Author: Bella

The Winter King Episode 1×04

The Winter King – Episode 4

When Arthur’s (Iain De Caestecker) decisions continue to be encountered by incomprehension by many residents of Caer Cadarn, Arthur visits the place where his mother, a swordsmaker and King Uther’s (Eddie Marson) lover, used to lived. While he and his sister Morgan (Valene Kane) reminisce about their cildhood, Arthur comes across an old, rusted sword and decides to bring it back to the castle with him.

Meanwhile, Derfel (Stuart Campbell) joins Owain (Daniel Ings) on a mission to collect the overdue tax from King Cadwys (Billy Postlethwaite). They suspect that Cadwys lies about “bad harvests” in order to avoid paying his taxes, so Owain orders his men to lie in hiding while a messenger announces their immediate arrival. Their plan to uncover the hidden treasures succeeds but when Cadwys offers Owain an alternative deal, things go haywire.

Later, Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) returns to Avalon where he meets a distraught Nimue (Ellie James), who is plagued by nightmares. He encourages her to follow the path the Gods have paved for her even though it means more personal sacrifices for her. Next Merlin visits Arthur and while there is genuine affection and respect between them, it also becomes clear that their vision of the future of Britain and how it is ruled, is vastly at odds.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!

The Winter King Episode 1×03

The Winter King – Episode 3

The episode sets in right after the devastating events known as the “Avalon massacre” and just after Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) returns to Dumnonia in the nick of time to save the small group of survivors including his half-brother, the Edling King Mordred. He and his men are welcomed back at Caer Cadarn by Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder) and the priest Sansum (Andrew Gower).

Arthur’s decision to hold King Gundleus (Simon Merrells) prisoner – instead of executing him for his crimes – is not met with approval by druidess Nimue (Ellie James) and Arthur’s sister Morgan (Valene Kane). Nimue, who was brutally raped by Gundleus, confides in her friend and almost-lover Derfel (Stuart Campbell) and makes him swear a blood oath to bind them together forever.

Arthur remembers Derfel as the boy he once saved from a death pit, and Derfel expresses his desire to become a warrior. He looks up to Arthur and feels loyal to him which puts him at odds with Nimue, who he still loves. Owain (Daniel Ings) also returns to the castle and his wounded men are treated by the women while the dying are helped to cross over to the afterlife by Nimue and Sansum.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!

Bernard Cornwell Talks The Winter King

One of the first guests in the upcoming The Winter King Podcast is author Bernard Cornwell.

The Winter King is the first novel in Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles, first published in the UK in 1995 and now turned into a TV series starring Iain De Caestecker, Jordan Alexandra, Stuart Campbell and Ellie James. The book is based on characters and plot elements from Arthurian myth, but considerably changed and re-worked.

Despite favourable reviews from critics, the TV series faced some backlash online due to its diverse cast and lose adaption of the original source material. Bernard Cornwell has now addressed some of the concerns in the Official The Winter King Podcast (available on all podcast platforms):

I think they did a magnificent job, a quite extraordinary job, so I think you’re in for a treat.

I mean, I think the casting has been superb. The one member of the cast who actually dazzled me was Ellie James playing Nimue, which was almost exactly as I’d in a sense imagined Nimue.

So obviously when you get a character on screen, who’s doing exactly what you put her in to do in the book, you like it. She has a force which is remarkable and she’s a formidable young woman, Nimue, and she has a great role to play in the rest of the series of course.

Not always as a heroine but she’s a very complicated lady, is Nimue, and Ellie James I think caught her superbly, perfectly in fact, and I think the casting has been superb all through and Iain [de Caestecker] makes a wonderful Arthur.

Source: The Winter King Podcast

Arthur (Iain de Caestecker) and his priest Sansum (Andrew Gower)

Selected Reviews

Druidess Nimue (Ellie James) and Priest Sansum (Andrew Gower)

The Winter King UK – Release Date

Great news for all British fans!

ITVX will release ALL episodes of The Winter King on 21 December 2023 in the UK.

Previously, the plan had been to split up the season in 2 parts and release them on 21 and 27 December 2023 respectively.

The 10-part series, which was filmed between July 2022 and January 2023 in Wales and the West Country, premiered on 20 August 2023 on MGM+ in the USA.

It is also available on Crave (Canada), Stan (Australia), TVNZ (New Zealand) and OCS (France). It will be released on Timvision in Italy on 6 December 2023, on Movistar Plus+ in Spain on 29 December 2023 and on Magenta TV in Germany on 01 January 2024.

ETA (19 December 2023):

Thanks to Facebook user Lykke Ma we can add Viaplay (Denmark) to the places where The Winter King is streaming! #WatchThisPlace as we add more info as soon as we find out more!

