Channel 5’s Inside the Tower of London returns for its seventh season, inviting viewers back behind the stone walls of this historic fortress. This season isn’t just about dusty relics and ravens, though those feathered guardians do get their due. The premiere introduces a changing of the guard, both literally and figuratively, with new faces assuming key roles. Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller and Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell step into their positions, while the Tower welcomes its sixth Ravenmaster, Barney Chandler. Meanwhile, the first female Deputy Governor, Debbie Whittingham, takes her leave.
Amidst these transitions, the Tower maintains its traditions, including the Constable’s Dues. This 700-year-old ceremony, with its curious blend of ancient ritual and modern military might – think Royal Marine commandos and helicopter flypasts – gets a thorough examination. For history buffs, Chief Curator Tracy Borman digs into some of the Tower’s more intriguing tales. The mystery of Sir Walter Raleigh’s missing head, a subject ripe for speculation, gets the Borman treatment. Jane Boleyn, often relegated to a supporting role in the Tudor drama, also receives a reassessment, challenging conventional historical portrayals.
Beyond the ceremonial and historical, Inside the Tower of London offers a glimpse at the day-to-day operations of this iconic landmark. Preparations for the anniversary of the D-Day landings provide a look at how the Tower commemorates key historical events. And, for those with a morbid curiosity, a new exhibition featuring an executioner’s block and axe provides a stark reminder of the Tower’s less glamorous past.
Inside the Tower of London airs Thursdays at 8:00pm on Channel 5.
