Category: Series

The Winter King – Who is in the Cast?

As filming for the new ITV series The Winter King based on the Warlord Chronicles by best-selling author Bernard Cornwell (The Last Kingdom) is well under way, fans are eager to learn who will be in the cast.

The story is a retelling of the Arthurian legend and takes place in Post-Roman Dark Age Britain, a land where the warlord Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared,Saxons are invading and a child-king sits unprotected on the throne. We meet a vain and unpopular Lancelot, an ambitious and scheming Guinevere, a Merlin who is more absent Druid than mystic magician, and a Mordred who is Uther’s grandson and legitimate heir. The tale is told by the Saxon-born monk Derfel Cadarn for Igraine, a young queen.

Source: Wikipedia

So far there have been no official statements from the production itself but we were able to gather some information about some of the main cast.

Iain De Caestecker plays Arthur Pendragon, the illegitimate son of King Uther, an exiled warlord who returns to Britain.

Iain is a Scottish actor known for playing Leo Fitz in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Jordan Alexandra plays Arthur’s wife Guinevere, an ambitious woman who cares very little for others and seems only to want power and a high social status.

Jordan can also be seen in the film Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness and Netflix hit series Bridgerton.

Stuart Campbell plays Derfel Cadarn, the narrator of the story. He is a warrior and loyal to Arthur. Even though he sees Arthur’s flaws, he recognizes greatness and knows that Arthur is the only hope for Britain.

Stuart is a Scottish actor who Outlander fans might remember as Young Rabbie McNab. He most recently starred in the mini series SAS Rogue Heroes.

Daniel Ings plays Owain, Uther’s champion of Dumnonia, an experienced but not always honest senior warrior.

Daniel is an English actor known for I Hate Suzie and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? He also appeared in an episode of Black Mirror.

Ken Nwosu plays Sagramor, a fierce Numidian from Africa Nova and veteran of the old Roman army who has followed Arthur to Britain after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

Ken has previously appeared in Christopher Robin, The Witches and Killing Eve.

Andrew Gower plays Sansum, a character that is loosely based on the Cornish saint Samson of Dol, a Catholic priest and later a Bishop. Sansum is described as unsympathetic and intriguing.

Andrew of course needs no further introduction on this page. 😉

Valene Kane was also cast in the series but her character is not yet known. Speculation sees her maybe as Nimue, a druid priestess and Merlin’s lover. She’s also a first love to Derfel and his life long friend.

Valene is from Northern Ireland and can be seen in The Fall and Gangs of London.

Welsh actor Steve Ryan is also confirmed to be starring in the series but it is not yet known which character he will play.

Steve has previously appeared in His Dark Materials and Sex Education

ETA (29 November 2022):

In a press release ITVX have confirmed some of the cast already rumoured. Read more about it here.

The Winter King – Filming at Brabazon Hangars

According to the Bristol Post and confirmed by some watchful eyes on Twitter filming of The Winter King has moved from Blaise Castle to the Brabazon Hangars.

The Brabazon Hangars, at what once was Filton Airfield, are being transformed into the YTL Arena, a 17,000 capacity arena, festival hall and ‘hub’ for eating, drinking and leisure, which is due to be open by 2024.

We’re still waiting for a first look at Andrew Gower as Priest Sansum but #WatchThisSpace!

Otto Bathurst & Farren Blackburn Directing The Winter King

As previously announced, Andrew Gower has been cast in an upcoming adaptation of Bernard Cornwell‘s Warlord Chronicles. The popular book series by The Last Kingdom author is a modern reimagination of stories surrounding the legendary King Arthur. Most of the narrative is recounted in a series of flashbacks to the main protagonist Derfel Cadarn’s life as a young man when he met the many famous heroes of Arthurian times.

Originally set up at US cabler Epix, the project later moved to Bad Wolf / Sony Pictures / Paramount Plus. The 10 episode series is expected to be released in 2023 on ITV’s new streaming platform ITVX in the UK. Kate Brooke (A Discovery Of Witches, Medici) and Ed Whitmore (Manhunt) are reported to be showrunners and head writers.

Otto Bathurst (His Dark Materials, Peaky Blinders) serves as lead director and according to his Twitter account, Farren Blackburn (A Discovery Of Witches, The Innocents) is also directing some of the show’s episodes.

The clapperboard also confirms Danish cinematographer Stephan Pehrsson (Black Mirror, Tolkien) as Director of Photography.

ETA (18 October 2022):

Director Farren Blackburn posted this selfie from the set of The Winter King on his Twitter.

The Winter King – Video Clips from Set

Twitter user Chris Baker provided us today with two short video clips from filming The Winter King at Blaise Castle Estate in Bristol.

There appear to be men carrying wolfsheads on large poles, so they’re probably part of the main character Derfel’s band of spearmen.

Another Twitter account, Bristol Mosaic, added a few more pictures from the same day on set. Click to view the pictures in more detail.

We are sure one of these days someone will snag a picture of Andrew Gower as Priest Sansum. It’s only a matter of time!

