As adaptations overtake original television dramas, there is a new balance to be struck between what is seen on the screen and its relationship with the text from which it is drawn. It's a battle that programs like Game of Thrones and Outlander both deal with.

"We sort of have the philosophy of we don't make changes unless we have to," Outlander's executive producer Ron Moore said. "And then, if we do, we sort of always strive to get back to where the book was and sort of get back on the path.

Sam Heughan plays the dashing James Fraser in Outlander.

"We've changed certain things. We've made certain adjustments. And so you sort of are honour bound to maintain the consistency of that going forward, especially for the audience that has never read the books, so they're just watching the show."

Outlander is based on a series of novels by Diana Gabaldon about a modern woman – Claire Randall, a nurse – who is transported back to 18th century Scotland and creates a life for herself. The short summary of that is dashing James Fraser.