MOST OF THE year we can just about live with the lack of romance in modern life but at Christmas its absence is particularly felt and the search for substitutes begins. Office party flings fill the gap for some. Among the prudent, or already attached, there can be enthusiasm for scents that, at other times, would be deemed a bit too much. On the Tube, women who would normally choose something more citrusy suddenly reek of Ralph Lauren’s full-bodied scent Romance. This year, however, the longing for a 100 per cent proof hit of excitement, mystery, passion and all the rest has another outlet.

The BBC Drama website contains the outpourings of hundreds of thirty and fortysomething women for this year’s romantic hero. He is John Thornton, the northern millowner in Mrs Gaskell’s North & South, recently serialised on BBC One. Thornton was played smoulderingly by the previously little-known Richard Armitage as a blue-eyed, dark-haired stunner, the Darcy de nos jours. On the messageboard, character and actor merge into one object of desire: RA/JT.

Despite the success of the adaptation of Pride & Prejudice nearly ten years ago, the BBC professes itself surprised by the reaction to North & South. The series ended on December 4, but the messages have continued, seemingly unaffected by the party season.

But, then, at even the steamiest social occasions this year, how many declarations of affection this Christmas have been along the lines of: “I do not wish to possess you, I wish to marry you because I love you.” These words should be spoken only by a Thornton-figure, a handsome man, with money, at first haughty, dour almost, but then revealed as honourable and sensitive. Ideas of romance, formed at the first reading of Pride & Prejudice, have an astonishing durability, despite changing social mores.

There have been 8,000 messages, to date, 5,000 of these in the past five days, since a special North & South messageboard was opened to contain this upsurge of emotion. Thornton’s marriage proposal ranks among favourite lines of the RA/JT army, a sisterhood with a liking for fine sentiments, delivered in a Yorkshire accent. Another Top Ten Thornton line is: “I knew that I was not good enough, yet I think I love her more than ever.”

In her 43rd post on the site, Kate uses a quote from Mrs Gaskell to describe her situation. “I am in the Charybdis of passion, and must perforce circle and circle ever nearer round the fatal centre.”

From these musings, you will have guessed that the North & South messages are not the usual misspelt meanderings of people with nothing better to do than log on all day long, necking down a can of coke. These ladies “slurp Earl Grey” as they wait for the PC to power up.

The friend who alerted me to this site described the messageboard’s atmosphere: “It is as if the girls who did Eng Lit at uni had joined a fan club. Waiting for every new messages may not be as exciting as waiting for the next episode of North & South, but it’s the next best thing. It’s comforting: we have our love for RA to keep us warm.”

If you are now troubled by my friend’s mental state, be reassured. She has a thoroughly satisfactory life. But, at the same time, yearning after a handsome actor in a period drama provides a melancholic high that real life cannot supply.

Another thirtysomething mother, also spoke of the “emotional connection” in the final episode where Thornton and Margaret Hale, his belle from the South, triumph over their misunderstandings and finally confess their love and kiss. This scene at the railway station may be the sisterhood’s favourite. But that does not stop less febrile adherents to the RA myth pointing out that the Victorians considered such public displays of affection unseemly. For others, historical accuracy can go hang when you are imagining yourself in Margaret’s place.

Many of the sites’ devotees appear to be familiar with North & South and other Mrs Gaskell novels; some have never before ventured on to an internet messageboard. As a result, most write prose, not textspeak, although some have cheesy pseudonyms such as Mrs J. Thornton and Richie’s girl. This is the love that dare not speak its married name, or any other.

Some of the JT/RA army are logging on from the office, visiting not only the messageboard, but also the Richard Armitage site, a shrine set up by one of the sisterhood (www.richard-armitage.com). The creator of the site, “L”, says that she undertook the task because if you google Richard Armitage, most of the information is about the US Deputy Secretary of State, a man who neither smoulders nor looks good in a cravat.

Others of the sisterhood are making contact from home, trying to conceal their obsession from husbands and teenage children who think that mummy should be putting up Christmas decorations, rather than indulging her inner undergraduate.

Another writes: “I consider myself a normal, balanced 36-year-old. Why has this production and RA got so under my skin? I would just like to say that it is something of a comfort to see there are others out there who appear to be just like me! But when will I be cured?”

When not discussing the finer points of Victorian etiquette or the exact nature of Armitage’s allure, the RA/JT army are feverishly watching North & South clips on the website. The few fortunate enough to have taped the series are replaying the most significant scenes. One fortysomething mother told me: “I have a video of the final episode which I have already watched four times. I’ve got a friend who wants to borrow it, but I’ve told her that she has to come over to my house — I’m not letting the tape out of my hands. You will understand why a lot of our husbands are wondering why our minds seem to be elsewhere ”

A few husbands have logged on to the messageboard complaining of the effect on their wives. Others, trying to take a more understanding approach, have tried to buy the DVD of the series, but this will not be on sale until April. This has been a source of considerable dismay to the N&S sisterhood. But, if the DVD had been available, would we have had such ample evidence of the enduring appeal of the 19th-century narrative and the smouldering hero with hidden depths. Romance lives. Hurrah.

Are you a North & South devotee?
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