The Hollow Crown: Richard II (BBC Four Saturday 14 October 2023)

The Hollow Crown: Richard II airs Saturday 14 October 2023 on BBC Four.

What is this episode about

Richard II, Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V are the four Shakespearean history plays collected in The Hollow Crown. Beginning in 1399, this uninterrupted tale of monarchy chronicles the sixteen years of dynastic and political upheaval that followed. The lives of kings, queens, and their subjects are in danger when there is uprising or war.

From the palace of Westminster to the battlefields of England and France, this story takes us everywhere. Shakespeare’s finest poetry is woven throughout these films, which are shot in period-appropriate settings.

His cousin Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray are at odds, and King Richard must mediate. After calling for the duel, Richard calls a halt to the fight. They’ve both been given the boot from the kingdom. While there, Richard is reprimanded by Bolingbroke’s dying father, John of Gaunt. Richard takes Gaunt’s wealth and territory and heads off to fight the Irish rebels. Bolingbroke is coming home to reclaim his inheritance. Bolingbroke, with the help of Northumberland and the Duke of York, captures Richard and claims the throne for himself.

Series 1 Episode 1 of 4

When can we see the episode

The Hollow Crown: Richard II airs Saturday 14 October 2023 at 9:15pm on BBC Four

Featured Image Credit: BBC Four