Meet the cast of the Victoria Christmas special
Buckingham Palace is transformed into a festive wonderland in the festive Victoria Christmas episode, which stars Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes
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Mr Penge – Adrian Schiller
Who does he play? Mr Penge manages the servants at the palace. He has aspirations to be a gentleman and can sometimes be snobbish and dismissive, but Penge is not a bad man or a bad boss.
Where have I seen him before? Adrian Schiller is, of course, the villainous Monsieur D’arque from Beauty and the Beast. He’s also been in Man in an Orange Shirt and A Cure for Wellness.
King Leopold – Alex Jennings
Who does he play? Uncle Leopold – or King Leopold II of Belgium – masterminded the match between his niece and nephew, Victoria and Albert. His relationship with Prince Albert is currently pretty strained as he revealed in the last series that he could be Albert’s biological father, but he’s still invited to spend Christmas with the royal family.
Where have I seen him before? Alex Jennings has cornered the market in troublesome royal uncles. He also plays the nasty Duke of Windsor in The Crown, where he also likes to drop in to Buckingham Palace to visit his niece the Queen.
Duchess of Buccleuch – Diana Rigg
Who does she play? The Duchess of Buccleuch is a cranky, crotchety, wise old woman who was made Mistress of the Robes in series two. She doesn’t always get on with Queen Victoria but has a tendency to step in with sage advice at just the right moment.
Where have I seen her before? Diana Rigg has been acting since the 1950s, so you’ve probably seen her in something. In the 60s TV series The Avengers she starred as Emma Peel, and more recently in Game of Thrones she has played Olenna Tyrell (of “I want her to know it was me” fame – savage). Rigg starred as “Bond girl” Countess Teresa Vicenzo in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service opposite short-lived 007 George Lazenby.
Duke of Cumberland – Peter Firth
Who does he play? The Duke of Cumberland is a comedy villain. Disfigured by a scar across his face, this one-time hopeful to the throne is rumoured to have murdered his valet and fathered a child with his own sister. He may have become King of Hanover, but he still resents his niece Victoria for acceding to the British throne.
Where have I seen him before? Peter Firth’s credits include Dickensian, Undeniable, Mayday, World Without End, and Spooks where he played Sir Harry Pearce.
