David Starkey’s Elizabeth (4 Parts)

Alternative title

Elizabeth

Synopsis

Professor David Starkey chronicles the story of Queen Elizabeth I, first broadcast in 4-parts on Channel 4. The series uses a combination of tableaux, testimony from descendants, contemporary documents, actors and Starkey’s own narration to tell the story of Elizabeth who reigned for over 40 tumultuous years. She was in constant danger from both ambitious men and the adherents of the Catholic religion. Starkey says that her deep distrust of men derives from two events: molestation by her stepfather Thomas Seymour, and an uprising by the Protestant Wyatt against Queen Mary, which landed the young princess in the Tower. The survival instinct she developed in her early years would become invaluable later when she succeeded to the throne. As Queen, Elizabeth had to prove that a woman was capable of ruling the warring factions in her court. The self styled Virgin founded a national church, and warded off the Spanish Armada.

Series in which, Professor David Starkey , the Virgin Queen. A potent story of one of the earliest English feminists. 11/5: The Virgin Queen: The threat posed by Elizabeth’s reluctance to marry and that of Mary, Queen of Scots. 18/5: Heart of a King: battle of the Spanish Armada 25/5: Gloriana: After the defeat of the Armada, England prospered, but Spain later threatened again. (4 parts)

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2003

Year of production

2002

Notes

First broadcast on Channel 4 in four parts beginning 4/5/00

Documentation

A book ‘Elizabeth’ by David Starkey is available separately

Subjects

History

Keywords

biographies; history of Britain; history of the 16th century; Elizabeth I, Queen of England

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

197 minutes

Year

2003

Type

VHS

Format

PAL

Price

£14.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

197 minutes

Year

2003

Sections

Title

From the prison to the palace

Synopsis

The first part focuses on Elizabeth’s early life - before her coronation she was disinherited, sexually abused and imprisoned, while Henry VIII had her mother executed. The sexual abuse coupled with the uprising by the Protestant Wyatt against Queen Mary, which led to Elizabeth’s imprisonment in the Tower of London, may have resulted in the Queen’s deep mistrust of men.

Duration

50 mins

Title

Virgin Queen, The

Synopsis

In this section Starkey focuses on the early years of Elizabeth’s rule and her reluctance to marry. Her dalliances with court favourites like Lord Dudley provoked speculation, but what concerned her advisers was her refusal to consider a suitor from France or Spain, powers which constituted a military threat. She was in a precarious position: a Protestant Queen in a Catholic country, and Mary, Queen of Scots, who wanted to claim the throne and return the nation to Catholic rule, was a great threat to Elizabeth.

Duration

50 mins

Title

Heart of a King

Synopsis

This section focuses on what was to be Elizabeth’s finest hour - the rout of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Ironically, Elizabeth loathed war - as a woman, she could not lead her own troops and distrusted her military commanders. Several factors contributed to the outbreak of War, including the assassination of William Prince of Orange and Elizabeth’s decision to execute her Catholic cousin, Mary Queen of Scots.

Duration

50 mins

Title

Gloriana

Synopsis

This edition focuses on how Elizabeth presided over a golden age following the defeat of the Armada. National pride followed in the wake of the flourishing of literature, an age of prosperity and a new sense of England being a world power. But problems continued to plague the Queen as she got older.

Duration

50 mins

Sponsor

Name

Channel Four Television

Phone

071-396 4444

Address

LONDON
SW1P 2TX

Distributor

Name

Channel 4 Video

Web

http://www.channel4.com External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7396 4444

Fax

020 7306 8350

Address

124 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2TX

 

Available from retail outlets