Main content

Henry VI - Part 2

After the Battle of St Albans, Plantagenet and the Yorkists ride to London to claim the throne. Henry negotiates to keep the crown but agrees to disinherit his son Prince Edward.

After the Battle of St Albans, Plantagenet and the Yorkists ride to London to claim the throne. Henry negotiates to keep the crown for his lifetime but agrees to disinherit his son Prince Edward.

Margaret is outraged and attacks Plantagenet at his house, slaughtering the duke and his youngest son Edmund. Elder brothers Edward, George and Richard escape and swear to avenge the murders and destruction of their house.

The Yorkists are victorious at the Battle of Towton and Plantagenet's eldest son is crowned Edward IV. Henry VI is imprisoned in the tower and Margaret escapes to France with her son Prince Edward.

Warwick travels to the French court to find Edward a bride. Word arrives that Edward is already betrothed to Elizabeth Woodville. Humiliated, Warwick switches sides and joins the House of Lancaster. Together with Margaret and the French king, Warwick forms an alliance to place Henry back on the throne.

George, Edward IV's brother, also joins with Warwick after failing to secure a good marriage or advance at court, but returns to the Yorkist cause moments before the Battle of Tewkesbury. The Lancastrians are defeated and Warwick is killed.

In the aftermath of battle, Richard slays Prince Edward in front of a distraught Margaret. Richard returns to London and murders the former King Henry in his cell. The court of Edward IV congregates for the christening of a new heir to the throne. The Yorkist dynasty seems secure.

1 month left to watch

2 hours, 2 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Rupert Ryle-Hodges
Author William Shakespeare
Director Dominic Cooke
Adaptor Dominic Cooke
Adaptor Ben Power
Production Company Neal Street Productions
Richard Benedict Cumberbatch
Buckingham Ben Daniels
Plantagenet Adrian Dunbar
Hastings James Fleet
Anne Phoebe Fox
Queen Elizabeth Keeley Hawes
Exeter Anton Lesser
Somerset Ben Miles
Margaret Sophie Okonedo
King Louis Andrew Scott
Clifford Kyle Soller
Edward IV Geoffrey Streatfield
Henry VI Tom Sturridge
Warwick Stanley Townsend
George Sam Troughton
Suffolk Jason Watkins
Grieving Father Simon Armstrong
Grieving Son Jamie Ballard
Young Ned Archie Bradfield
Bishop of Ely Alan David
Lady Bona Mariah Gale
Shepherd II Christopher Godwin
Shepherd I Tom Godwin
Ned Barney Harris
Edmund Angus Imrie
Westmorland Richard Lynch
Brackenbury John MacKay
Young Soldier Jordan McCurrach
Vernon Stuart McQuarrie
Oxford Steffan Rhodri
Young Cecily Lucy Robinson
Stanley Jo Stone-Fewings
Soldier Patrick Tolan
Messenger Gerald Tyler
Grey Samuel Valentine
Rivers Al Weaver

Broadcasts

Cast interviews

How did the actors tackle Shakespeare's fictional versions of real historical figures?

Shakespeare's relevance 400 years on

The Hollow Crown's Benedict Cumberbatch and Sam Mendes discuss Shakespeare's legacy.