Andrew Gower as Sansum

The Winter King Podcast

🗡️ Introducing The Winter King: Official Podcast 🗡️

If you want to dive deeper into the world of The Winter King, you will have the chance to listen to inside stories that “key cast, crew and creatives” share with host David Craig. The Official Podcast premieres with a sneak peek on 14 December 2023, followed by all episodes dropping on 21 December 2023.

Available on all of your podcast platforms!

Let’s hope the “key cast” also includes Andrew Gower! #WatchThisSpace for more information!

Season 2 for The Winter King?

Season 1 of The Winter King, based on the Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell and which follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast son to legendary warrior and leader, is still being released on different streaming services around the world and fans are already (im-)patiently asking about a potential Season 2.

In a recent interview with Esquire Middle East, lead actor Iain De Caestecker (Arthur) talked about all things The Winter King and ultimately was asked about his own professional future and whether it might include more seasons of the “bold and revisionist take on well-loved Arthurian legends”. His answer certainly gives hope for more!

ESQ: You’ve played a doctor, a high school teacher, and now a king – what’s next?

IDC: It’s really hard to plan ahead in terms of what you would like to do. Right now I’m just really excited for the show to come out. We worked really hard on it, I can’t wait to see what people think of it. I love it. I also know that the writers are back busily writing season two. Nothing is confirmed yet but we’re all really excited about the prospect of getting back on the saddle, literally and metaphorically.

Source: Esquire Magazine
Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) and priest Sansum (Andrew Gower)

Iain De Caestecker also talks about the pressures of being King Arthur, bathing in guts, and learning to play the accordion:

Read the Full Interview here!

The 10-part series, which was filmed between July 2022 and January 2023 in Wales and the West Country, premiered on 20 August 2023 on MGM+ in the USA.

It is also available on Crave (Canada), Stan (Australia) and OCS (France). It will be released on Timvision in Italy on 6 December 2023, on Movistar Plus+ in Spain on 29 December 2023 and on Magenta TV in Germany on 01 January 2024.

ITVX, which produced the series in cooperation with Bad Wolf TV, will release all episodes in the UK on 21 December 2023.

Avid book readers will know that Sansum plays an important role in Enemy of God and Excalibur, the follow-up books to The Winter King, so we’re keeping our fingers and toes crossed that Andrew Gower will be able to reprise his role in future seasons!

The Winter King Arrives in Italy!

The Winter King continues to conquer the world with another international release date. This time it’s coming to Timvision in Italy.

Episodes 1 – 5 will be shown on 6 December 2023 with episodes 6 – 10 following on 13 December 2023.

Thank you to Historical Period Drama Italia for the heads up!

Season 1 is also available on MGM+ (USA), Crave (Canada), Stan (Australia) and OCS (France).

It will be released on Movistar Plus+ in Spain on 29 December 2023 and on Magenta TV in Germany on 01 January 2024.

ITVx, which produced the series in cooperation with Bad Wolf TV, will release the episodes in the UK on 21 December 2023.

Have we missed other release dates? Let us know!

New Project for Andrew Gower?

Andrew Gower, Christina Chong, Runa Ewok & Travis Beacham

Is there a new project for Andrew Gower on the horizon? Carnival Row and Impact Winter creator Travis Beacham shared this selfie on his Instagram showing Andrew alongside Christina Chong (Monroe) and her adorable dog Runa Ewok.

The caption reads:

I dunno that I can technically share why the three of us are in the same room in London, but you’re a clever bunch. I’m sure you’ll work it out.

Source: Travis Beacham

Travis Beacham already teased that S3 of Impact Winter is in development and that he is back in London using #ImpactWinter, so could this be about a different, new project? Maybe it is connected to this post from 14 November 2023?

Travis Beacham with actors Freddie Carter, Caroline Ford (Carnival Row, Impact Winter) and Sacha Dhawan (Being Human)

We will have to wait, watch & see! #WatchThis Space and we will update you as soon as we find out more!

Gustaffson London Gig @ The 100 Club

Get ready for Gustaffson‘s final gig for 2023! It takes place at The 100 Club in London on a very special date: Andrew Gower‘s 34th birthday!

They will be joined on stage by Kieran Hodgson, who Scarleteers will recognize from his memorable guest appearance as Rupert Parker’s special friend Dr. Moorhouse in Miss Scarlet & The Duke‘s initial season.

Scottish singer/songwriter and composer Genevieve Dawson will be another special guest for the evening which is hosted by British actor and presenter Cel Spellman.

Get your tickets now!

The Blue Room Interview – Andrew Gower

Andrew Gower was a guest at The Blue Room, a free Podcast for fans of English football club FC Everton, again and you can listen to the interview below.

Host Dave Downie talked with Andrew, a passionate Evertonian, all about his astonishing career in TV and stage, along with his brilliant performances with his band Gustaffson.

This marks the second time Andrew has been on the show after his first appearance on The Blue Room in 2021.

Alternatively you can also watch this video on YouTube: