From Russia with love

PICK DAY

SKY ATLANTIC, 9pm THIS lavish, big budget historical drama stars none other than Dame Helen Mirren as its leading lady – the legendary Empress of Russia. “Catherine the Great was one of the greatest female rulers in the history of the world,” says the 74-year-old actress. “She took up the throne from her husband at great personal risk – an extraordinary woman.” The epic four-parter begins just after Catherine II has ascended the throne in 1762 following a palace coup against her unpopular husband, Peter III. But some see her rule as illegitimate, the army generals view her as a puppet monarch, her son thinks he should be king, and there’s a prisoner who also has a claim to the throne.

There are threats everywhere but everyone has underestimated her.

“There are unscrupulous people in Russia,” says the Empress. “Fortunately, I’m one of them.”

Yes, you can expect plenty of brilliant put-downs from Catherine, putting viewers firmly on the side of this trailblazing woman.

To an adviser who worries her first speech is “too liberal”, she suggests that maybe he takes his alternate version to “nibble on for his tea” because “he’s always been very good at eating his own words”.

But above all, this is a love story – watch out as sparks fly with Lieutenant Grigory Potemkin, played by Jason Clarke.

Dame Helen says: “This story is absolutely about love. It’s a simple human story of love and jealousy, pain and pleasure, and all the things that love brings.”