The White Queen .................

[Ann]

On BBC1 tonight. Going to be on for 10 weeks! If you saw it, what did you think of it? I absolutely loved it!

[VHG]

I am a 63 year old male, who enjoys history, but does not like it when TV changes too many of the "historical facts" and makes it too much like a soap opera, i.e. The Tudors.

Also because this series is centred around three women - Elizabeth Woodville, Anne Neville and Margaret Beaufort, I was worried it may be too "feminine" for my liking.

Finally in the Radio Times I read about the background to the period (War of the Roses etc.) and the people involved and that did sound very complex and I was worried (depending how it was written) it may be hard to follow.

However I was pleased on all counts.

It did seem to stick fairly well to the history (though I am no expert on that period).

It was not too "feminine" and had a nice balance of main characters of both sexes.

Also the person who had adapted it for TV had done a great job of keeping it fairly simple and introducing the characters slowly and making sure you knew who they all were.

I still have a little concern it may drift into the "soap opera" arena, and may also appeal more to women than men, but overall I was impressed and will certainly watch the next episode.

[craft1948]

I can't say I enjoyed the book.........

[Ann]

Wonder if the two boys from Elizabeth's first marriage are the Princes in the Tower? If so, I always thought from history they were Edward's real sons not step-sons but I may be wrong ..................

[nungate]

The princes in the Tower were the sons of Eliazabeth Woodville and Edward IV

(I also think Richard the III was framed!!)

[nungate]

Haven't seen the programme but I think the boys portrayed in the programme would have been the sons from her first marriage

[Ann]

So who were these sons who Elizabeth had before her first husband died? Is that a ficticious part of the drama?

[ferlew]

Well, I rather liked it, will watch the rest.

[nungate]

They were the sons of her first husband, if I remember rightly. She had only two sons with Edward IV and several daughters the eldest, also Elizabeth who was the mother of Henry VIII

[VHG]

The princes in the tower were Edward and Richard, and as has been said, they were the children of Edward IV and Elizabeth (the couple who married in part 1 of this series).

Edward (the son) should have become King in 1483 after his dad, Edward IV, died.

But Edward (the son) and his brother Richard were sent to the tower and never seen again.

And Richard the 3rd became king.

[T&S]

I haven't seen this show as I'm in NZ. But can you tell me, is David Oakes a baddie in it? He was one in both Pillars of the Earth and The Borgias and, although very good, can get a bit typecast.

Many thanks.

[VHG]

Spoilers for those that may not want to know the story.

It seems he may be a baddie, though I am not that clued up on the history and have not read the book.

He plays George, who is Edward IV brother.

One of the most powerful people at the time was Lord Warwick (the Kingmaker). He was the power behind the throne and was the main person responsible for getting Edward IV on the throne.

After Edward IV married Elizabeth (which happened in the first episode) there is much criticism of Edward's decision and Lord Warwick turns against him. George also hates Elizabeth.

So Lord Warwick turns his attention to George and it seems they make a plan to push Edward IV off the throne and put George in his place.

This involves various killings, arrests and so on, and George and Edward become enemies.

George starts rumours Elizabeth and her mother are witches and Edward has him arrested.

So he does seem as though he may be a nasty character.

[zebo]

Some of the staging was dire, the costumes were too modern looking, the people too clean and the gardens wouldn't have looked out of place in a municipal park! Did they have flymos in those days???

[nannybooby]

I have read both the White Queen and its sequal the Red Queen loved them both and yes I will be watching the series .The woman playing Elizabth Woodville (Gray) is well cast and I cant wait to see who will play Jane Shore said to have been equally as lovely. The man playing Edward is well cast too, having a bit of trouble with Warwick though he doesn't seem old enough

[Sharingan]

I didn't see it and haven't read the books but Elizabeth Woodville's oldest sons were Thomas and Richard Grey, so she interestingly had two living sons for a while both called Richard, which sort of points to the esteem that Edward IV held his brother Richard of Gloucester in at the time.

[nannybooby]

Re Elizabeth and her mother being witches , I have read in numerous books that Edward's mother and Elizabeth's were friends and met while both were pregnant and that the couple recognised each other on meeting.

[Ric.ror]

I enjoyed it too
Its not rocket science but an enjoyable costume drama for a Sunday evening with - perhaps - a nod to historical accuracy

[ferlew]

Anyone watching? Just about to start.

[ferlew]

I lied, it's 9 o'clock. :(

[Zacs-Master]

Well, I thought it was splendid.

[ferlew]

Thoroughly enjoyed it once more, didn't notice one zip, or any double glazing :)