Paula
Milne commissioned to write Elizabeth I for BBC ONE
Paula
Milne, one of Britain's leading screenwriters (The Fragile
Heart, The Politician's Wife) has been commissioned to write BBC
ONE's lavish historical drama Elizabeth I, it was announced
today by Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning.
Tranter
says: "Following the success of Charles II, Paula Milne's Elizabeth
I will continue BBC Drama's unabashed love affair with our rich
historical past.
"This
regal portrait will be seeped in historical accuracy - passionate,
emotional and full of the politics and social mores of the time."
The
four-part drama serial will explore the complex character and intimate
relationships of the Tudor Monarch, who was recently voted one of
the ten Greatest Britons of all time in a BBC poll.
"Elizabeth
I was arguably the first feminist," says Paula Milne. "She
was a nonconformist who was shrewd and intelligent - a leader of
men - who refused to marry in spite of the political pressures exerted
on her.
"As
well as exploring this area of her character, what also appears
ripe for examination is whether her claim to be a Virgin Queen was
a clever smokescreen for self preservation or a recoil from intimacy."
Following
the success of The Lost Prince and Charles II (BBC ONE) and The
Other Boleyn Girl and Byron (BBC TWO), Elizabeth I is one of a number
of forthcoming historical dramas.
Jimmy
McGovern's drama Gunpowder, Treason and Plot stars
Robert Carlyle and Rome is the first co-production
between the BBC and HBO.
Elizabeth
I is part of a broad portfolio of projects including Hawking, The
Alan Clark Diaries, The Long Firm and He Knew He Was Right from
BBC Drama Serials headed by Laura Mackie.
Related
releases
The
Long Firm - a new drama for BBC TWO based on Jake Arnott's critically
acclaimed novel (18.12.03)
John
Hurt stars in the Alan Clark Diaries for BBC FOUR (15.12.03)
BBC
and HBO unite to co-produce major drama series about ancient Rome
(27.10.03)
The
story of Stephen Hawking's early years told for the first time in
a major drama for BBC TWO (04.09.03)
Gunpowder,
Treason and Plot in Romania: Robert Carlyle stars in new Jimmy McGovern
drama for BBC TWO (08.08.03)
He
Knew He Was Right - new Andrew Davies adaptation of Anthony Trollope
novel for BBC ONE (12.07.03)
All
the BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable. Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 national BBC radio networks.
|
