The BBC miniseries King and Conqueror, based on the Battle of Hastings, dives deep into the lives of Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy
Helen Kelly Head of Screen Time
09:30, 24 Aug 2025
William of Normandy invaded England when Harold claimed the crown for himself(Image: BBC)
The new BBC series, King and Conqueror, delves into the events leading up to the pivotal Battle of Hastings, a conflict that shaped England’s – and Europe’s – destiny for a millennium.
Initially comrades, Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy found themselves on opposing sides at the Battle of Hastings, vying for the throne after King Edward the Confessor’s demise.
The drama spans the years preceding the 1066 battle, portraying Harold and William as allies before circumstances force them to become adversaries.
James Norton, who portrays Harold Godwinson and also serves as an executive producer on the series, expressed his astonishment at the scripts penned by Mike Johnson.
“I remember being constantly surprised reading scripts and saying ‘is this real? This seems completely mad,’ and invariably, he’d be like, ‘no, that is exactly what happened.’ It was extraordinary,” James recounted.
“There were obviously artistic licenses that we had to take, particularly in terms of the timeline, because you often have to condense chapters with historical dramas like this. It was also about finding specificity and nuance.
“We know about the broad brush strokes of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings, but you don’t really get much about an individual from the Bayeux Tapestry and the wider historical facts. The meat and substance is always found in the domestic space.”
King and Conqueror follows the events that lead up to the clash that defined the future of England(Image: BBC)
Scriptwriter Mike also admitted it was a “knotty story” to adapt for television due to the numerous differing accounts of the events, reports the Express.
Discussing the extensive research that went into crafting the series, he explained: “It was a question of reading enough to work out what the interesting truths of the story were, the ones that people agreed on, and working out how that could be moulded into a story because you can’t tell a straight documentary version.
“You can’t just dramatise the facts because the peaks and troughs of the emotions are never in the right place. To me, the most important thing is: what do the audience get out of this?
William claimed Harold had declared his support for him as King Edward’s successor(Image: BBC)
“We’re asking them to invest eight hours of their lives, so how do we give them the best piece of entertainment we can from this incredible true story? And the second part of the research was trying to read as much about how the world would have been and get a good idea of what existed and what didn’t.”
In addition, Kitty Kaletsky, who collaborated with James to executive produce King and Conqueror, disclosed that a historical advisor was brought on board during the scriptwriting process.
She expressed her surprise upon discovering the friendship between Harold and William: “We really weren’t taught it in school that Harold and William were allies, two friends who become foes.
“And the importance of not just the love between the two couples – William and Matilda, Harold and Edith – but the extent to which these women acted as counsellors for their husbands was really surprising to me.”
William won the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and ruled until his death(Image: BBC)
Overall, the series adheres to the essential facts recognised by historians whilst incorporating details that audiences might not have previously known, such as William’s inability to read and write, with his spouse Matilda assisting him with his letters.
Additionally, many viewers may be unaware that following his victory over Harold, William summoned Harold’s wife Edith to confirm his identity. Edith had wed Harold according to “Danish way” customs, but upon his ascension to the throne, he took Margaret of Mercia as his bride in a Christian ceremony.
William’s request for Edith to verify Harold’s death represents just one example of how the programme illustrates the profound connection that had once existed between these two men.
King and Conqueror broadcasts on BBC One at 9pm and can be watched on BBC iPlayer.
