It’s set in the court of Louis XIV
Beginning in 1667, the series follows the Sun King’s decision to move the French court from Paris to Versailles, transforming his father’s old hunting lodge into the most jaw-dropping chateau in Europe. With a blend of historical and fictional characters, Versailles is a tale of courtly intrigue and political machinations. Oh, and strictly for historical accuracy, there's cross-dressing, illegitimate children and a lot of sex scenes. Cue Game of Thrones comparisons…
It’s already caused plenty of controversy
The tabloids have already taken to billing Versailles has one of the most explicit TV shows to date, while Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has lead a backlash against the BBC. 'Is this an example of th BBC dumbing down and seeking more sensationalised programming? That's an arms race to the bottom - quite literally in this case,' he said.
The cast, however, remain nonplussed by the outcry. Speaking to Digital Spy, star Alexander Vlahos said 'I think it's actually quite tame. I think it's raunchy for the BBC, but then I think London Spy [...] was a lot more graphic than what we're showing. [...] We never sat down and said, "Let's try and make the most controversial show ever" - we just tried to make Versailles and be as true to that time and that period as we possibly can.'
It’s the most expensive French TV series ever
Each episode reportedly cost £2.1 million to film - that's more than double the cost of an average episode of Downton Abbey - with a total budget of around £24 million. To put that into perspective, the BBC's recent adaptation of War and Peace cost a comparatively cheap £10 million. As you'd expect of a drama set in one of the most fashion-conscious eras on record, a fair fraction of that went on costumes and set design - and wigs.
It's proved incredibly popular in France
While French audiences weren’t at all perturbed by the sex scenes, some were outraged by the decision to film the story in English. ‘It is very worrying and totally implausible that a series about Louis XIV should be made in English,’ according to the Unite Republican Group for Linguistic Resistance, Initiative and Emancipation’s Gaston Pellet. This didn’t stop French viewers watching in their droves, though. The show aired on Canal+ last autumn, and brought in around one million viewers for the first few episodes – by far the channel’s best ratings for a drama in recent years.
The second series is already in production
Versailles is the first ever French series to have its second season commissioned before the first had even aired, so the team are clearly doing something right. Series Two will reportedly be set about four years after this season's events.
Who's in the cast?
George Blagden as Louis XIV
Before starring as the Sun King, George has had roles in Vikings and the big-screen adaptation of Les Miserables, in which he played Grantaire, a student revolutionary fighting alongside Eddie Redmayne's Marius.
Alexander Vlahos as Phillipe d'Orleans
Welsh actor Alexander plays Louis XIV's cross-dressing brother, and has previously had parts in the BBC's Merlin. He went to drama school alongside Fresh Meat's Kimberley Nixon and War and Peace alumnus Aneurin Barnard.
Anna Brewster as Madame de Montespan
Anna, who had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it part in last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, plays one of Louis' most ruthless and ambitious mistresses.
Elisa Lasowski as Queen Marie-Therese
You might recognise French actress Elisa from films like Eastern Promises and Somers Town - she's also appeared in Game of Thrones.
Noemie Schmidt as Henriette
Noemie plays the wife of Philippe, who abandons her in favour of his (male) lover. However, Henriette is having an affair of her own - with Philippe's brother. Confused yet?
Sarah Winter as Louise de la Valliere
Versailles isn't Sarah's first period drama - she's previously had roles in a Casanova adaptation and in Netflix's anachronistic guilty pleasure, Reign.
Versailles airs on Wednesday 1st June at 9.30pm on BBC Two
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