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The Thursday Murder Club – more hit than miss, just about

Sam Harrington-Lowe — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:48:22 +0000

Richard Osman’s record-breaking novel The Thursday Murder Club makes its long-awaited screen debut

Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter, Mrs Doubtfire), the story follows four retirees at Coopers Chase retirement village: Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie). All of whom pass at least some of their time investigating cold cases, as the Thursday Murder Club, until a real murder actually lands on their doorstep.

Between them they have a bunch of skills well suited to the job – particularly Elizabeth, who has a shady past as a spy, or something equally secretive in MI6. Also Joyce, who was a nurse and is excellent at knowing things like how long it takes a stab victim to bleed out, and so forth. Joyce’s other skill is making cakes.

If you’ve read the book – and with over 15 million copies of the debut novel sold already, many have – you’ll be familiar with the story. If you haven’t, there are no spoilers in this article. Not that you need worry about it. The book managed to keep me guessing whodunit for quite a while, but somehow on screen it seems less of a challenge to work it all out. I’ll admit that might be down to the fact that I do actually know who dun it. But anyway.

The casting

When you read a book, you picture the characters in your mind. It’s one of the best things about reading as opposed to watching, and I was curious to see how the TMC would translate. Generally, I think this is well cast, although I had Elizabeth down as less emotional and warm. I pictured Eileen Atkins, but got the softer Helen Mirren. Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim was a shoo-in, and Celia Imrie is a cracking Joyce.

But Pierce Brosnan as Red Ron is wildly miscast. Not the lairy, bumptious gobby socialist of the book, Brosnan is way too charming, with a very reserved energy, and don’t get me started on the wildly fluctuating accents. For Ron, I imagined Ray Winstone, not Remington Steele. But not only that, I’m afraid Brosnan is missing the comedy bone. The man is not funny, and Ron’s character in the book is heavy on the comedy.

I loved Jonathan Pryce as the delightful Stephen, slowly disappearing into dementia – an excellent bittersweet performance. And there’s a pretty stellar British cast lined up for the other characters, including Naomi Ackie as Donna, Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie – Ron’s son, David Tennant as Ian Ventham, and Richard E. Grant as gangster Bobby Tanner. Does Grant make a good villain? I’ll let you have a guess at that. I love Grant, but this is not his metier. He’s about as menacing as one of Joyce’s cakes. Daniel Mays makes a great DCI Chris Hudson, with the right touch of comedy and brash faux Sweeney vibes.

There is some eye candy in the shape of Henry Lloyd-Hughes, who plays a very sexy Bogdan. Perhaps one of the major upgrades in terms of characterisation. And I always love to see David Tennant, although his Ian Ventham is far too much like his recent Tony Baddingham in Jilly Cooper’s Rivals on Disney+. Is this what he does now, play English baddies? I don’t care really, he’s always watchable, but it’s not exactly a stretch for this fine actor.

Mirren, long tipped by fans for the role of Elizabeth, called the book “utterly charming” and said she relished playing the sharp, enigmatic leader of the group. Brosnan described Ron as “a stout fellow of good character… humorous, theatrical, with wonderful set pieces.” Kingsley compared his psychiatrist Ibrahim’s empathy and analysis to his own craft as an actor, while Imrie said she “fell in love” with Joyce’s warmth and innocence.

Great location

Shot at Shepperton Studios and on location in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, the film brings Coopers Chase vividly to life. Columbus calls it “the Hogwarts version of a retirement community.”

Since its release in 2020, Osman’s debut novel has become the UK’s best-selling book of the decade. He says he was inspired by his mother’s retirement village. “I thought, what if there was a murder here? I bet you these people could solve it.”

This is not challenging or groundbreaking in any sense of the word. Except perhaps for the premise that the main protagonists are in a care home. But it’s great viewing for a Sunday afternoon, and will absolutely appeal to the billions of Agatha Christie et al fans that crowd the world. Myself included. I enjoyed the book, and I enjoyed the film – although the latter perhaps rather less so.

