REVIEWS

A much-needed balanced perspective on one of England’s most notorious families

Director: Richard Curson Smith Distributor: BBC Cast: Dr Owen Emmerson, Dr Lauren Mackay Released: Out now

The Boleyn family has continued to fascinate us for almost five centuries, having changed the course of English history. Their dramatic rise and fall is a story that we have heard time and time again, yet this docu-drama has breathed new life into their tale.

The series is divided into three hour-long episodes. The first, titled Ambition, is about patriarch Thomas Boleyn and his efforts to advance himself and his family within the Tudor court. The second, Desire, focuses on the Boleyns at the height of their power, Anne’s relationship with Henry VIII, and the king’s desire for an annulment. The final episode, The Fall, focuses on Anne’s reign as queen and her spectacular downfall.

Interspersed with dramatic reconstructions with actors portraying the Boleyn family, features interviews with a variety