NEWS

Jacob Collins-Levy (King Henry VII) and Michelle Fairley (Lady Margaret Beaufort) film at Bristol Cathedral – image (c) Starz

Karen Bailey, SVP Original Programming, STARZ, said: “We knew from the early location scouts that the natural scenic beauty of the area was a good fit for the production, but seeing the facilities at The Bottle Yard and discovering there was such a strong infrastructure already in place made the decision to shoot in Bristol an easy one.”

Fiona Francombe, Site Director of The Bottle Yard Studios, said: “Every aspect of this production was expertly crafted and beautifully detailed. The crew created a rich period world with their amazing set build, enhanced by stunning and authentic costume and make up design. After the excellent reception The White Princess received in the US, UK fans of expertly made royal Tudor drama are in for a real treat. Shows like this, made for a worldwide audience, are a great illustration of what can be achieved in Bristol and at The Bottle Yard.”

Natalie Moore, Bristol Film Office said: “Our role in large-scale historical productions like these is to make sure the right support is given to achieve a smooth shoot in the city centre. We had assisted Company Pictures and Playground to film at Bristol Cathedral for the making of Wolf Hall in 2014, so it was a pleasure to have them back for The White Princess last year. It’s always fantastic to see the city’s impressive architectural and historical landmarks like Bristol Cathedral shining on screen when a show begins to air.”

Based on Philippa Gregory’s 2013 novel of the same name, The White Princess picks up as the tumultuous War of the Roses comes to an end and a new generation ascends to the throne in a tale of power, political clashes, family, love and betrayal. A fragile peace is achieved when former king, Richard III, is defeated at the Battle of Bosworth. The victor, Henry Tudor, soon to be King Henry VII (Jacob Collins-Levy), is married to Elizabeth (Jodie Comer) – a princess from a rival house and Richard III’s former lover.

With her sister, Cecily of York (Suki Waterhouse), Elizabeth matches wits and wills with Lady Margaret Beaufort (Michelle Fairley), King Henry VII’s mother. They each manoeuvre to gain his trust. Meanwhile Lizzie’s mother, Dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville (Essie Davis), struggles with rumours that her long-lost son Prince Richard (Ned Elliot) is alive. Elizabeth is forced to choose between her new Tudor husband and the boy who could be her own blood and the rightful York King.

The White Princess is helmed by returning Showrunner and Writer Emma Frost (The White Queen, The Man in the High Castle, Shameless), also on board as Executive Producer, alongside Executive Producer and Director Jamie Payne (Legends, Quantico). Lachlan MacKinnon (Burton and Taylor) is Producer for the series, with Playground’s Colin Callender (The White Queen, The Dresser, Wolf Hall) and Scott Huff (The Missing) serving as Executive Producers along with Company Pictures’ Michele Buck (Parade’s End, Hornblower, Sex Traffic).

The White Princess premiered in the US on STARZ to critical acclaim and averaged 4.8 million multiplatform viewers per episode.

UKTV Drama is available to watch on Freeview 20, Sky 158, Virgin 128, BT, TalkTalk 020 and on demand via UKTV Play.