James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau go head-to-head in a blood-splattered war epic about the years leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The opening episode features a lot of stage-setting, queasy moments of gory injuries and loads of names to remember. After England’s most powerful earldoms agree to crown Edward the Confessor (Eddie Marsan), we meet Harold of Wessex (Norton) and William of Normandy (Coster-Waldau) as they cross paths at Edward’s rather eventful coronation. The two start an allyship – one that won’t be able to last for long.
Clémence Poésy and Emily Beecham complete an impressive cast as the future kings’ wives and hardy co-rulers. The series promises a dramatic retelling of the events leading to the Norman Conquest.
Also airing tonight is the renovation documentary on Norwich Castle, which dates back to the early 1120s. A project to restore it to its original palace design has been ongoing for seven years, with cameras recording progress. Curators and craftspeople have limited time and money, creating a race to finish the job.
Other highlights include a Prom concert celebrating British landscapes, the start of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season seven, and a true-crime documentary about a Long Island serial killer.
