When Elizabeth Tudor comes to the throne, her (male) advisors know she has to marry. Doesn't she? Thus starts a decades-long political/ matrimonial game, during an age of high passions and high achievement.

This multi-award winning serial is the standard by which all period drama’s should be judged! Ok so the sets were somewhat dodgy to say nothing of the wardrobe, and it is quite easy to spot both being recycled for different settings and different characters. It is different worlds away from the precise and detailed design implemented say with P&P or the recent delightful Bleak House. Yet what it lacks in spit and polish it more than makes up for with a script so spot on you could sharpen your kitchen knives on it and a cast so perfectly placed it becomes impossible to imagine anyone else playing the characters.

By comparison to other portrayals of Elizabeth Glenda Jackson’s sparkles with wit, determination and believability that astounds. Her presence in each scene is truly monarchical and the ease with which she allows the viewer glimpses into the Queen’s inner turmoil is moving without being sentimental. Robert Hardy treads with ease the delicate line in Dudley’s multi-faceted personality, never falling into the trap of playing him simply as a two dimensional crutch, the supporting act for the main star. Instead he manages to make Dudley the moon to Glenda’s Sun goddess, a character as interesting and complicated as his mistress.

6 episodes in total were made, charting from Elizabeth’s life under her sister Mary’s reign up till her death. Each episode captures a particular important period in her reign, her imprisonment in the tower and attempts on her life; her arrival on the throne & many suitors vying for her hand, including the love of her life Robert Dudley; her almost marriage to the Duke D’Aloncon; the very real threat of Mary Queen of Scots & her execution; the enterprise of England; then lastly the threat of Essex and the debate over the succession.

Cast & Crew