- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Geoff Ellis
It seems a simple political division between merry-making, privileged Cavaliers and methodical, disciplined Roundheads, but there’s more to it as this engagingly different history programme shows. Don’t be put off when it skips through the facile lowlands early on, it soon serves tasty chunks of history and chewy opinion.
The idea is to play off the two sides and their supporters so we get potted histories of the Civil War and Oliver Cromwell. The result is a fascinating and frustrating film that’s full of ideas. Although it ducks as many questions as James Murdoch at the Leveson Inquiry, the programme manages to stay ahead of expectations and find relevance in contemporary Britain.
About this programme
An investigation into whether the divisions created during the English Civil War in the 17th century are still evident in modern British society. The programme explores how the Royalists and Parliamentarians' differing attitudes to democracy, monarchy and individuality influenced the lives of Britons for centuries afterwards, and features contributions by Julian Fellowes, AS Byatt, Philippa Gregory and Ann Widdecombe. Narrated by Helen McCrory.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Narrator
- Helen McCrory
- Contributor
- Julian Fellowes
- Contributor
- AS Byatt
- Contributor
- Ann Widdecombe
- Contributor
- Philippa Gregory
- Contributor
- Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
- Contributor
- Clarissa Dickson Wright
Crew
- Director
- Charles Colville
- Executive Producer
- Chris Granlund
- Producer
- Charles Colville
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