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The Body of the Queen

A History of Britain by Simon SchamaSeries 1
Episode 7 of 7

Simon Schama examines the long, tangled relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who was executed by royal command in 1587.

Queen Elizabeth I was one of the country's most intelligent monarchs, ruling a Protestant rogue state in a Catholic world. But it was her long, tangled relationship with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots that would test her the most.

Elizabeth never married. Mary married twice but it ruined her. A magnet for conspiracy and intrigue, Mary tormented Elizabeth until finally executed for treason. But it was Mary not Elizabeth who gave birth to an heir. Simon Schama asks if it was the politican Elizabeth, or the mother Mary, who won in the end.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 Feb 202302:30
BBC Four

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Credits

PresenterSimon Schama
Executive ProducerMartin Davidson
ProducerClare Beavan

Broadcasts

  • Wed 8 Nov 200021:00
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Mon 13 Nov 200009:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 200012:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 200015:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 200018:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 200021:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 200023:25
    BBC One except Wales
  • Mon 13 Nov 200023:30
    BBC Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 200023:55
    BBC One Wales
  • Sat 18 Nov 200008:30
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 18 Nov 200012:30
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 18 Nov 200016:30
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 18 Nov 200020:30
    BBC Knowledge
  • Thu 30 Nov 200002:20
    BBC One
  • Mon 14 May 200121:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 11 Aug 200110:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 11 Aug 200113:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 11 Aug 200116:00
    BBC Knowledge
  • Sat 12 Oct 200220:15
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Christmas Day 200409:00
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Sat 23 Feb 201310:00
    BBC Two Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland & England only
  • Thu 24 Jul 201421:00
    BBC Four
  • Fri 25 Jul 201402:40
    BBC Four
  • Wed 30 Jul 201400:00
    BBC Four
  • Tue 21 Feb 202321:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 22 Feb 202302:30
    BBC Four

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 3000 BC and 1603 AD from the first series.

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 1603 and 1776 from the second series.