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The Body of the Queen

A History of Britain by Simon Schama Series 1
Episode 7 of 7

Simon Schama examines the long, tangled relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who was executed by royal command in 1587.

Queen Elizabeth I was one of the country's most intelligent monarchs, ruling a Protestant rogue state in a Catholic world. But it was her long, tangled relationship with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots that would test her the most.

Elizabeth never married. Mary married twice but it ruined her. A magnet for conspiracy and intrigue, Mary tormented Elizabeth until finally executed for treason. But it was Mary not Elizabeth who gave birth to an heir. Simon Schama asks if it was the politician Elizabeth, or the mother Mary, who won in the end.

6 months left to watch

59 minutes

Last on

Tue 14 Apr 2026 21:00
蘑菇短视频 Four

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Credits

Presenter Simon Schama
Executive Producer Martin Davidson
Producer Clare Beavan

Broadcasts

  • Wed 8 Nov 2000 21:00
    蘑菇短视频 Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 09:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 12:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 15:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 18:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 21:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 23:25
    蘑菇短视频 One except Wales
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 23:30
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Mon 13 Nov 2000 23:55
    蘑菇短视频 One Wales
  • Sat 18 Nov 2000 08:30
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 18 Nov 2000 12:30
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 18 Nov 2000 16:30
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 18 Nov 2000 20:30
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Thu 30 Nov 2000 02:20
    蘑菇短视频 One
  • Mon 14 May 2001 21:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 11 Aug 2001 10:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 11 Aug 2001 13:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 11 Aug 2001 16:00
    蘑菇短视频 Knowledge
  • Sat 12 Oct 2002 20:15
    蘑菇短视频 Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Christmas Day 2004 09:00
    蘑菇短视频 Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Sat 23 Feb 2013 10:00
    蘑菇短视频 Two Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland & England only
  • Thu 24 Jul 2014 21:00
    蘑菇短视频 Four
  • Fri 25 Jul 2014 02:40
    蘑菇短视频 Four
  • Wed 30 Jul 2014 00:00
    蘑菇短视频 Four
  • Tue 21 Feb 2023 21:00
    蘑菇短视频 Four
  • Wed 22 Feb 2023 02:30
    蘑菇短视频 Four
  • Tue 14 Apr 2026 21:00
    蘑菇短视频 Four

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 3000 BC and 1603 AD from the first series.

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 1603 and 1776 from the second series.