The Thursday Murder Club lands on Netflix globally on Thursday 28 August 2025

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

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Wednesday Season 2 sees a swell of British TV royalty

Emma Cruickshank — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:45:27 +0000

The first part of Wednesday Season 2 is set to be released this week, and there are a few surprise faces

Since its creation in 1964 the Addams Family has lured in audiences with its Halloween-chic sparkle and lovable cast of glamorous misfits. The 2022 interpretation, Wednesday, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and directed by Tim Burton, saw Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) in the titular role. And suddenly we were in the gothic glamour of Nevermore Academy.

See the ‘fits on the glam red/purple carpet event here.

A procession of British actors

Discussions around unexpected casting for Wednesday Season 2 are buzzing, but let’s take a look at the casting history for this high profile series. Because, frankly, it’s never been driven by pop-culture frenzy.

The cast of the first seasons of Wednesday was full to the brim with British actors. Welsh star Catherine Zeta Jones, 55, took on the role of Morticia. We all remember her from her earlier career, including starring in the likes of Zorro and Titanic. Having taken multiple sabbaticals from acting in the last two decades, we wouldn’t necessarily have pegged her as a lead role in Netflix’s ‘next big thing’. But wow, is she perfect for the scary yet seductive role.

Season one of Wednesday also saw Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, 46. Unlike Zeta Jones, Christie has typically played characters who are, shall we say… not so glamorous. From warrior Brienne of Tarth in GOT to fully armoured fighter, Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Wednesday saw Christie fully embrace her feminine side as principal Larissa Weems – she puts a refreshing feminine twist on the stern character. What could have easily become a bit ‘Miss Trunchball’ is instead layered and mysterious.

Season one also saw some lesser-known Brits such as Georgie Farmer playing Ajax Petropolus, and Iman Marson as Lucas Walker.

Who’s joining for Season 2?

Now, with the second season launching, the series is doubling down on its British DNA – and the casting news has the potential to be pure gold.

Okay, so this is exciting. Remember the character Grandmama Hester Frump? Portrayed in previous incarnations by Blossom Rock (1964-66), Carol Cane (1993) and Jackie Hoffman (2010). This is a character who is the embodiment of gothic glamour. This lover of death is being undertaken by the one and only Joanna Lumley, 79. British acting royalty. Famous of course for Absolutely Fabulous amongst a myriad of other successes including Sapphire and Steel, The New Avengers, and loads more.

Having previously worked with Tim Burton on the 2005 animated film, The Corpse Bride, Lumley was thrilled to get the chance to work with him again. In an interview with Dermot O’Leary and Rochelle Hummes on This Morning, she recounted the phone call with Burton as he offered her the role, saying, “…before he’d even finished the sentence, I said, ‘how much do I need to pay you to do this?’ It’s just divine.”

Lumley gushed over his attention to detail describing how absolutely everything is done with absolute precision. The tiniest props, like distant croquet wickets, made to look like bones. Everything is considered.

Lumley isn’t the only new Brit joining the Wednesday cast for Season 2. Doctor Who icon Billie Piper, who has had a varied career – from appearances on cult music show Top of the Pops to the risqué drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl. She recently shocked the nation by appearing in the plot twist ending of Doctor Who… as the Doctor, if that’s to be believed!? Despite this, Piper is another actress who one wouldn’t necessarily have anticipated seeing in a wacky cultural phenomenon such as Wednesday. Then again, considering Doctor Who’s knack for the weird and wonderful, she might just be a perfect fit.

What’s striking is how Wednesday sidesteps the usual trend-chasing in casting. These choices feel intentional, curated. Like someone raided the vaults of British screen history and invited only the most intriguing players to join the gothic party.

The purple carpet premier

This week saw the Wednesday Season 2 premiere take place in London. It was very Wednesday, from The Hand on the DJ booth, and a purple carpet so rich it felt conjured by Morticia herself. The addictive gothic glamour vibes and attention to detail were evident throughout the event.

