I am so looking forward to this 3-part TV programme from the BBC presented by historian Helen Castor. It's on in the UK on BBC Four at 9pm on 9th, 10th and 11th January and as well as Helen Castor, it features historians like John Guy, Leanda de Lisle, J Stephan Edwards and Anna Whitelock.
Here is the trailer:
and here is the blurb from the BBC Media Centre:
"In this three-part series for BBC Four, historian Helen Castor pieces together the astonishing true story of Lady Jane Grey - the first reigning Queen of England.
We may think we know the history: an innocent teen thrust onto the throne and beheaded as a traitor after reigning for just nine days. But Helen discovers original documents that reveal a Tudor thriller - an epic story of dynastic rivalry, intrigue and betrayal. A young woman manipulated by older men who ends up losing her life as a result.
In July 1553, Tudor England is rocked by a constitutional crisis. Henry VIII's young son Edward dies with no male heir to inherit the throne. Having never had a reigning Queen, England now has two who claim the title. Two women prepared to fight for the throne - the 37 year-old Catholic Mary Tudor and the teenage Protestant Jane Grey.
In this first episode, Helen Castor reveals an incendiary document, written in Edward's spidery handwriting on his deathbed, which cuts his sister Mary out of the line of succession and leaves the throne to his cousin Jane. It forms the basis of a constitutional crisis that dragged the country to the edge of civil war.
But was it Edward's idea? Or was the boy king manipulated by sinister forces behind the throne? Fearing a return to Catholicism, a cabal of rich and powerful men led by the Duke of Northumberland - the 'Wicked Duke’ - covered up the King's death for several days and staged a coup, placing Lady Jane Grey on the throne without even telling her.
Within a day of Jane being told she is to be Queen she enters the Tower of London, whilst Mary goes on the run to avoid capture and plan her revenge."
I don't know whether it will eventually air in other countries but I hope so.
Source: BBC Media Centre.
WHEN WILL THIS BE ON BBC IN AMERICA? CAN YOU GIVE US THE SCHEDULE FOR THE AMERICAN SHOWING ON ALL YOUR SHOWS? IT WOULD BE HELPFUL….THX.
I noticed this by accident so it’s in my planner. It hasn’t been very well advertised. I am looking forward to it though.
I watched this last night and it was enjoyable, I even stayed up past my bed time as it was so interesting, a must to watch
Really looking forward to catching up on this, it looks so interesting. And, I recently read a book on Lady Jane Grey which has sparked my interest in her and her life massively! Can’t wait to watch 🙂
Yes, please, I would love to watch it but Im in the USA so we don’t get that channel. Please let us know when we could watch it.