The Times, October 1, 1978, by Dennis Potter
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[...] A conventional shot of two riders galloping their 
horses along the seashore ws almost exactly repeated, in 
angle and in purpose, during the opening episode of *Lillie* 
(LWT). David Butler's Lillie Langtry is altogether a more 
convincing and enjoyable character than his just concluded 
Disraeli.

There are, for a start, no "ideas" to clog up the 
relationships, and the Channel Islands are considerably less 
stuff than studio drawings rooms. John Gorrie, the director, 
clearly enjoys sending back postcards from there and then to 
here and now, and would be right to feel upset about the 
intrusive ad for yet another instant "food" which promised 
viewers "perfect custard in the time it took to watch this 
commercial."

*Lillie* is decidedly the sort of concoction which needs 
milk and a saucepan: that is, it has an appropriately creamy 
texture and a skin on the surface as proof of density. 
Custard it certainly is, but served up in style. Francesca 
Annis as Lillie, grows from pretty tomboy to beautiful wife, 
was able to suggest even richer fare than was already on the 
top of the table. Hair a golden tangle, eyes large and 
sparkling, head tilted in unspoken questions, she was more 
than captivating. Captive, too; yet with the most subtle 
awareness that freedom *might* lie in her own body. [...]



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