A Brutal Battle For The English Throne, Rival Royal Houses And Political Betrayals At Every Turn — This 98%-Rated BBC Period Epic Has Even Outscored Downton Abbey On Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollow Crown transforms Shakespeare’s legendary histories into a sweeping two-season drama spanning kings, rebellions and the bloody Wars of the Roses. The cast alone is extraordinary, bringing together Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Judi Dench, Patrick Stewart, Michelle Dockery and Julie Walters. Viewers have hailed it as a “masterpiece” and praised the series for making Shakespeare unexpectedly gripping and accessible. For Wolf Hall fans craving another lavish historical binge, this could be perfect weekend viewing.

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The lavish period drama features an impressive ensemble cast — making it an irresistible weekend binge for fans of sweeping historical stories.

A woman looks at a man

Wolf Hall fans will love BBC historical drama The Hollow Crown(Image: BBC)

A BBC costume drama featuring a stellar A-list ensemble is now available on Prime Video and makes for ideal weekend viewing.

The Hollow Crown debuted in 2012 and comprised two seasons, adapting William Shakespeare’s historical works, including Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; Henry V, Henry VI, Part 1; Henry VI, Part 2; and Richard III, reports the Express.

The series chronicled the turbulent lives and reigns of various monarchs navigating the treacherous waters of power struggles and political manoeuvring. Its second instalment, subtitled The Wars of the Roses, examined the English civil conflicts spanning 1455 to 1487.

These wars witnessed the House of York and the House of Lancaster locked in bitter rivalry for control of the English throne.

A woman in a blue dress in a crown sits

The Hollow Crown has been praised for making Shakespeare accessible(Image: BBC)

Every episode showcased Britain’s finest acting talent, featuring performances from Ben Whishaw, Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery, Julie Walters, Sophie Okonedo, and Judi Dench.

The Hollow Crown presently boasts an impressive 98 per cent fresh rating, surpassing even period drama favourite Downton Abbey’s 92 per cent score, with the Shakespeare adaptation eclipsing Julian Fellowes’ ITV phenomenon.

The series has garnered widespread acclaim online, with one viewer declaring in their five-star Amazon review: “Shakespeare for the 21st Century: a triumph and a masterpiece.”

They concluded: “Overall: fabulous, brilliant, a feast for the eye, the ear and the mind.”

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The BBC adaptation of Shakespeare has been highly praised(Image: BBC)

A second viewer stated in their highly-rated review: “Highly Recommended Shakespearean Set – Essential viewing!”.

A third audience member commented: “Watching this series was my first experience of Shakespere [sic]. I had to concentrate at the beginning because of the old English but soon got used to it & then found it riveting.”

Meanwhile, on IMDb, additional viewers praised The Hollow Crown for making the Bard’s works accessible to modern audiences.

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One enthusiastic viewer noted in their 10/10 review: “To watch it, performed by actors who really know and understand Shakespeare, and can convey that in their work, is to enter a world of majesty, of subtle innuendo, of humour and of total understanding of the work of the Shakespeare who used his gift to allow ‘the common man’ to discuss and understand the goings-on and political machinations of his age.”

Another admirer of The Hollow Crown enthused: “They have pulled off what many have tried and failed to do: make good cinema out of the plays.

“The necessary realism is there, without detracting in any way from the source material.”

The Hollow Crown is available to rent on Prime Video.