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King & Conqueror

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King & Conqueror

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• 2025

• Drama
• Fantasy

Summary

Historical drama depicting the build-up to the Battle of Hastings, following rivals Harold Godwinson and William of Normandy. Starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

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Review

Jack Seale

As a suitably grubby, epic historical saga begins, 1066 is some way off. We open somewhere in the early 1040s, in Wessex and Normandy. England has just come out of a protracted civil war, but Harold Godwinson (James Norton) does not sit easily on the horse that takes him up and down the kingdom’s tracks and paths: he thinks the wily Mercians are on manoeuvres, but he can’t convince his arrogant, power-hungry family of the danger. Meanwhile, over in France, a protracted civil war is ongoing, but the dashing duke William (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) deals with betrayals and ambushes without putting a moustache hair out of place.

Speech patterns that have a very 2025 vibe are perhaps the only obstacle to enjoying a handsome first episode that, when William arrives in England for a key royal wedding, sows the seeds of a titanic rivalry. This is not a place where mercies are given easily. Steel yourself for the scene where Harold lets rip at another man’s nose during combat, while the axe-wielding French can be seen asking a captured enemy soldier a simple, brutal question as he lies shackled: hand or foot?

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6.0/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• BBC iPlayer
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameHarold GodwinsonJames NortonWilliam the ConquerorNikolaj Coster-WaldauMatildaClémence PoésyEdithEmily BeechamGythaClare HolmanQueen GunhildBo BragasonThane ThomasJason ForbesFitzosbernIngvar SigurdssonTostigLuther Ford

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Seasons

Latest season

Season 1

Special episodes

News & features about King & Conqueror

• 
  
  King & Conqueror release date, trailer and latest news
  
  A defining moment in British history is brought to life with a star-studded cast.

• 
  
  King & Conqueror cast: Full list of actors in BBC historical drama
  
  The journey to the Battle of Hastings begins on BBC One and iPlayer this weekend.

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• 
  
  King & Conqueror is the latest medieval drama to fall short of The Last Kingdom – but why?
  
  Writers are yet to craft a character big enough to fill Uhtred's boots – and not for lack of trying!

• 
  
  King & Conqueror star jokes he thought he was "about to die" after training
  
  "And then you suddenly realise, oh, this is really nice."

• 
  
  I'm an expert historian and here's how accurate BBC's King & Conqueror is to real events
  
  Any historical drama is going to take liberties with the narrative, and King & Conqueror is no different.

• 
  
  Game of Thrones star recalls Lannister detail in King & Conqueror as he compares shows
  
  "George RR Martin was very inspired by this time period."

• 
  
  James Norton teases King & Conqueror: 'It's mad to think nobody has done it before'
  
  The BBC series is set to be an epic exploration of a tense part of British history.

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• 
  
  King & Conqueror release date confirmed with first-look images of all-star cast
  
  James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star as feuding leaders King Harold II and William the Conqueror in the historical drama.

• 
  
  King & Conqueror stars tease episode 1 gore: "There was a big discussion if we were going to keep it in or not"
  
  There are some bloody King & Conqueror scenes to come.

• 
  
  King & Conqueror star James Norton on story of Norman conquest: 'Why haven't the French told it?'
  
  "They won, for goodness sake. I don't know why it's up to us."

• 
  
  James Norton opens up on nerves ahead of King & Conqueror role
  
  The Happy Valley star plays Harold, Earl of Wessex in the upcoming historical epic series for BBC One.

• 
  
  James Norton reveals he suffered "painful" injury doing his own King & Conqueror stunts
  
  Norton's King & Conqueror role came with its own surprise injury.

• 
  
  Happy Valley's James Norton stars in epic first-look trailer for new BBC drama King & Conqueror
  
  "Power isn't given, power is taken."

• 
  
  James Norton says King & Conqueror made big decision to not just 'focus on two men, but two couples'
  
  The new BBC series lands on our screens this weekend.

• 
  
  Happy Valley's James Norton and Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in first look at King & Conqueror
  
  The epic historical drama is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer next year.

• 
  
  James Norton to star in new historical drama King & Conqueror
  
  The eight-parter will centre on the Battle of Hastings and the events leading up to it.

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