3 x 60 / December 2021
The Rise of the Tudors transports us back to a tumultuous, violent time of civil wars, usurped kings, intrigues and plots. This is the story of the Wars of the Roses and the origins of the Tudor dynasty – told through the life of our central female protagonist: Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, who would go on to become Henry VII, the first Tudor king. Actors Sheila Atim, Philip Glenister and Sophie Rundle embody the warring houses of Lancaster, York and Tudor – taking us into the mindset of our key characters. Scripted drama scenes show us how a sick king, Henry VI, let his country slide into chaos – and bring to life one woman who would use her intelligence to survive it all and put her son on the throne, Margaret Beaufort.
★★★★ “This is a story so familiar it seems impossible to make fresh. So hats off to this drama-documentary team for doing exactly that” – THE TIMES
“This action documentary did explain clearly and dramatically what happened during one of the most complicated episodes of English and Welsh history” – DAILY MAIL
“Sky History’s biggest ever original” – BROADCAST MAGAZINE
★★★★ – THE DAILY MAIL