The Winter King – Filming locations

So far there is not much information on The Winter King, the new series that Andrew Gower is currently filming as a series regular playing a chararcter named Sansum. We tried to compile as much as we could find out about the different filming locations in the article below:

Based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles, The Winter King is an epic but intimate 10 part returning series which will shoot in Wales and the West Country in 2022.

Portraying a revisionist take on the well-loved Arthurian legends, the series follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast son to legendary warrior and leader. The Winter King is set in the 5th century, long before Britain was united, in a land of warring factions and tribes when the world was brutal and lives were often fleeting.

The series is being produced by Bad Wolf, in association with One Big Picture, with international distribution being handled by Sony Pictures Television.

Kate Brooke (A Discovery Of Witches, Bancroft) and Ed Whitmore (Manhunt, Rillington Place) are adapting Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles for the series and Otto Bathurst (His Dark Materials, Halo) will be the lead director.

Source: Bad Wolf Official Website

Gallos, a representation of King Arthur by Rubin Eynon at Tintagel, Cornwall. (Image: Pixabay licence)

The Bristol Post reported about film sets in the West Country and around Bristol for the upcoming series, including “mocked-up medieval villages and forts” in Patchway and Blaise Castle Estate.

Plans for a temporary film set off Highwood Lane in Patchway Trading Estate, which will be used between July 2022 and January 2023, were submitted to the South Gloucestershire Council.

The units primary purpose is to provide a space for the construction of both interior and exterior ‘sets’ which the series requires. In addition to these temporary set structures, the site will provide space for the supporting infrastructure, cast, crew and logistical vehicles required to facilitate the filming of the show.
Due to the nature of the film making process, the level of activity at the site will vary across the period this planning application pertains to. After an initial construction phase, the filming operation itself – including cast and crew, will vary between 70 and 150 persons to span across circa 70 days between July 2022 and January 2023. As a result, it is not foreseen that the activity at this site will impact the local community in an adverse way.

Source

The exterior sets include a ‘fortified encampment’ and ‘mountainous ravine’ appropriate to Arthurian Britain – the time period in which the series is set.

(c) Dronestagram

Blaise Castle Estate seems to be another major filming site being transformed into a medieval village. The grade II-listed parkland will host thatched dwellings of wood, wattle and daub covering almost 30,000 sqm. Two film sets will be built on the estate: a cluster of houses and animal pens amongst trees adjacent to woodland, named on plans as “Avalon Village”, plus a wooden tower with a “scaffold plinth” and “scaffold birdcage”.

(c) Bristol Live

Tropiquaria was also used as a base filming took place within around a five-mile radius of the Watchet wildlife park and aquarium.

The Swindon Advertiser also reported about film crews being spotted near Bradford on Avon in the Iford Valley below Iford Manor Gardens.

They used the Iford Cider premises on the road to Freshford as a film base and were in the area for two nights […]. It is understood that horses were involved and some of the actors were seen wearing loincloths and other period costumes.

Souce: Swindon Advertiser

It does need to be pointed out that the cast mentioned in the article is the one for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves that was also partly shot in the area according to the Somerset County Gazette. The cast for The Winter King – other than Andrew Gower – has yet to be revealed.

The Winter King will debut in the UK on ITV’s new streaming platform ITVX (Source: Variety), possibly in late 2023 / early 2024.

You S4: Trailer & Release Date

Netflix teased the return of its hit series You with a first look at the new season and a release date.

Season 4 will be split into two parts which will be made available for streaming on 10 Februar and 10 March 2023 respectively.

The new episodes will see a return of charming serial killer Joe Goldberg, who now lives in London as Professor Jonathan Moore. The trailer shows us some familiar and some new faces, among them Outlander alumni Ed Speleers.

Andrew Gower is still missing from this first teaser trailer but we know he will appear in the upcoming season playing Detective Peter Andrews, possibly a police officer investigating Joe.

The Winter King – Filming At Blaise Castle

Our Twitter spies are out and provide us with some set photos from filming The Winter King in and around Bristol. Production of the new adaption of the best-selling Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling book series Warlord Chronicles, currently takes place at Blaise Castle Estate and in the Redcliff area.

The 650 acre Grade II registered parkland surrounding the 18th century Blaise Castle is used to built two film sets: cluster of houses and animal pens amongst trees adjacent to woodland, named on plans as “Avalon Village”, plus a wooden tower with a “scaffold plinth” and “scaffold birdcage”.

We’ll update this article as soon as we find out more!

Flickr User Jeremy Fennell also shared some set photos on his photostream. You can find more pictures on the Bristol Live website.

Outlander Bonnie Prince Charlie Star on Corset Costume Challenges ‘The pain is real!’

Andrew Gower made a #BonnieComeback in Season 6 of Outlander in the iconic role of the “Bonnie Prince” Charles Edward Stuart who in 1746 fled government troups under the disguise of Betty Burke, an Irish maid.

In a recent interview with the Daily Express, Andrew Gower now opened up about the challenges of wearing a corset:

“The pain of the corset is real! I’ve been in so many period dramas where I’ve been like, ‘Oh, why is my co-star not having any tea or having any dinner or lunch? Or why are they a bit late onto set or whatever?’ Now I know exactly why that is.”
Gower went on to say how the costume department “laced me up”, so he would get the full corset experience. He also admitted: “Sitting was interesting.”