The cast were additionally in keeping. Jenna Ortega wore her Wednesday style makeup. Now that’s a lot of eyeliner. Billie Piper went full goth in the dramatic black dress and Joy Sunday arrived dressed head to toe in a blood red dress with matching tights, shoes and hat.

That’s not all the news. Just this week Netflix confirmed that Wednesday will be returning for a third season. In fact, it’s already in the works. Question is, who will crawl out of the crypt and into the cast?

Luis Guzmán attends the Global Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2, Part 1 at Central Hall Westminster, London on July 30th, 2025. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix)

(L to R) Joy Sunday, Isaac Ordonez, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jenna Ortega, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Georgie Farmer, Billie Piper and Steve Buscemi attend the Global Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2, Part 1 at Central Hall Westminster, London on July 30th, 2025. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix)

So when and where can you watch it?

Wednesday Season 2 will be released in two parts, both on Netflix. Part one will come out on 6 August 2025, with the second part releasing on 3 September – both on Wednesdays of course… very clever Netflix.

Just like the first season, there will be a total of eight episodes in the season, each promising an abundance of deadpan humour and gothic glamour.

Emma Cruickshank

Emma is a literature, TV, and film enthusiast. When she’s not writing, she can normally be found out in the Sussex countryside, walking her dog Herbie, or in a restaurant drinking an overpriced cocktail and dreaming up ideas for her next literary endeavour.

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Why do we feel nostalgia and does it serve a purpose?

Flic Everett — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 05:08:40 +0000

Is indulging in nostalgia actually good for us?

Scrolling social media lately has been, for Gen X at least, a chance to swim in a glittering ocean of nostalgia. Normally, I’ve no time for the rose-tinted spectacles sported by the golden-agers of Facebook – the ones with a tendency to pen terrible poems about the glory days of the 1950s. (“We played on the bombsite and skinned our knees/and all the beds at home had fleas”). But when it’s my generation, which grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, nostalgia is a powerful and intoxicating drug. So why do we feel nostalgia?

Back in time with One Day

Ambika Mod as Emma & Leo Woodall as Dexter. Photo: Netflix

One Day, the Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel about Emma and Dex and their long, ’80s-to-’00s friends-to-lovers arc, blindsided many of us with its pinpoint-accurate depictions of the clothes, music, and attitudes we embraced growing up. From the tragic growing-out perm, to the ‘curtains’ Loaded lad hair, to the glass-brick loo walls and horrific coked-up mega-restaurants of the ‘90s.

Just watching the scene where Dexter is attaining toe-curling levels of dick-ishness shot me back to an evening at The Atlantic bar with braying media types. And the stolen Quaglinos ashtray that lived on my kitchen shelf for years.

The exquisite melancholy of the past

After that briskly refreshing plunge into the past, I went to see All of Us Strangers, a deeply melancholic film about isolation and loneliness. It sees a middle-aged Andrew Scott suddenly able to visit the ghosts of his parents who died in 1987. A world of patterned acrylic jumpers, Harvest-ware toasters, unquestioned indoor smoking, and Top of the Pops on the boxy living room telly.

All of Us Strangers, starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal

Not only was it a devastatingly sad film, it also triggered a tsunami of memories of what most suburban kitchens looked like before ‘lifestyle’ got involved. And how back then, dads were not only permitted but encouraged to keep emotions to themselves. Nobody in my family ever said, “love you,” or “to the moon and back.” It was just assumed that you loved each other, and you’d simply get on with arguing about homework and staying up to watch Juliet Bravo.

The midlife nostalgia-fest was completed with the recent news that The Body Shop has gone into liquidation. My entire timeline filled with fond images of dewberry oil, ice blue shampoo and fuzzy peach perfume, as if a Laura Ashley washbag had exploded all over it.

As a result, I’ve been thinking heavily about nostalgia. Why we feel it, what’s it good for – even whether it can be bad for us.

So why do we indulge in nostalgia?

Does harking back to a half-forgotten past encourage us to imagine it was so much better back then, and to compare our current circumstances unfavourably? Or is it a positive way of linking our modern, jaded selves to the people we used to be long ago? In my case, an insecure teen who read Sweet Valley High books and dreamed about the boy in art class who had Levis and floppy hair. (Spoiler: he never noticed me, and in retrospect, was quite possibly gay).

Nostalgia is a longing or yearning for something that has happened in our past, says psychotherapist Karen Hartley. “The feeling of nostalgia is real and is triggered by something that reminds you of previous times. It often becomes most prominent in hard or uncertain times.”

…is it a positive way of linking our modern, jaded selves to the people we used to be long ago?

The word itself is a fusion of the Greek words for homecoming and pain; and was first used by a 17th century Swiss doctor who considered the condition a mental health disorder. Nowadays, we tend to view nostalgia with amused warmth, happily following ‘I had a ‘70s childhood’ groups on Facebook, and sighing over blurry Bananarama videos. (“You see, pop stars just looked like ordinary girls back then… I actually had those pixie boots…”).

Do we remember only the good bits?

Research has found that memory tends to accentuate the positive and dismiss the negative. So we forget the casual racism, sexism, homophobia, and unemployment of the ‘70s and ‘80s, in favour of recalling fewer cars on the streets, and fun times at the roller disco.

According to a study published in science journal Nature, nostalgia can reduce the cortisol released by trauma and protect against stress and anxiety. Interestingly, the study from the University of California also found that people tended to feel more nostalgic when with family and friends, or around food. And that people leaned into nostalgia when they felt depressed – perhaps unsurprisingly.

“It’s common for people to perceive the past as a simpler, better time…”

The temptation to dwell on happier times is stronger when things in the present are not so enjoyable. “We go through more nostalgic periods with age, as we encounter more triggers,” says Karen Hartley. “People might feel lonelier the older they get as well as more ‘homesick’ for lost loved ones.”

Psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur explains, “It’s common for people to perceive the past as a simpler, better time, regardless of whether that perception is entirely accurate or not. This can happen when the brain forgets the challenges and complexities of the past, remembering and focusing only on the positives.”

So we think about the dewberry oil and forget about the school bully, or we remember our children as adorable babies and forget the agony of sleepless nights.

So a dose of nostalgia can be beneficial?

“People do it all the time, especially when it comes to relationships,” agrees Kaur. “You leave someone because they aren’t good for you but then all you can think about is all the ‘good times’.”

“As we age, we may become nostalgic for our youth or a different stage of our life – often a stage that we relate to as representing growth, exploration, or less responsibility.”

Often, she goes on to say, we feel nostalgia for a time when we experienced a sense of possibility – which is why our teenage years are such a nostalgia trigger. “As we age, we may become nostalgic for our youth or a different stage of our life – often a stage that we relate to as representing growth, exploration, or less responsibility.” It can also be a response to current stress, she adds. “When facing a difficult, complicated, or challenging time, it’s human nature to look back at a simpler, easier, and carefree time in our lives for mental relief.”

So nostalgia isn’t necessarily bad, as long as we don’t end up dwelling in an imagined past for too long. Thinking of happy memories can help put current troubles into perspective, says Kaur. “Nostalgia can evoke positive emotions; help with mood enhancement; and in some cases, be a tool for managing stress, as it allows you to ‘escape’ from your current reality.”

Although looking back, I’m not sure I truly want to escape to a time when TFI Friday was the biggest show on TV, Loaded was the best-selling mag, and ‘gay’ was a playground insult. One good thing about nostalgia – it’s a useful reminder that sometimes, the present isn’t all that bad.

