Stillman’s adaption is a robust and well-timed comedy, with all the energy and verbosity of Austen.

Recently widowed Lady Susan visits her aristocratic in-laws with ambitious schemes of husband-hunting, seduction, and generally scandalous behaviour.

Beckinsale is a brilliant Lady Susan, with razor sharp wit and devilish charm. The upper-class sensibility of the ensemble breeds some excellent comic moments, with a star performance by Bennett as the emphatically awkward Sir James.

This isn’t a typical Austenian love story, but an audacious and scandalous social satire in which the gossip and discourse is far more interesting than the happy ending.

Jo Bradley.