Meet the PARENTS

HERMIONE CORFIELD and JEREMY IRVINE on what to expect from Outlander's origin story

- MICHAEL DARLING

OUTLANDER: BLOOD OF MY BLOOD NEW FROM SAT 9 AUG, MGM+ DRAMA (TWO EPISODES FROM SAT 9 AUG, THEN WEEKLY)

Since bursting onto UK screens over a decade ago, historical fantasy epic Outlander has captivated viewers with the time-hopping romance between brave 18th-century Scottish soldier Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan) and his spirited 20th-century-born wife, World War Two nurse Claire (Caitriona Balfe).

With an eighth and final chapter of the saga, which is inspired by US author Diana Gabaldon's bestselling novel franchise, still to come, a much-anticipated prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, now goes back a generation to explore two love stories: one featuring Jamie's parents Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, and the other focusing on Claire's folks, Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston.

Launching on MGM+ this week, the 10-parter finds rival clan members Brian (rising star Jamie Roy) and Ellen (Pennyworth's Harriet Slater) fighting their attraction to each other in the Scottish Highlands in the early 1700s, while Henry (Dalgliesh's Jeremy Irvine) and Julia (We Hunt Together's Hermione Corfield) are navigating the trials of World War One.

But it's not long before their worlds collide after Julia and Henry - separately - find themselves travelling to 1714 via the same circle of standing stones which transported their daughter from 1945 to 1743 in the original Outlander.

Intrigued, TV Times caught up with Jeremy, 35, and Hermione, 31, for an exclusive chat to find out more...