Flic Everett

Flic Everett is a Mancunian writer who now lives in a cottage in the beautiful West Highlands with her patient husband and two deranged cocker spaniels. She still misses Manchester, and returns like a homing pigeon every month to see family and friends. She spends a lot of time writing on trains.

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The Crown Season 4 is here! What was it like being Diana?

Sam Harrington-Lowe — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 06:52:55 +0000

You might already have started The Crown at 8am on Sunday morning, but don’t worry. There’s no spoilers here. There is, however, an in-depth interview with Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana.

I came late to The Crown after hanging on to pathological demand avoidance for years. The more people went on about it, the more I didn’t want to watch it. But eventually, like most people it seems, I fell into it. And then binge watched the entire three series over a period of about three days. It was glorious. The best soapy, glamorous escapism I’ve plunged into for a long time.

I’m fairly ambivalent about the royal family. I’m not a royalist, and have my suspicions that perhaps we don’t really need the pampered pooches. But at the same time I do rather love the drama that goes with them.

And yes, I loved Diana – for her big eyes, for her flicky hair, for her fighting spirit and her ability to manipulate. Didn’t everyone? Coined ‘the People’s Princess’ by Julie Burchill, she was beautiful but accessible in a way no royal had been before. She was the sort of sixth former I’d have had a crush on in the Lower 4th, so I’ve been looking forward to this next batch of Crown dramas for ages. The Diana and Charles years.

So where are we now?

As Prince Charles turns thirty and begins to look for a suitable wife in earnest, the beautiful Lady Diana Spencer enters the frame. Hailing from one of the grandest and most established aristocratic families in the country, when she meets Prince Charles as an impressionable teenager she quickly falls in love.

After a brief courtship, Charles proposes, and Diana is quickly propelled from the life of a normal teenage girl into one as the Princess of Wales. Across the series she goes on a transformational journey to become a global superstar, but the fairytale marriage portrayed in the world’s media isn’t quite what it appears to be.

Princess Diana joining The Firm

I know actors, and they love a challenge, particularly one that’s going to net them a ton of centre stage action. But what a pair of court shoes to fill! We caught up with Emma Corrin to find out exactly how that felt…

So what was it like playing the part of Diana?

“It just felt ridiculous to be joining The Crown,” says Emma. “I had watched the previous seasons and it was completely surreal, and it still is a bit, having filmed it now and waiting for it to come out. It’s like ‘did this actually happen?’

“I was on a train and I got a call from my agent, and she is normally very together and very calm and she sounded really weird. She told me that she had had a call from The Crown. They were chemistry reading all the girls for Camilla and they needed someone to read in for Diana and had asked if I was available. It wasn’t an audition, she said, they will pay you to read, they just need your help.

“I decided to approach it as an official audition regardless, you might as well – it’s an ideal no-pressure situation. The day came and I learnt the lines and I had been working on the voice as well because she has such a distinctive voice. I had also done some research, as I was going to be in a room with Peter Morgan, the Directors and Nina Gold (casting director) so it was worth giving it a good shot.

“Halfway through the day, the Director asked if I would like to work on some character stuff for Diana, he gave me some guidance and then put me on camera with Emerald, who was reading for Camilla.”

Camilla and Diana meet

“When the audition for Diana formally opened I went, and worked on some scenes, and I remember sending a message to my friends afterwards saying ‘if it is only this, if this is as far as I get, that would just the most incredible afternoon so it would have been worth it’

“A couple of weeks went by and I got asked to come to set to chemistry read with Josh so I got taken into this insane manor house, which of course I am used to now, but back then it was like ‘woah this is crazy’. I went in and did a few scenes with Josh, and the producers, Ben and Suzanne were there. Then Ben just got down on one knee and said, ‘Will you be our Diana?’

Tell us about Diana, what kind of person do you believe her to be now that you have immersed yourself in this character?

“I play her from around 16 – 28 years old and her arc is incredible. I think people will feel is that they get to see a whole new side of her.

