the takeover of the throne by Caligula (John Hurt) and the appointment of the stuttering Claudius (Derek Jacobi) to the head of the Senate. “I, Claudius” was based on Robert Graves’ two 1934 historical best-sellers, “I, Claudius” and “Claudius the God,” which chronicle the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

Originally aired: 1977-78 season.

“A Dedicated Man”

Feb. 10

Featured: An unconventional love story about a woman’s obsession with a fictional son.

Starring: Joan Plowright and Alec McGowen.

Originally aired: 1984-85 season.

“Elizabeth R”

Feb. 17

Featured: “The Lion’s Cub” episode begins with Elizabeth as a 15-year-old and concludes with her accession to the throne at 27.

Starring: Glenda Jackson.

Originally aired: 1971-72 season.

“The Jewel in the Crown”

Feb. 24

Featured: The first two-hour installment of the Emmy Award-winning adaptation of Paul Scott’s saga set in India from 1942 and 1947.

Starring: Art Malik, Susan Wooldridge and Tim Piggott-Smith.

Originally aired: 1984-85 season.

“The Tale of Beatrix Potter”

March 3

Featured: The drama about the shy, sensitive girl who became one of the best-loved writers of children’s stories.

Starring: Penelope Wilton.

Originally aired: 1983-84 season.

“The Six Wives of Henry VIII”

March 10

Featured: The “Catherine Howard” episode, which focuses on the fifth wife of Henry VIII who is condemned to death when she fails to produce a son.

Starring: Keith Michell and Angela Pleasence.

Originally aired: 1971-72 season on “Masterpiece Theatre,” (initially aired on CBS in 1971).

“20th Anniversary Special”

March 24

Featured: Excerpts from two of the “Masterpiece Theatre” birthday galas in Washington and Los Angeles, plus clips of the shows and a parody of the series called “Masterpiece Tonight.”