CELEBRATE the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice at Basingstoke Discovery Centre with the ultimate regency marathon screening.

The entire six hours of the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, will be shown free of charge in BDC, Festival Place, on Monday, the actual anniversary, from 10am.

The series was a hit with both the public and the critics, achieving a 40% market share of the Sunday evening television audience with its final episode. The initial run of 12,000 copies of the double-video set sold out within two hours of release, with 70,000 sold by the end of the first week. A BBC spokeswoman called the initial sale results "a huge phenomenon", as it was “unheard of for a video to sell even half as well, especially when viewers are able to tape the episodes at home for free.”

As a result of his performance, Colin Firth became a superstar. The scene in which he emerged from Pemberley’s (actually Lyme Hall in Cheshire) lake wearing a wet white shirt, is frequently voted one of the most memorable moments in television history.

There will be a break half way through.

Find out more by calling 01256 478670.