--- product_id: 4227940 title: "The First Churchills" price: "£57.95" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4227940-the-first-churchills store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # The First Churchills **Price:** £57.95 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The First Churchills - **How much does it cost?** £57.95 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4227940-the-first-churchills) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The landmark miniseries that launched Masterpiece Theatre "Lavish period piece" —Los Angeles Times "Humor, bawdiness . . . good fun" —The New York Times "Rich in wit, lust, love, ambition, intrigue" —The Sunday Times (U.K.) A tender love story played out amid the intrigues of the English court At a time when most marriages were motivated by money and position, Sarah Jennings and John Churchill married for love. Their union lasted through long lives spent at the epicenter of political power in 17th- and 18th-century England. He was a military genius who never lost a battle; she was the intimate friend of a queen. Based on Sir Winston Churchill's biography of his ancestors, the first Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, this addictive BBC drama follows the couple from their budding romance in the bawdy court of King Charles II through five tumultuous decades and five Stuart monarchs. Starring John Neville (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The X-Files) and Susan Hampshire (Monarch of the Glen, The Pallisers) in an Emmy®-winning performance, this classic miniseries helped establish Masterpiece Theatre as the venue for acclaimed British productions. Due to the age of these programs and the improved resolution that DVD provides, you may notice occasional flaws in the image and audio on this DVD presentation that were beyond our ability to correct from the original materials. Review: Homage to Corporal John and Wife Sarah. - This superb series chronicles the lives of the first Churchills as they weave through a succession of Stuart monarchs. This was a definning period in English history which saw Albion's beginnings as a world Empire. In seeing this landmark BBC series that was the first of its kind one cannot help that this was viewing intended for an intelligent audience. How little we see of such productions today! Even though the series lacks special effects and large casts to convery the full panaoply of warfare in this period, the discussion of tactics and the overlay of maps with the few extras they have manages quite well to convey the spirt of events. Also, for the military buff of late 17th and early 18th century warfare there is virtually nothing out there on screen to rival it. Where else can one see a dipiction of the events leading to the pivital battle of Blenheim in 1704, nor anything else on the long forgotten War of the Spanish Succession of 1700 - 1713. This conflict had a vital influence on the forming of modern Europe. Where would we be today had not Marlborough halted the ambitions of the insatiable Louis XIV upon the blood stained fields of Blenheim, Malplaquete, and Ramillies. We might all be speaking French today and perhaps worse! The map of Europe certainly would be different than now and likely something dreadful like the EU domination today! But I digress. The 12 episodes are neatly divided into the various reigns of the ruling Stuart monarches. We have three episodes devoted to Charles II always in hand with one of his Spaniels! Then the middle six episodes deal with the troubled reign of James II which saw his dethronment in the events of the Glorious Revolution by William of Orange and Mary. This leads among other things to the forlorn Jacobite risings to place James and his Stuart descendents back upon the English crown. It also shows how difficult it was for Dutch William to rule in England despite his invitation to do so. There is much history and many plots to digest here. The final three episodes show the reign of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch to rule in England and the brilliant campaigns of Marborough against the French. These are only highligted here, but again much great history to consider. The acting throughout is superb and many of these BBC actors showcased here would return in other great BBC productions. A classic which whatever it lacks in special effects and small interior sets, more than makes up for in great acting and good scripts. A great series to realy sink into and inspire one's reading on the period portrayed. Review: Classic masterpiece - The debut of Masterpiece Theatre still stands up to time. Generally true to the facts and incredibly well acted. It's rare to be informed and entertained at the same time. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00BQXTDIU | | Actors | John Neville | | Best Sellers Rank | #61,901 in Movies & TV ( See Top 100 in Movies & TV ) #9,705 in Drama DVDs | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (147) | | Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No | | Item model number | MFR054961862696#N | | MPAA rating | NR (Not Rated) | | Media Format | Box set, Color, Dolby, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled | | Number of discs | 1 | | Product Dimensions | 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4.8 ounces | | Release date | June 4, 2013 | | Run time | 8 hours and 52 minutes | | Studio | ACORN MEDIA | | Subtitles: | English | ## Product Details - **Contributor:** John Neville - **Format:** Box set, Color, Dolby, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled - **Genre:** Drama - **Language:** English - **Runtime:** 8 hours and 52 minutes ## Images ![The First Churchills - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81eJVSghl+L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Homage to Corporal John and Wife Sarah. *by R***R on June 8, 2010* This superb series chronicles the lives of the first Churchills as they weave through a succession of Stuart monarchs. This was a definning period in English history which saw Albion's beginnings as a world Empire. In seeing this landmark BBC series that was the first of its kind one cannot help that this was viewing intended for an intelligent audience. How little we see of such productions today! Even though the series lacks special effects and large casts to convery the full panaoply of warfare in this period, the discussion of tactics and the overlay of maps with the few extras they have manages quite well to convey the spirt of events. Also, for the military buff of late 17th and early 18th century warfare there is virtually nothing out there on screen to rival it. Where else can one see a dipiction of the events leading to the pivital battle of Blenheim in 1704, nor anything else on the long forgotten War of the Spanish Succession of 1700 - 1713. This conflict had a vital influence on the forming of modern Europe. Where would we be today had not Marlborough halted the ambitions of the insatiable Louis XIV upon the blood stained fields of Blenheim, Malplaquete, and Ramillies. We might all be speaking French today and perhaps worse! The map of Europe certainly would be different than now and likely something dreadful like the EU domination today! But I digress. The 12 episodes are neatly divided into the various reigns of the ruling Stuart monarches. We have three episodes devoted to Charles II always in hand with one of his Spaniels! Then the middle six episodes deal with the troubled reign of James II which saw his dethronment in the events of the Glorious Revolution by William of Orange and Mary. This leads among other things to the forlorn Jacobite risings to place James and his Stuart descendents back upon the English crown. It also shows how difficult it was for Dutch William to rule in England despite his invitation to do so. There is much history and many plots to digest here. The final three episodes show the reign of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch to rule in England and the brilliant campaigns of Marborough against the French. These are only highligted here, but again much great history to consider. The acting throughout is superb and many of these BBC actors showcased here would return in other great BBC productions. A classic which whatever it lacks in special effects and small interior sets, more than makes up for in great acting and good scripts. A great series to realy sink into and inspire one's reading on the period portrayed. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Classic masterpiece *by T***M on December 19, 2025* The debut of Masterpiece Theatre still stands up to time. Generally true to the facts and incredibly well acted. It's rare to be informed and entertained at the same time. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great show! *by D***. on March 16, 2026* Very enjoyable early Masterpiece Theater series. I'd been hoping for *years* for Britbox, PBS, or Acorn to give it a showing but gave up and bought this DVD set. Happy with the quick delivery and quality of the playback. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4227940-the-first-churchills](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4227940-the-first-churchills) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-03*