BBC confirms brand new Tudor England drama series with “profound warning for the modern world”

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I’m so excited! The BBC just revealed they’re making a new Tudor drama based on Ava Pickett’s play, ‘1536’. I can’t wait to see it!

The upcoming series, also called ‘Riot Women,’ will have eight episodes, each lasting around thirty minutes. It’s being produced by Drama Republic.

The new series is set in Tudor England during the time of Anne Boleyn’s arrest. It follows Anna, Mariella, and Jane – three young women living in Essex who spend their days chatting, disagreeing, and hoping for their lives to begin.

When they learn that King Henry VIII has arrested Queen Anne Boleyn, the three friends have no idea their lives are about to be completely transformed.

Over the following weeks, Anna, