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10 Best TV Shows Like My Lady Jane

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Summary

  • Those who enjoyed the historical fantasy, humor, and alternative history elements of My Lady Jane, may enjoy these other series.
  • Renegade Nell was an historical fantasy series about a young woman framed for murder who goes on an epic adventure.
  • Belgravia: The Next Chapter included a major actor from My Lady Jane to fill the gap left by the show.



My Lady Jane was an excellent historical fantasy series that has left plenty of viewers craving more shows that showcased a similar style, addressed the same themes, or combined humor and history in such a compelling way. With an extraordinary lead performance from Emily Bader as Lady Jane Grey, this period series reimagined the story of the ‘Nine Days Queen’ as a magical tale featuring a world where some can take the form of animals. Adapted from a novel by Jodi Meadows, this Amazon Prime series brought to mind several other acclaimed TV shows.

Whether audiences connected with the comedic, dramatic, or fantastical elements of My Lady Jane, several similar shows could fill the gap left by the series. From the absurd comedy of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin to the far more realistic depictions of monarchy seen in The Crown, many shows captured the same infectious energy as My Lady Jane. As a series that blended modern sensibilities with an earlier historical setting, My Lady Jane brought to mind some of the most successful series in recent years.



10 The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (2024 – Present)

1 season

Much in the same way that My Lady Jane took historical figures and blended their stories with fact and fiction, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin had a basis in reality. With Noel Fielding in the title role, playing the real English highwayman Dick Turpin, this outrageous historical comedy was the perfect vehicle for Fielding’s unique comedy stylings. Fielding may be recognizable to viewers as a member of the cult comedy troupe The Mighty Boosh and for his role in The Great British Baking Show, but here he got to show off his incredible potential as a comedy star.


The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin was a highly witty series that could be alienating to those not used to more absurd styles of comedy. With chaotic whimsy and a talented supporting cast, this underrated series was full of period adventures of the silliest kind. Packed with recurring gags and absurdist humor, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin would appeal to those who connected with the more comedic aspects of My Lady Jane.

9 Renegade Nell (2024 – Present)

1 season


For viewers who connected with the fantasy side of My Lady Jane and were fascinated by its concept of animal-shifting Ethians, Renegade Nell would be the perfect replacement series to check out next. With Derry Girls star Louisa Harland as the fugitive framed for murder, Nelly Jackson, this 18th-century fantasy, told the story of a young woman who found herself as the most feared person in Britain. With the guidance of a magical sprite called Billy Blind, Nelly goes on an epic adventure to fulfill her incredible destiny.

Like My Lady Jane, Renegade Nell was a highly humorous historical fantasy series packed to the rafters with clever ideas. With fantastic writing and strong performances throughout, Renegade Nell walked the fine line between family-friendly television and edgy sensationalism. As a series made by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright, Renegade Nell maintained the same level of quality as her previous work and stood as a rich female-led highwaywoman epic that deserved to get more attention.


8 Belgravia: The Next Chapter (2024)

1 season

My Lady Jane had an incredible cast of talented actors, and one member who stood out was Edward Bluemel as Lord Guildford Dudley, the man that Lady Jane Grey was coerced by her family into marrying. Bluemel has made plenty of appearances in acclaimed TV series, like Killing Eve and Sex Education, but those who want to see him in a similar type of period drama should check out Belgravia: The Next Chapter. While Bluemel was not the lead character, he did appear throughout as Dr. Stephen Ellerby.


Belgravia: The Next Chapter was a Victorian period drama that served as a sequel to the beloved Julian Fellowes’ limited series Belgravia. Picking up 25 years after the previous show’s conclusion, Belgravia: The Next Chapter showcased that the drama and scandals surrounding the Trenchard family were far from over. Bluemel delivered an exceptional performance and showcased the same incredible screen presence that made his role in My Lady Jane so effective.

7 Upstart Crow (2016 – 2020)

3 series


Part of the appeal of My Lady Jane was the way it took real history and blended it with fantasy to create a compelling story of love, royalty, and self-discovery. This interesting way of repurposing known history for entertainment value was also effectively utilized in the British sitcom Upstart Crow and its treatment of the legacy of William Shakespeare. With David Mitchell in the lead role, Upstart Crow was an enjoyable piece of comedy that blended everyday sitcom scenarios with clever allusions to the world’s most famous playwright’s work.

Upstart Crow was initially produced to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. It was created by Ben Elton, also known for other acclaimed British sitcoms like The Young Ones and Blackadder. While Upstart Crow’s writing may fall short of the best work of Shakespeare himself, it was still a wildly entertaining series full of references to great literature, Shakespeare’s work, and hilarious commentary on modern existance that was juxtaposed with the daily troubles of life during the late 1500s and early 1600s.


6 Bridgerton (2020 – Present)

3 seasons

The historical romance Bridgerton took Netflix by storm and became one of the streamer’s most popular series after it first aired in 2020. Much in the same way that My Lady Jane depicted an alternative history with a racially integrated monarchy, Bridgerton also cast actors of all races to play characters who, during the real historical period, would have faced major discrimination and prejudice. Bridgeton explained these casting choices as the alternative London Regency era, in which the monarchy established racial equality.


In the same way that My Lady Jane began the question of “what if history were different,” Bridgerton did not allow itself to be boxed in by the expectations of the historical romance genre. With a clever mix of Regency-era style and the exciting scandal that made series like Gossip Girl so successful, Bridgerton was a true crowd-pleaser and a highly bingeable series. With no signs of its popularity slowing down and even a spin-off series already released, Bridgerton would be the perfect antidote to those craving something similar to My Lady Jane.


5 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)

1 season

Both the main Bridgerton series and My Lady Jane have utilized an alternative history style that allowed characters of all races to be cast in any role the writers chose, regardless of those earlier eras’ racial prejudices and discrimination. This was also prominently seen in the Bridgerton spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which served as a prequel explaining the rise of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The series was a major success that highlighted the potential of an entire Bridgerton franchise.


Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story worked well because of the way its multicultural society in the precipice of great change mimicked modern concerns and political topics in 21st-century America. As a spin-off, Queen Charlotte succeeded and added the series lore without feeling like an unnecessary addition or a cash grab quickly thrown together in the light of other series’ popularity. Queen Charlotte received overwhelmingly positive reviews and would certainly appeal to those who enjoyed My Lady Jane.

4 Another Period (2013 – 2018)

3 seasons

took the comedic aspects of series like My Lady Jane and kicked them into hyperdrive by highlighting the most absurd aspects of period dramas and historical television series. Directed by Jeremy Konner, who previously co-created the similar historical satire Drunk History, Another Period was a hilarious reflection of times past juxtaposed with the absurdities of modern culture. As a spoof that presented its own take on reality TV shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians and paired them with the setting of series like Downton Abbey, Another Period was like nothing else on television.


Led by two extraordinary performances by Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome, Another Period followed the lives of the Bellacourts at the turn of the 20th century. With a focus on the excesses of the rich and privileged, the series pointed its satirical finger at themes of class, social standing, and those born into wealth. Through a mix of fictional characters and historical figures, Another Period mimicked the blending of fact and fiction seen in My Lady Jane.

3 The Crown (2016 – 2023)

6 seasons


Although The Crown was a far more accurate retelling of the history of the British royal family, it must be admitted that, at times, it played into the same fantasy mythmaking as My Lady Jane. The Crown told the true story of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II over six decades, with a changing cast every two seasons to represent the passage of time. While The Crown has been criticized for its accuracy, the way the show captured the life and legacy of the longest-reigning British monarch and its incredible popularity were a testament to its quality and entertainment value.

The three women who played the Queen, Claire Foy, Olivia Coleman, and Imelda Staunton, all performed extraordinarily well and were surrounded by a talented ensemble cast. The Crown shone a new light on previously known history and reignited interest in the royal family for young generations who were not as familiar with the historical relevance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Overall, The Crown was wildly entertaining and a powerful depiction of one of the most influential women who ever lived.


2 Dickinson (2019 – 2021)

3 seasons

One of the most impressive aspects of My Lady Jane was the way it blended period drama with modern concerns and themes of feminism and empowerment, which can also be seen in the Apply TV+ series Dickinson. As a depiction of the life of poet Emily Dickinson, Dickinson explored themes of gender roles, sexual identity, and artistic expression through the lens of one of America’s most enduring writers. With the use of modern language and music, Dickinson had a lot in common with My Lady Jane.


Dickinson ran for three seasons and starred Hailee Steinfeld as the titular poet, whose ambitions were in stark contrast with the societal expectations of those growing up in 1800s Massachusetts. While little was known about the personal life of the real Dickinson, this series filled in the gaps with a modern interpretation influenced by contemporary concerns. As a series that maintained incredible quality throughout its three seasons, Dickinson deserved to reach a far larger audience than it did.

1 The Great (2020 – 2023)

3 seasons

One series that could have influenced My Lady Jane was the alternative history The Great, which told a satirical story loosely based on the rise to power of Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. With Elle Fanning in the starring role and a talented ensemble cast that included Nicholas Hoult, The Great was not a series that aimed for historical accuracy and was even marketed by Hulu as anti-historical. This willingness to divert from the true historical account to make way for the series’ aims was also seen prominently in My Lady Jane.


The Great was subtitled the “occasionally true story” in its first two seasons before being called “an almost entirely untrue story” in its third and final season, which highlighted its unreliable nature. With a revisionist tone that recontextualized Catherine, The Great used its 18th-century Russian setting to highlight contemporary concerns and acted as a smart satire with plenty to say. With lots in common with My Lady Jane,The Great would act as the perfect replacement series for those looking for something similar to watch.



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