Liberal BBC's War Drama Debuts as Traditional TV Icon Falls Silent

Paul Riverbank, 7/20/2025This week, the BBC's ambitious war drama "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" debuts, showcasing a cinematic storytelling approach. Meanwhile, the television world mourns the loss of Eileen Fulton, a daytime TV legend whose 50-year role as Lisa Grimaldi left an indelible mark on the medium.

I've been watching the buzz build around "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" since its Australian debut. The BBC's decision to bring this haunting five-part series to British screens on July 20 feels particularly timely. Having previewed the opening episodes, I can say Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds deliver nuanced performances that'll likely resonate with UK audiences.

The show's ambitious scope – jumping between three time periods to tell surgeon Dorrigo Evans' story – represents what I've long argued is television's growing cinematic ambition. Gone are the days when TV meant predictable weekly formats. This is the kind of rich storytelling that's transforming how we think about the medium.

But as we welcome this new chapter, we're also closing another. Eileen Fulton's passing on July 14 hit me harder than expected. At 91, she left behind a legacy that helped shape television as we know it. Her 50-year run as Lisa Grimaldi on "As the World Turns" wasn't just a job – it was a masterclass in character development.

I remember catching up with Fulton at an industry event years ago. She had this wonderful way of owning her character's villainy. "I'm the classic daytime meanie," she'd told PEOPLE back in '78, rattling off Lisa's romantic history: "32 lovers, four husbands, two children and one phantom fetus." That kind of self-awareness was rare in daytime TV's golden age.

Her path from minister's daughter to soap opera icon started improbably enough – with a two-year-old's impromptu church performance. "I jumped from my mother's lap and ran to the altar," she once recalled to CBS News, singing "Mama's little baby loves shortening bread." That early spark never dimmed.

The timing of these two television moments – Fulton's passing and the BBC's ambitious new drama – tells us something about how far the medium has come. While "The Narrow Road" exemplifies today's limited-series approach, Fulton's half-century as Lisa Grimaldi reminds us of an era when characters could grow old alongside their audiences.

Fulton's brother Charles McLarty, sister-in-law Chris McLarty, and niece carry on her legacy. They've requested donations to music scholarship funds instead of flowers for her August 9 service – a fitting tribute to someone who started her journey with a song.

Television's ever-shifting landscape revealed itself in stark contrast this week. While the BBC readies itself for an ambitious wartime epic, we're also saying goodbye to one of the medium's most enduring figures.I've been watching the buzz build around "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" since its Australian debut. The BBC's decision to bring this haunting five-part series to British screens on July 20 feels particularly timely. Having previewed the opening episodes, I can say Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds deliver nuanced performances that'll likely resonate with UK audiences.The show's ambitious scope – jumping between three time periods to tell surgeon Dorrigo Evans' story – represents what I've long argued is television's growing cinematic ambition. Gone are the days when TV meant predictable weekly formats. This is the kind of rich storytelling that's transforming how we think about the medium.But as we welcome this new chapter, we're also closing another. Eileen Fulton's passing on July 14 hit me harder than expected. At 91, she left behind a legacy that helped shape television as we know it. Her 50-year run as Lisa Grimaldi on "As the World Turns" wasn't just a job – it was a masterclass in character development.I remember catching up with Fulton at an industry event years ago. She had this wonderful way of owning her character's villainy. "I'm the classic daytime meanie," she'd told PEOPLE back in '78, rattling off Lisa's romantic history: "32 lovers, four husbands, two children and one phantom fetus." That kind of self-awareness was rare in daytime TV's golden age.Her path from minister's daughter to soap opera icon started improbably enough – with a two-year-old's impromptu church performance. "I jumped from my mother's lap and ran to the altar," she once recalled to CBS News, singing "Mama's little baby loves shortening bread." That early spark never dimmed.The timing of these two television moments – Fulton's passing and the BBC's ambitious new drama – tells us something about how far the medium has come. While "The Narrow Road" exemplifies today's limited-series approach, Fulton's half-century as Lisa Grimaldi reminds us of an era when characters could grow old alongside their audiences.Fulton's brother Charles McLarty, sister-in-law Chris McLarty, and niece carry on her legacy. They've requested donations to music scholarship funds instead of flowers for her August 9 service – a fitting tribute to someone who started her journey with a song.