Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bow the budget
Hit royal drama The Crown is back... at cost of £200M
Flashier than the crown jewels, glossy royal family drama The Crown wowed viewers when it launched last November. It was one of the most expensive TV shows ever made – with an eye-watering budget of £100million.
Now for the second series, following Elizabeth II from 1955-65, I can reveal the coffers have been well and truly raided to DOUBLE the spending.
As well as hefty pay increases for the cast, including Wolf Hall’s Claire Foy as Her Majesty and former Dr Who Matt Smith as Prince Philip, elaborate costumes and action scenes will up the ante.
Catherine Bailey, who plays the Queen’s childhood pal and Princess Margaret’s lady-inwaiting Elizabeth Cavendish, said: “The budget for the first season was about
£100million. It’s probably £200million now. We just wrapped filming on the second series and it’ll come out on Netflix later this year. It’s so exciting and looks exquisite.
“It’s a sumptuous show and will make as much of a splash as season one.”
No expense was spared first time round – even a 30-second scene of a train trip to Sandringham cost £200,000, and Claire Foy’s wedding dress, based on the original 1947 Norman Hartnell design, with pearls and crystals, cost £27,000. There was also a budget for 7,000 extras.
The Netflix show is up for the most gongs at next month’s TV Baftas.
Catherine said: “It has had five Bafta nominations, which gives it such kudos and has changed the game for TV now.
“It’s a story that can run and run – there’s no sign of losing interest.”
Last week, Matt and Claire sparked suggestions of an off-screen romance when they were snapped eating out together. But Catherine, speaking at the Raindance Independent Filmmakers’ Ball fundraising gala this week, said their relationship is strictly business.
The 37-year-old, starring on the big screen in A Quiet Passion alongside Sex And The City’s Cynthia Nixon, said: “Being on set with people like Matt and Claire, I tried not to be starstruck but it was difficult. Everything has to be friendly for it to work, and it does.
“It’s hard work – certainly for those guys it’s a long old slog.”
Long may their reign continue.