This Sceptred Isle - Dynasties
Christopher Lee's ten-part history of the great families who were as significant in Britain's history as the monarchs themselves.
Narrated by Anna Massey.
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Godwins - Part 1 | 20020203 | 20050322 (BBC7) 20060608 (BBC7) | Anna Massey begins with the most powerful dynasty, whose story begins when Aethelred the Unready is king and culminates in 1066. Anna Massey begins with the most powerful dynasty, whose story starts when Aethelred the Unready is king and culminates in 1066. |
| 01 | The Godwins Part 1 | 20091110 (R7) 20091111 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. | |
| 02 | The Godwins - Part 2 | 20020210 | 20050323 (BBC7) 20060609 (BBC7) | Anna Massey tells how Harold Godwinson became King Harold II. |
| 02 | The Godwins Part 2 | 20091111 (R7) 20091112 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. | |
| 03 | The Despensers | 20020217 | 20050324 (BBC7) 20060612 (BBC7) 20091112 (R7) 20091113 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. The greedy, corrupt Despensers' influence was short-lived, but it was, to say the least, a colourful time in British history. |
| 04 | The Irish Dynasties | 20020224 | 20050325 (BBC7) 20060613 (BBC7) 20091113 (R7) 20091114 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. The MacMurroughs', the Fitzgeralds', and the O'Neills' relationships were as influential as any of the mainland dynasties. |
| 05 | The Churchills | 20020303 | 20050328 (BBC7) 20060614 (BBC7) 20091116 (R7) 20091117 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. Anna Massey tells the story of the family that produced two of the greatest leaders in British history. |
| 06 | The Berkeleys | 20020310 | 20050329 (BBC7) 20060615 (BBC7) 20091117 (R7) 20091118 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. One of Britain's longest-surviving families, whose story involves the gruesome murder of a king. |
| 07 | The Russells | 20020317 | 20050330 (BBC7) 20060616 (BBC7) 20091118 (R7) 20091119 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. This family included Lord John Russell, whose achievements are still felt today, and Bertrand Russell, the philosopher. |
| 08 | The Norfolks | 20020324 | 20050331 (BBC7) 20060619 (BBC7) 20091119 (R7) 20091120 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. This family go back nine hundred years and are still associated with tradition, pageantry, and ceremony. |
| 09 | The Dalrymples | 20020331 | 20050401 (BBC7) 20060620 (BBC7) 20091120 (R7) 20091121 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. A Scottish family whose achievements have been overshadowed by their involvement in one particular tragic event. |
| 10 LAST | The Carringtons | 20020407 | 20050404 (BBC7) 20060621 (BBC7) 20091123 (R7) 20091124 (R7) | Christopher Lee's vivid account of the impact of Britain's most powerful families. Narrated by Anna Massey. One of the more recently established of the great families, who have managed to produce some scandalous characters. |
Updated: 1/6/2013