A ROYAL PARDON

CHARLES EDWARDS PLAYS A MONARCH IN CRISIS IN THIS NEW COMEDY…

Writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are responsible for some of the best-loved British comedies, including

Porridge, The Likely Lads and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Now they’re hoping to add another treasure to that trove with a new sitcom set in the court of an unhappy British ruler. Charles Edwards, who plays King Henry IX, tells us more…

What’s the series about? It’s about a man who is dissatisfied with his life, which is a very familiar problem for many people, except that he is the king! He has a lot of pressure on him, and decides that he doesn’t want to be king any more.

How do the rest of the royal family react?

His wife and mother feel that he should fulfil his duty – his wife, played by Sally Phillips, doesn’t understand why he can’t just toe the line and do what’s required of him. She loves being queen and everything that comes with it. His mother, played by Annette Crosbie, is gentler, but will offer him stern advice about his duty. However, his children encourage him and are much more relaxed about it.

How does his crisis manifest itself?

He starts speaking out where he shouldn’t, and a girl in the palace catches his eye – Serena the florist, played by Kara Tointon. It’s no more than a dalliance, though – it’s all very innocent. He’s going off the rails, albeit in a very gentle way!