The BBC's lavish new six-part historical drama Wolf Hall - based on the first two novels in Hilary Mantel's trilogy, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies - started last night.
Wolf Hall - based on real events - chronicles the rise of Thomas Cromwell, the son of a humble blacksmith who became King Henry VIII's chief minister, as he navigated the corridors of power in the Tudor court.
Starring Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell, with (amongst others) Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn, Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey and Joanne Whalley as Catherine of Aragon.
Episode 1
Three Card Trick
Thomas Cromwell's patron, Cardinal Wolsey, is dismissed as lord chancellor and forced to flee his palace at York Place. The old noble families of England, jealous of their own right to advise the king, have long waited for this moment. Wolsey's hopes of returning to the king's favour lie with the ever-loyal Thomas Cromwell.
Eight years ago, when Cromwell started working for Wolsey, the cardinal made an enemy of Thomas Boleyn by chastising him for his daughter Anne's far-from-virtuous reputation. As rumours circulated in court that Anne was secretly betrothed to Harry Percy, the cardinal insisted that no such match would be allowed.
Still lacking a male heir, the king is desperate for an annulment from his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, claiming she was not a virgin on their wedding day. To Cromwell's dismay, the cardinal's efforts to persuade the Pope to grant the annulment are fruitless. An alliance between the Pope and Catherine's nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, diminishes the cardinal's position even further.
As Henry grows impatient, the pressure increases on the cardinal. To add to this, rumours reach the cardinal that the king's new mistress is Anne Boleyn, who has sworn vengeance on him over Harry Percy.
Cromwell visits Anne, urging her that only the cardinal can secure what she wants, but Anne is unmoved. The duke of Norfolk, nervous of the cardinal's continuing proximity to the king, insists that Cromwell tell Wolsey to travel north to his archdiocese in York. A desperate Cromwell finally meets directly with Henry, but the king is nothing if not ambiguous. Will he recall the cardinal, or turn on him?
Episode one reviews:
5/5 "Subtle and surprising" - The Daily Telegraph
"Event television: sumptuous, intelligent and serious" - The Guardian
Watch it here:
BBC iPlayer - Wolf Hall - 1. Three Card Trick
Wolf Hall - based on real events - chronicles the rise of Thomas Cromwell, the son of a humble blacksmith who became King Henry VIII's chief minister, as he navigated the corridors of power in the Tudor court.
Starring Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell, with (amongst others) Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn, Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey and Joanne Whalley as Catherine of Aragon.
Episode 1
Three Card Trick
Thomas Cromwell's patron, Cardinal Wolsey, is dismissed as lord chancellor and forced to flee his palace at York Place. The old noble families of England, jealous of their own right to advise the king, have long waited for this moment. Wolsey's hopes of returning to the king's favour lie with the ever-loyal Thomas Cromwell.
Eight years ago, when Cromwell started working for Wolsey, the cardinal made an enemy of Thomas Boleyn by chastising him for his daughter Anne's far-from-virtuous reputation. As rumours circulated in court that Anne was secretly betrothed to Harry Percy, the cardinal insisted that no such match would be allowed.
Still lacking a male heir, the king is desperate for an annulment from his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, claiming she was not a virgin on their wedding day. To Cromwell's dismay, the cardinal's efforts to persuade the Pope to grant the annulment are fruitless. An alliance between the Pope and Catherine's nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, diminishes the cardinal's position even further.
As Henry grows impatient, the pressure increases on the cardinal. To add to this, rumours reach the cardinal that the king's new mistress is Anne Boleyn, who has sworn vengeance on him over Harry Percy.
Cromwell visits Anne, urging her that only the cardinal can secure what she wants, but Anne is unmoved. The duke of Norfolk, nervous of the cardinal's continuing proximity to the king, insists that Cromwell tell Wolsey to travel north to his archdiocese in York. A desperate Cromwell finally meets directly with Henry, but the king is nothing if not ambiguous. Will he recall the cardinal, or turn on him?
Episode one reviews:
5/5 "Subtle and surprising" - The Daily Telegraph
"Event television: sumptuous, intelligent and serious" - The Guardian
Watch it here:
BBC iPlayer - Wolf Hall - 1. Three Card Trick
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