A television adaptation of the classic comic opera set in 1930's England.

Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko, who is betrothed to Yum-Yum, is under pressure from the absent Mikado to perform an execution; he convinces the wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo, who is in fact the heir to the throne of Japan to be his victim, which creates an awkward situation when the Mikado arrives in person.

Set in the early 20th century, the aesthetic poet Bunthorne sings his love for Patience, the village milkmaid. Meanwhile he has captured the heart of every other lady in the village. Upon the arrival of the idyllic poet Grosvener, all hell breaks loose when he proposes to Patience.

Pirate apprentice Frederic becomes a pirate because of his sense of duty and he plans to go to the police and have his teachers arrested.

Iolanthe used to be the life and soul of Fairyland but was banished 25 years ago for marrying a mortal. Now, pardoned by the Fairy Queen she returns as a beautiful teenager, but with a 24-year-old son, Strephon, who is half fairy, half mortal. He is in love with Phyllis, a ward of the rather susceptible Lord Chancellor. For a while, these complications wreck havoc with the proceedings of the House of Lords, giving Gilbert a chance to poke fun at that...

Each Lord of Ruddigore is cursed to commit a crime a day or die. Robin, who is the Lord of Ruddigore living incognito to avoid the family curse, is exposed and forced into a life of crime until logic offers an ingenious solution and reunion with Rose Maybud.