# Tell me about the BBC Two series "The Hollow Crown" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132 "2014-10-01T22:27:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/1 "2014-10-01T22:27:50Z")
I’ve been seeing articles about the play _Richard III_, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, being [filmed for television](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11133588/First-look-Benedict-Cumberbatch-as-Richard-III.html) and shown on something called “The Hollow Crown” on BBC Two. What’s this series? Just plays, or just Shakespeare plays? If the latter, I’d love to be able to see some of them. _Richard III_ is my very favorite play of Shakespeare’s. It’s the first one we studied in a class I took in college and I’ve always loved it. I really want to see this version. Judi Dench will be in it too! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/2 "2014-10-01T23:01:20Z")
it is a series of his history plays. > **[The Hollow Crown (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hollow_Crown_(TV_series))** > > The Hollow Crown is a series of British television film adaptations of William Shakespeare's history plays. > The first series is an adaptation of Shakespeare's second historical tetralogy, the Henriad: Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V, starring Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston. Olivier Award winners Rupert Goold, Richard Eyre and Thea Sharrock directed the telefilms, which were produced by Rupert Ryle-Hodges for BBC Two and executive produced by Sam Mendes ... there have been sherlock jokes with andrew scott being added into the series. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/3 "2014-10-01T23:00:24Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I’ve been seeing articles about the play _Richard III_, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, being [filmed for television](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11133588/First-look-Benedict-Cumberbatch-as-Richard-III.html) and shown on something called “The Hollow Crown” on BBC Two. > > What’s this series? Just plays, or just Shakespeare plays? If the latter, I’d love to be able to see some of them. > > _Richard III_ is my very favorite play of Shakespeare’s. It’s the first one we studied in a class I took in college and I’ve always loved it. I really want to see this version. > > Judi Dench will be in it too! The Hollow Crown was a series of Shakespeare plays filmed and financed by The BBC and a US Network(I forget which one). They were shown around 18 months ago. The Plays were Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. All good stuff. I was slightly disappointed in two pieces of casting - one being Jeremy Irons (who I have an irrational dislike of )and the casting of Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff. I had recently seen Roger Allam play Falstaff. Allam played a the role perfectly. I think he deserved to be seen by a wider audience on television. Ben Wishaw was outstanding as Richard II. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/4 "2014-10-01T23:52:26Z")
According to reports, Tom Hiddleston makes a very convincing Prince Hal, and a slightly less convincing young Henry the V. I have not been able to see the cycle yet, but I love me some Shakespeare histories and likewise BBC costume dramas. I’ve got a friend moving to a new house (with a new TV) and we have a standing date to watch them once the move is over. ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/5 "2014-10-02T20:57:58Z")
Can anyone speak to the availability of this series in the US? I’d love to see the entire cycle, but my local PBS station (KCTS Seattle/Tacoma) doesn’t seem to be carrying these episodes of Great Performances. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/6 "2014-10-02T21:01:55Z")
> [@Kalea](#): > > Can anyone speak to the availability of this series in the US? I’d love to see the entire cycle, but my local PBS station (KCTS Seattle/Tacoma) doesn’t seem to be carrying these episodes of Great Performances. The article in the link says:Unfortunately, fans have a long wait as the series is unlikely to air until 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/7 "2014-10-02T21:03:09Z")
> [@Kalea](#): > > Can anyone speak to the availability of this series in the US? I’d love to see the entire cycle, but my local PBS station (KCTS Seattle/Tacoma) doesn’t seem to be carrying these episodes of Great Performances. The article in the link says: Unfortunately, fans have a long wait as the series is unlikely to air until 2016. So probably even longer for PBS to get it? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/8 "2014-10-02T21:06:08Z")
> [@Katriona](#): > > The article in the link says: Unfortunately, fans have a long wait as the series is unlikely to air until 2016. > > So probably even longer for PBS to get it? You mean richard 3 specifically? Because the other plays have already aired. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/9 "2014-10-02T21:24:24Z")
I wonder if they’re making the HENRY VI movies before RICHARD III. (Per the wiki, they’re making 2 movies from the 3 plays.) ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/10 "2014-10-03T21:07:18Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You mean richard 3 specifically? Because the other plays have already aired. That was the last line the article. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/11 "2014-10-03T21:14:36Z")
Just putting in a plug for Ben Wishaw’s “Richard II”. I’ve never cared much for the play but he was riveting. Easily the best of the three actors playing kings so far, and I say that as someone who really loves both Irons and Hiddleston other work. Really, I blame the director - the direction on Henry IV and V was pretty blah. Looking forward to “Henry VI” and “Richard III”. H6 isn’t one I would normally go out of my way for, but I’m feeling kind of sorry for it being so ignored as all the heavy-hitters sign up for R3. I agree that Roger Allam would have been a much better Falstaff. The character is pretty unsympathetic and Allam would have made it much, much easier to sit through. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-bbc-two-series-the-hollow-crown/700132/12 "2014-10-04T22:45:39Z")
> [@Kalea](#): > > Can anyone speak to the availability of this series in the US? I’d love to see the entire cycle, but my local PBS station (KCTS Seattle/Tacoma) doesn’t seem to be carrying these episodes of Great Performances. You can get the DVDs on Netflix. I was torn on Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff. On the one hand, his acting is fantastic. On the other, his Falstaff was so repulsive I could hardly stomach his scenes. Tom Hiddleston was excellent as Prince Hal, as was Ben Wishaw as Richard II.