Doll no123 Poll
Ladies in Waiting Advance Preview + Teasers
This may be Jenna Coleman’s first leading role, but I think it's safe to say it won't be her last after witnessing the effortless ease with which she carries this stunning production throughout its opening episode. She adeptly balances Victoria’s youthful naivety alongside her fierce determination at not failing in the face hostility, making her a compelling figure to follow as the drama which surrounds her unfolds. There’s no dumbing down of the scandals that she was a part of either, with the blunder of Flora Hastings played out in its full uncomfortable detail; a period of the young queen’s life that haunted her for years to come, giving her nightmares according to her journals.
Though, I will admit that I do wish that the production team had kept to the father figure role model approach when it comes to their friendship. There is a wealth of information to be explored there, including Victoria’s own unedited diaries from this period – her earlier journals were transcribed by others during her life before her youngest daughter heavily scrubbed and revised them all after her mother died, changing much of the details in the process.
The rumours that spread about the pair are true, and could have been explored without necessarily falling into the trap of believing said rumours yourself. Victoria had a lifetime of information to learn in an extraordinarily short amount of time, and they both craved a lost father/daughter relationship in their lives, which built against a backdrop of fending off scurrilous gossip could have made for a more inspirational tale perhaps.
The other is a nefarious plot by certain members of Victoria’s family, where they plan to drive her as insane as her grandfather, old mad King George III, so that a regent can replace her on the throne. The former took place in May 1939 – confusingly, before Flora Hastings died – and the latter is an entirely fictitious plot, though it does bring Conroy (Paul Rhys), the Duchess of Kent (Catherine Flemming) and the Duke of Cumberland (Peter Firth) some deliciously fabulous material to play with as they scheme behind closed doors.
Ladies in Waiting airs on 29th August from 9pm – 10pm on ITV1, below are some teasers to see you through until then. Don't forget to come back to vote in our poll after you have seen the episode and let us know what you thought.
“I don’t believe in much, as you know, but I do believe in the British constitution, in all its tattered glory. And nothing, not even my devotion to you, will stop me from upholding that”
“Indeed Baroness. They are spreading through the palace like a miasma of corruption”
“Your daughter has told Peel that she will not get rid of any of those Whig harpies that surround her! And now Peel won’t form a government unless she does”
“He is the only one who understands” “No, not the only one”
“I strongly suggest, ma’am, that you ask the Duke of Wellington to form a government. He is, of course, a Tory, but the better the devil you know”
“I say to the House, that if slavery is abolished in Jamaica, then the economy of the island will be in peril”
“I think the people would appreciate it if the Duchess were given a title, which reflects her position. The Queen Mother. It seems fitting to me”
Victoria’s premise for causing the Bedchamber Crisis may seem very selfish, and in many ways it can be hard to agree with what she does in the episode…until she plainly and succinctly explains her situation to Wellington after her disastrous birthday celebration.
“It is essential that the crown, that is, you, must appear to be above party politics and favour neither side nor the other”
“He may be the queen’s favourite, but there’s no reason why the country should suffer. It’s hard to know if he is her minister or her nurse maid”
“I’m sure you’ve seen many pretty faces Mr Francatelli but mine isn’t one of them”
Victoria receives a few disappointing surprises on her birthday; one present she’d rather have been given in person, while a second contains a Kensington-esque put down, and then there are the uninvited guests!
Trailer Teasers
“There has been an uprising, by a group called Chartists”
“I don’t want a stupid boy like Albert, or anyone else”
