The Tudors - Series 1 to 3 Complete DVD Box Set

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RRP: £49.99

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Nominated for a Golden Globe, this acclaimed TV drama follows the reign of King Henry VIII - his string of affairs, illegitimate son and the impending threat of British invasion from France. But don’t let that fool you - this is a big-budget, extravagant, sexy production that injects a bit of excitement into a rather overtold historical story. Featuring an outstanding performance from Jonathan Rhys Meyers (‘Bend It Like Beckham’, ‘Match Point’) as Henry, ‘The Tudors’ starts a little earlier than most adaptations of Henry’s reign, giving us a unique insight into the man himself and making the intrigue, the plots and the conflicts all the more personal.

Henry VIII is a King who lusts - he lusts for women, power, and absolute rule over his people. As his desires become more intense, though, we see the larger effects of one man’s desire - the breakdown of the Catholic church within England, and, of course, a few lost heads!

The show was created by Michael Hirst, perhaps best known for his screenplays for ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’, which explore the reign of Henry’s renowned red-headed daughter - and ‘The Tudors’, to some extent, follows suit. Some liberties are taken with the facts, but only enough to make for an excellent, engaging drama that is guaranteed to have you hooked from episode one. Hirst has created a characterisation of Henry VIII that is superbly human - a hot-tempered, lustful individual who just has a little bit too much power in his hands.

It’s also worth mentioning the look of the show - a sort of gritty decadence that seems to linger in the air of every scene. A well thought-out blend of lighting and production design makes for visually impressive TV from start to end - a perfect setting for this tale of international intrigue.

As well as the show itself, this box set has some great special features, including your usual behind-the-scenes documentaries and an extraordinary look at shooting on location at Hampton Court. For fans of the show, or indeed for fans of British history, features like this really do make for an excellent package.

This nine disc set includes the first three series in their entirety - giving you over 22 hours of steamy period drama with a uniquely relatable twist.