Not a Book: My Lady Jane

Another week, another streaming pick and I do apologise for the fact that they’re all over the different services. I’m as cross about it as you are – which is nearly as cross as I am about the fact that I now have to sit through ads mid show on some of said services. Hey ho.

Ever thought “what I really need right now is an alternative history Tudor dramedy with a bit of magic”? No? Me neither. And yet we binged My Lady Jane across three nights and it’s a real hoot and a half. As you’ll know if you’ve watched the trailer (or maybe just by the fact that I said it’s Tudor and she’s called Jane) this is about Lady Jane Grey, who due to the machinations of those around her had an incredibly short reign after the death of Edward VI and was then executed by Queen Mary after she took the throne back. But this is an alternative history, and so there is swearing, a distinctly un-Tudor voice over and a plot that gets more and more bonkers as you go on.

It’s also got a cracking cast. I hadn’t come across any of the younger leads before but it’s got Anna Chancellor as Jane’s scheming mother, Rob Brydon having an absolute ball as Lord Dudley and Dominic Cooper as Lord Seymour. It’s utterly utterly bonkers and incredibly watchable. The ending is left open for a second series, but Amazon have already announced that there won’t be one, much to the consternation of the fans who have started a petition to try and change their mind. Watch this space, and in the meantime, have the official playlist.