Source: Express.co.uk

He further added jokingly:

I don’t know whether my mum was proud or embarrassed.

Source: Express.co.uk

We’d say proud, always proud, as every mum would be! 😉

Outlander prequel: Star weighs in on possible Bonnie Prince Charlie series

Variety reported exclusively on 25 February 2022 that an Outlander prequel series is in development at Starz. Exact plot details are so far kept under wraps and open for speculation.

Fans of the show have been hoping for a spin-off centered around popular character Lord John Grey (played by Australian actor David Berry). When the audience meets (John) William Grey for the first time during the Jacobite Rising of 1745 (Season 2), he is only 15 years old and played by young English actor Oscar Kennedy. This seems to rule out his story for a prequel series although there is plenty of source material in the form of Diana Gabaldon’s LJG novellas and short stories.

In 2013, Gabaldon also published the novella Virgins with a young Jamie Fraser and best friend Ian Murray (aged 19 and 20 respectively) serving as mercenaries in 1740’s France. Given the popularity of both characters, this certainly seems like an option, even though actors Sam Heughan and Steven Cree (both born in 1980) might not be able to reprise their roles for this potential prequel.

Still a work in progress is a novel about Jamie Fraser’s parents, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser. Their wild love story would be set in early 18th century Scotland and could touch on the First Jacobite Rising of 1715. This sounds like the most plausible choice as it would feature a lot of the elements that made Outlander such a hit in the first place.

Bonnie Prince Charlie (Andrew Gower) and Flora MacDonald (Shauna MacDonald) in S6 of Outlander

After the recent #BonnieComeback, the Daily Express also talked exclusively with Andrew Gower about the possibility of a prequel series focusing on a young Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Would I be interested in a Bonnie Prince Charlie prequel? I mean, I went back for season six, so I would work with those guys. I would work with that team at the drop of a hat. They’re an amazing team.

The interesting thing about Bonnie Prince Charlie – maybe I’m getting too old to play him – who knows? To play him at the beginning… but ultimately his life story is fascinating.

If they don’t do a story about him then I’m pretty sure there will be another film or something soon. Because I had such fun playing him and so many different ways I could have played him and so many different parts of his life you can look at.

Source: Express.co.uk

Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Andrew Gower) in Outlander Season 2

The interview concludes with our favourite bit of information:

Whether a Bonnie Prince Charlie prequel series is also on the cards remains to be seen, but Gower is now busy with a whole host of other projects.

Source: Express.co.uk

As much as we love our “Mr Mark Me”, we’re also excited to see Andrew Gower taking on new roles that allow him to show his versatility as an actor. We already know that one of his new projects is playing Detective Peter Andrews in Season 4 of Netflix hit series You with more acting jobs to be announced soon.

Andrew is also currently preparing the launch of his first EP The Jacaranda with his band Gustaffson on 19 August 2022.

Gustaffson – Andrew Gower and James Webster

ETA (4 August 2022):

Variety confirmed today that the rumoured prequel Outlander: Blood of my Blood would indeed – as speculated above – focus on the love story of Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, Jamie Fraser’s parents.

The Winter King Casts Andrew Gower

According to his management at Independent Talent Group, Andrew Gower is currently filming a new TV series called The Winter King based on the Warlord Chronicles by best-selling author Bernard Cornwell (The Last Kingdom).

Andrew will play the character of Sansum, who is loosely based on the Cornish saint Samson of Dol, a Catholic priest and later a Bishop. His disciple Derfel Cadarn, an elderly monk, recalls the time of when he met the many famous heroes of Arthurian legend and writes them down on the request of young Queen Igraine. Most of the narrative is recounted in a series of flashbacks to Derfel’s life as a young man, with regular intermissions in the present-day monastery.

Sansum is described as unsympathetic and intriguing. He can’t read and believes Derfel is writing a Christian gospel. We expect that the TV series will take some liberties from the books (as is the case with The Last Kingdom) but we’d tentatively call Sansum a villain on the show.

Variety confirmed production of the series on 4 April 2022 saying the 10-part series will shoot later this year in Wales and the West Country. The book series follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast son to legendary warrior and leader King Arthur.

On 4 May 2022, Bristol World reported that filming would also take place at a temporary film set near Bristol including a fortified encampment serving as Caer Cadarn – a fortress which plays a key part in Cornwall’s The Winter King.

The Warlord Chronicles are described as “historical fiction” rather than fantasy by FanSided (despite being based on a myth) and as Cornwell’s best work. The author himself called the book series, which includes novels The Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur, “his favourite” of all the books he has written.

An adaptation of the Warlord Chronicles was previously set up at US cabler Epix, but has now moved to Bad Wolf / Sony Pictures / Paramount Plus. Kate Brooke (A Discovery Of Witches, Medici) and Ed Whitmore (Manhunt) will be showrunners with Otto Bathurst (His Dark Materials, Peaky Blinders) as lead director.