Forsyte Saga picture exclusive

(publication unknown), April 2003

A new series of The Forsyte Saga begins on ITV next month -- and Insider has grabbed an exclusive behind the scenes peek. We joined cast and crew as they filmed a glittering party scene at a stately home in Cheshire -- and the four-part drama looks just as lavish as the first series, which pulled in almost nine million viewers last year.

Damian Lewis (Soames), Gina McKee (Irene) and Rupert Graves (Young Jolyon) are all back for the new series, which moves on two decades to the Roaring Twenties. But, this time, attention is switched to the relationship between Fleur (Emma Griffiths Malin) and Jon (Lee Williams), the children born to Soames and Annette and Irene and Young Jolyon in the final moments of the last series.

While their parents continue to feud, Fleur and Jon are drawn closer together. It's powerful stuff -- but as our pictures show, this didn't stop everyone from having a great time on set.

Caption: Lights, camera, action: Filming takes place at a frantic pace on a party scene involving Soames, Annette, Prosper and Fleur -- notice the drinks waitress poised to make her move!

Caption: Take your partner by the hand: Beatriz Batarda (Annette) is put through her paces by a dance coach.

Caption: Come on, Damian, time to powder your nose! Make-up head David Myers uses dull contact lenses to "deaden" the eyes and make actor Damian Lewis look 30 years older.

Caption: What do you mean mobile phones haven't been invented yet? Actor Alistair Petrie, who plays George, takes a break.

Caption: Stay still, dear! A make-up lady, below, makes sure party girl Fleur -- played by Emma Griffiths Malin, granddaughter of Dad's Army star John Le Mesurier -- looks her best.