“I think that she had this way of giving herself so completely in everything that she did and so she appeared to everyone as this tower of strength and love even when she was arguably suffering. From my research it seems as though she was always balancing the different sides of herself, she was able to radiate that brilliance and compassion that we all fell in love with even when she was suffering.”

How does Diana meet Charles and how does their relationship develop?

“I actually think their families had known each other for a long time, her family had lived on part of the royal estate. When she was 16, she met Charles because he dated her sister, so they bumped into each other and then they met again a bit later.

“In our version of events, you see Diana attend Lord Mountbatten’s funeral where she watches Charles and sees an immense sadness in him which makes her think, I have this in me, wow, I could help you. We see her offer her condolences when she next sees him and it resonates with him. Soon after that they go on an official date – to the opera, chaperoned by her grandmother!

“Of course, things really progress when she is taken up to Balmoral. When you are invited to Balmoral, it’s ultimately a test. Balmoral is where the Royal Family are most at home and so if you are invited you know that is make or break.

The Queen optimistically meeting Diana at Balmoral

“Diana knew that because she already knew how these things work and I think, although she was incredibly young and in a way naive, I think she also very much knew what she was doing. She knew the rules. She knew why she was there – to be approved. And I think she just turned on the charm. Philip in particular really loved her, so she was given the seal of approval. He talked to Charles and said she’s the one, what are you waiting for?”

How does Diana cope with integrating with the Royal family?

“At Balmoral, she knew what she was doing. She knew the drill, and she won them over very well. But when it comes to her being plucked out of her normal life, without her best mates in her flat and taken to the Palace, suddenly she’s intimidated and almost the lack of warmth of the Firm hits her.

“I think she is expected to be received with the same informal welcome as she had in Balmoral but it was something entirely different. So we see a shift, and as the series continues, the warmth deteriorates to icy frosty cold, and she realises that they are not interested in her as Diana. All they are interested in is her role and how she makes the family look.”

As the marriage start to fall apart, what happens to Diana?

“I think something incredibly interesting happens to her because it coincides with Diana growing up, becoming a woman, discovering who she is, her sense of self and her voice. And so, you have these two things running in parallel; the mounting tragedy of her marriage failing, and also her growth and popularity and celebrity in the world.

“There is this tipping point in episode nine, where she realises the marriage is essentially over and she’s reached rock bottom. I remember Jess, who directed the episode, talking about how she’s gone so far past despair that she basically picks herself up and says, no. That she is stronger than this and won’t let this be the end. In an interview I think she says, “I realised I had a duty and I had a role to play and my work wasn’t done”. She realised that she isn’t going to give up and I think that’s a beautiful thing, where she finds that strength at her lowest, lowest point.”

How do you approach playing such a famous and real-life person?

“It’s so mad, I think it’s incredibly overwhelming and I feel a huge sense of responsibility because no matter how well we do this, it is always going to step on this family’s sense of loss, because it is real and it is so sad, the story – and also so recent.

I worked a lot with the dialect coach on her voice, which was a key part of her… we spent a long time on how she moved, how she would stand in a doorway

“I did the reading, I did the research for months and then when I got the script, I found that the research didn’t really matter. I had done it and that was great but now I could set it aside and concentrate on the material I had in front of me.

“I worked a lot with the dialect coach on her voice, which was a key part of her. And the movement coach, as movement really helps characterisation. And we spent a long time on how she moved, how she would stand in a doorway. Those little details helped so much to make it less scary. It is a huge responsibility but also a huge honour.”

“There is also an amazing research team that we have on the Crown. They gave me this huge binder and they had sifted through all the books, and all the contacts; friends of hers who wanted to help and compiled all this information in this huge file. Everything is colour coded and in different sections, it was so great, it really helped.”

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Did you speak to anyone who knew or was close to Diana during that time in her life?

“Everyone has a story. It is essentially the same story each time, about one of their relatives sitting next to Diana at a dinner party, but it is wonderful because that was her essence, she was there, she was relatable. It shows how she touched so many people.

