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Elizabeth I

Thursdays, 29 September and 6 October 2005, 9pm

Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, reunited a nation divided by religious strife, faced down the Spanish Armada and, at the end of her 45-year reign, had become one of England's best-loved monarchs.

During her time as queen, poets and playwrights wrote about her, artists painted her, composers dedicated their work to her, all contributing to the legend of Gloriana, the Virgin Queen. Channel 4’s two-part drama Elizabeth I – starring Helen Mirren in the title role – looks beyond the myth at the woman behind the crown.

The drama begins in 1579, when the 46-year-old Elizabeth is 15 years into her Protestant reign. Illuminating the grimy, lustful underbelly behind the opulence and formality of the English court, it tells the intimate story of Britain's most famous queen for the first time.

Ch4

Helen Mirren is my Milf's!

I thought it was enjoyable but very inaccurate in places.. the Mary Queen of Scots element was a travesty

Just a bit of dramatic license I thought Milly. It isn't documented that Elizabeth and Mary didn't meet so it could have been vaguely possible. I thought it was generally very good also but some of the script was a tad too modern for my liking. it jarred a bit in parts, but Helen Mirren is great in it and I even rated Jeremy Irons (although generally he gives me the creeps)

They never met Ellie - Mary was desperate to meet Elizabeth to give her side of things and Elizabeth refused to see her.. mainly because Elizabeth was insanely jealous of Mary and always had been. I had to laugh when I saw the portrayal of Mary - in real life she was almost 6ft, extremely beautiful, elegant and charming - she was not a short fat woman with no personal charm - although Elizabeth might have wanted her to be

I had read that Mary wanted to meet Elizabeth too but the book I read, seemed to think there was a possibility they had met. However I really don't know enough about the subject so am sure you are right. That is interesting about Mary's appearance as I was under the impression that she was small and fat also, though I think I may be confusing her with Queen Mary who came before Elizabeth.

I got totally fascinated with her when I was nine and it has never faded... when I was a teenager, my parents drove me all round Scotland visiting places she was associated with - something my Dad still ribs me about now

The thing that always irritates me in these historical dramas which feature Mary is that her life was very dramatic and there is no need to change what happened to her - it stands up as an amazing story on its own.

Sorry to ramble I just love that period of history

It's curtains for you, Elizabeth my dear

Milly Wrote:



Have you seen Gun Powder Treason and Plot Milly? on DVD That tell's a good story about Mary Queen of Scots and her son James the 6 of Scotland the 1st of England after Liz's death