The Hollow Crown

[mothmagnet]

I've just caught up with The Hollow Crown and it was brilliant.

I didn't know the play before and spent a lot of the programme thinking it was the other Richard so it was even better. Such a sad story and so beautifully done.

I defy anyone to watch it and not end up in love with Ben Whishaw

I saw Richard II in Bristol a year ago and was surprised at how many references there were to the very area I was watching it in.

Looking forward to seeing the film on my Sky+ recording.

Were there? I did notice them mention Berkeley.
I think I'd like to read the play now, though it sounds like a good one to see on stage.

Shakespeare Uncovered after the programme, was about Richard II which explained quite a bit.

Couldn't agree with you more it was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed every flaming moment of it, which is saying something as it was quite long! Thought the cast were marvelous and am hoping some serious awards will be won at some point.

The other episodes have got a lot to live up to though to match that!

V much looking forward to the ones with Tom Hiddleston; I think he's fantastic. Wasn't sure about Whishaw. I always look forward to things with him in but then am always a bit underwhelmed. Like The Hour ? I was all set up to think he was brilliant in it, but he just .. wasn't.

The first Henry was on Saturday so you'll need to watch it on iplayer. I really enjoyed it, was expecting to spend the whole thing gazing in admiration at Tom Hiddleston but Joe Armstrong turned in a brilliant performance as Hotspur.

I know; couldn't record it as it clashed with something else. iPlayer it is!

I did the play at A Level and have a residual nostalgia for it. Can't wait!

i reallhy enjoyed the one just on saturday, and joe armstrong made a really good son, of his actual dad

it was very enjoyable and i did the play at school and wished that i had seen this! i know it was years ago - but we studied literature without the benefit of seeing the actual plays! o'level.
and despite being worried that the language woudl go over my head, it was brill.

Yes it was brilliant (once I'd got over my rage at the tennis over-running ) and Joe Armstrong was really good - I hadn't known they were father and son.

A tip: don't watch Shakespeare Uncovered with Jeremy Irons until the end of the series, not because of the story, just there's lots of behind the scenes and quite a bit of the upcoming plays. It's a good documentary though, I just wish I'd seen it afterwards.

they are utterly brilliant, aren't they?

I do really, really love the BBC, I do

I only tuned in as I wanted to goggle at Tom Hiddleston and pretend to DP I was engaging with Culchah am unfamiliar with the history plays and was curious to see what the fuss was about

just beautiful. And the casting is brilliant, too

(dp says that Whishaw has a Medieval Face. Doesn't he, though. He looks like something off a tapestry)

Watched Richard II on iplayer with DH last night - just wonderful.

We were whinging because we were looking for something to watch on iplayer - clicked 'Factual' looking for a good documentary and got 'Snog Marry Avoid' - that marvellous flagship for BBC factual programming.

Then we noticed 'The Hollow Crown' and fell back in love with the BBC. Can't wait to watch the others now. (But LadyClarice I thought he was wonderful in 'The Hour' too.)

I know, I know, I feel like a bit of a weirdo for not 'getting' Whishaw, but I just don't. Even DP, who disliked him in The Hour, thought he was 'rather good' in Richard II. He is generally feted ? didn't he play a very well-received Hamlet when he was outrageously young, like 19 or so? Maybe there's just something about his style, or appearance, that I subconsciously dislike.

Although there were a few points when I thought he had very beautiful lips.

Hiddleston, on the other hand ... wow. I think he's just terrific in The Deep Blue Sea, Archipelago, Unrelated, Thor and Avengers Assemble. Can't wait to see him as Prince Hal/Henry V.

I wouldn't worry, Lady C

in our house, we still call Whishaw 'Pingu' (the twitchy kid he played in Nathan Barley) and struggle to take him seriously

...mind you, we are idiots

I didn't really watch Nathan Barley although I have sought out some clips featuring Benedict Cumberbatch but that sounds great! I might have a look.

Those of you that have caught up on iPlayer, did you manage to watch on your telly or on computer. We have virgin and I can't for the life of me find it on iPlayer on catch up but can watch on my iPad.
DS1 is away and has left us his 32" hd to watch so was hoping to watch on bigger screen, not upgrading our 22" CRT until it blows up :( - I've tried searching under Richard, Henry or Hollow Crown and nothing appears. Any help much appreciated or I'll be waiting for the DVD to come out.

forgot to say, second Joe Armstrong stealing the show as Hotspur, he was fantastic looks good in leather pants too

can you noramlly watch iplayer on your ipad.
i can find both.
searched Hollow Crown www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=hollow%20crown

Watching on iPad not a problem it's watching it on the tv screen. I was hoping to watch it on a larger screen, though you've now tempted me to watch it at work, we're quite quiet at the moment :)

I don't know who Joe Armstrong is. Or his dad. Am I missing something?

Alun Armstrong is the nerdy afc wimbledon supporting one in New Tricks that isn't James Bolam, Amanda Redman or Dennis Waterman.

I've never seen New Tricks ...

Is it worth catching up with?

um, yes it is, simple easy watching.

Outstanding, brilliant, incredible - I bloody loved Richard II. I haven't yet watched Henry IV, hoping to tomorrow on iplayer. But it won't be as good Richard II, surely?