Damian Lewis fans line up for Wolf Hall tonight

[Travelledtheworld]

Wednesday 21st January BBC2 Channel 4

lush costumes.

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11358197/Damian-Lewiss-inspiration-for-Wolf-Halls-Henry-VIII-Wills-and-Harry.html

On the subject of physical appearances, I think Damian Lewis looks similar to how H8 would have in his prime; tall and well built with red hair.

He was past his prime by 1534 though, I think? I think he'd be nudging the era where he started to pile on the pounds and his leg was whiffy with ulcers.

The Wolf Hall obsession continues - DH suggested taking DD to the Tower of London today (she is nearly 3 and obsessed with 'castles' thanks to Frozen). He must have wondered why I was so keen despite it being freezing cold & wet!

Anyway to my disappointment you can't see inside St Peter ad Vincula chapel where Anne and Catherine Howard are buried, but obviously you can see the site of the scaffold very nearby and the tower where Anne was held prisoner. Plus H8's armour. It was a great day out, have to go back in better weather to walk round the walls properly.

I think at the moment, WH is up to 1529/1530, which is when Cardinal Wolsey died. At this point he (H8) would have been in his late 30s and pre-accident, so still in reasonably good shape?

LaQueen I think you are right about the height. He took after his (whisper it) Yorkist grandfather, Edward IV in height and build. Both were very fit when young and got very fat in later life.

Can I also just take a moment to say how brilliant Bernald Hill is as Norfolk? He was meant to be a really nasty piece of work.

Really like how AB is developing too. Very sharp and astute. That reminds me, someone posted on the Wolf Hall FB page complaining that she was too buxom and well built..?!

We're going on a trip to London in April...the Tower of London is definitely on the itinerary. I remember that suit of armour!

Didn't know you can't get into St Peter ad Vincula, that's very disappointing.

Yes he was, I think. That's an impressive height even now - he must have towered over his contemporaries and been a very imposing figure.

I think you are spot on in your assessment of Anne Boleyn LaQueen. Very good portrayal by Claire Foy. She's another one who I imagine to be physically very like the 'real life' version; apart from the blue eyes of course.

Bernard Hill does Norfolk's violence well (there's an actual letter where he threatens to tear Wolsey with his teeth if he doesn't hurry up) but his contemporaries described him as charming so I am not sure he captures both sides of him. Patrick Troughton did a very good slimy plotting Norfolk in The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

I think quite a few of the Plantagenets were very tall. His mother was a Neville - they were very tall too, I think. And, as you say, having a good diet (compared to the average person living back then) would help too.

Flippinada it may have just been today we couldn't get in. Or perhaps you can if you join one of the official tours with a beefeater, we didn't think that would be much fun for a toddler but am sure would be good for older kids.

There's a good pic of Norfolk here - another Holbein. He looks like an old bruiser as well, I reckon.

Thanks marshmallow - I will check it out. Can't wait to go back :)

A hard bastard, as dh said when he came face to face with the Norfolk pic at the Northern Renaissance exhibition.

I've just found this thread.

I'm really enjoying WH and now must read the novels.

On the height thing - Edward IV's grandfather was Ralph Neville and, IIRC, the Nevilles were supposed to be exceptionally tall and well-built. Cecily Neville (Henry's great-grandmother) was certainly reputed to be tall.

Oh, x post flippinada

LaQueen Yes, Cecily was supposed to be exceptionally beautiful.

My favourite books when I was a teenager, and read lots historical fiction, were four novels about Cecily Neville by Eleanor Fairburn. I adored those books.

Why didn't MB get any advancement? Her family were pushy/savvy enough surely?

Talking of the Nevilles, I just finished a very enjoyable book by Joanna Hickson which follows the life of Cecily Neville up until Edward IV was crowned.

Well worth a read.

I will be sure to look up The Kings Grey Mare and Eleanor Fairburn as well.