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Rufus
Sewell is Charles II in a four-part drama for BBC ONE
Rufus
Sewell, Rupert Graves, Helen McCrory, Martin Freeman and Ian McDiarmid
star in a four-part drama serial about the life of King Charles
II for BBC ONE, it was announced by BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning,
Jane Tranter.
The
focus of King Charles II is his court, his squabbling family and
his glamorous mistresses - from the high-born and promiscuous Barbara
Villiers (Helen McCrory), through folk heroine and sex symbol of
the day Nell Gwynne (Emma Pierson) to the French spy Louise de Keroualle
(Mélanie Thierry).
It
is an original take on a historical period written by award-winning
screenwriter Adrian Hodges, whose credits include David Copperfield
and The Lost World, which penetrates to the heart of the charismatic
monarch who was deeply traumatised by the execution of his father.
"An
ambitious and original historical drama for BBC ONE, King Charles
II is a dynamic romp through history - racy, visceral and violent
- set in the corridors and bedrooms of power, when the conflict
between monarch and state was at a crossroads," said Jane Tranter,
BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning.
"Rufus
Sewell has tremendous physical energy combined with sensitivity
and charisma which makes him a perfect choice for the title role."
Destitute,
weary, hopeless: after nearly a decade in exile from Republican
England, even Charles II's oldest and dearest friend the Duke of
Buckingham (Rupert Graves) abandons him and returns home to make
his peace with Cromwell.
The
witty, vital, sensual monarch is at his lowest ebb when loyal minister
Sir Edward Hyde (Ian McDiarmid) brings news of Cromwell's sudden
death. The celebrations are short-lived, as England passes peacefully
into the hands of Cromwell's son Richard.
Never
did the prospects of regaining Charles's crown seem so bleak, until
canny General Monck persuades Parliament to invite Charles Stuart
back to take up his throne.
Charles's
triumphant ride into London on his thirtieth birthday segues into
another victory; the long-anticipated seduction of beautiful, tantalising
Barbara Villiers who has been holding out on Charles for several
months.
With the virile
Charles spawning illegitimate children all over the place, the need
for a queen and an heir becomes paramount. Barbara is sufficiently
confident of her charms not to feel threatened by the arrival of
the devout and mousy Catherine from Portugal, the future Queen who,
at first proves to be no match for the wily Barbara.
The
cast also includes: Diana Rigg as Henrietta Maria, Charles's volatile
mother; Martin Freeman as Shaftesbury, Charles's political nemesis
and former minister; Shirley Henderson as Queen Catherine; Charlie
Creed Miles as James, Charles's brother and Alice Patten plays the
demur Lady Francis Stewart, the young virgin who manages to escape
Charles's sexual advances.
Further
casting to be announced shortly.
Complementing
Charles II, BBC ONE will be screening two documentaries on Cromwell
and King Charles II.
Charles
II is one of a number of forthcoming original history dramas following
The Lost Prince (BBC ONE) and The Other Boleyn Girl (BBC TWO).
These
include a two-part drama by Jimmy McGovern about James I and The
Gunpowder Plot; The Cambridge Spies (a four-part drama by Peter
Moffatt about the recruitment of Burgess, Maclean, Philby and Blunt
into Russian intelligence); and a two-part drama about Byron for
BBC TWO by Nick Dear with Jonny Lee Miller in the title role.
Notes
to Editors
Filming
in Prague from Monday 14 April for 12 weeks, Charles II is due for
transmission later this year on BBC ONE.
The
director is Joe Wright and producer is Kate Harwood.
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 BBC radio networks.
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