'I'm a Downton Abbey superfan and these are my top 10 period dramas'

Downton Abbey aired on ITV in 2010 and was an instant hit. The show has a stellar cast that includes Hugh Bonneville, the late Maggie Smith, and Michelle Dockery. The series centres on the very different lives of the servants and the Crawley family who lived at the abbey in the early 20th century. " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="ITV" data-licensor-name="ITV" />

While many people may think it will be difficult to beat Downton Abbey when it comes to British period dramas, there are a host of others that rival the popular ITV series, which has been made into a film franchise. Some are mini-series that originally aired on the BBC, starring award-winning actors such as Anna Maxwell Martin and Ruth Jones, and others are pieces based on best-selling novels that have been adapted for television. A handful are currently airing on ITV and the BBC for viewers to enjoy as production continues for future instalments.

Here, Express.co.uk has compiled a list of the top 10 period dramas to sink your teeth into.

The long-running series Call the Midwife first hit BBC screens in January 2012. It follows the stories of a group of nurses and nuns in Poplar who help deliver babies and navigate their way through 1950s London.

The Christmas specials are always popular, and the series has been renewed for 16 seasons.

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