“In terms of The Crown, I talked to Patrick Jepson who was her private secretary, and is a character who features in the series. He has such good insight – the kinds of things that only someone who knew her very well would know. He said she was so much fun; that she had a sense of fun that was contagious, and that was so wonderful to hear.”

Did you learn anything about the Royal Family that you didn’t know before? Did anything surprise you?

“The struggle that each of the royal family go through, coming to terms with their own roles, how conflicted everyone is about finding their sense of duty. I found that really interesting because I guess it is very easy to see them as symbols, see the public side of them and not actually realise the things they are dealing with, having landed this weird kind of role.”

What did you think of the fashion and did you have any favourites from Diana’s wardrobe?

“My favourite thing was working with Sid and Amy from the costume team. Diana’s wardrobe is like a character in itself! To go through that and do the fittings, with the wedding dress making, it was so fun.

“The wedding dress was a huge, huge thing. It went on very gradually, so they had to put it all together and there were so many fittings for hours. When we finally did it all and got it on, it was crazy. It was one thing to try it on without my wig, but when I put my wig on, it was almost quite terrifying. Because the significance of that image for people is massive.

“There was a weird moment, when we were filming that scene in these three huge rooms. The crew were all sitting up at one end, and at the other end I had the ten people trying to put me in this dress with the train, which was so long. And no one had seen me, and then these doors opened and everyone fell silent, because I think everyone felt, out of respect you shouldn’t speak.

“But she had so many outfits, especially in the later episodes when she started taking more risks and being more playful with fashion, she had this YSL bomber jacket which was so great. I loved her casual stuff; the jeans and jumpers were very her. There were two jumpers which were also replicas – one was a sheep jumper, one of which is in the V&A, and we got the only other one in the world. There was another one she wears in episode one – a pink jumper – and the original makers hand-made one for us.”

We see a lot of Diana’s love for dancing – have you danced before or was this a skill you had to work on for the part? What did you think or feel that dancing meant to Diana?

“I have never had dance training, but I was taught by some amazing people and it was fun. I did everything – I had tap, jazz, and ballet lessons. Josh and I learnt a duet, and then there were some great moments where I could just freestyle, and that stuff I love, especially for Diana.

“In those moments she just loses it and moves, and you can just tell that she is so stifled in her environment that this is her way of expressing herself. I think expression through dance is something that is so beautiful and so therapeutic. I remember in one scene they offered to choreograph, but I asked if I could just go for it and lose myself as she is supposed to be doing.

“I decided I wanted to dance to Cher, Believe, so they put that on in this huge insane hall and everyone was like, that looks so therapeutic, I want a go! That’s the thing, it was for her. That was her last straw, wanting to get this pain and frustration out. She loved dance, she wanted to be a dancer but I think she was too tall. And it was something that she had taken from her life before, so it was a source of comfort.”

Were you a fan of seasons one to three?

“I actually do remember the first time I ever watched an episode of The Crown. I was at uni in second year and my friend from school messaged me saying ‘Emma you’ll love this series’. I remember I was short with work, but I was like okay I’ll watch an episode. And I don’t think I stopped watching, I think I had to watch the whole series, I was obsessed.”

What to expect from this season…

Set between 1979 and 1990, season 4 will take us to incredible places including South Georgia, where the invasion of the Falkland Islands sets Britain on a war footing, and across the world to Australia, where the Waleses embark on a politically sensitive tour after republican Prime Minister Bob Hawke has been elected.

We will also be revisiting Balmoral Castle, where both Thatcher and Diana will be subjected to the infamous ‘Balmoral Tests’, and the beaches of Mustique, where Princess Margaret retreats during a difficult period in her life.

But that’s all you’re going to get from us – no spoilers here! Buckle up though, there’s a mad ride coming.

The Crown, Season 4 streaming live on Netflix from 8am on Sunday 15 November

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

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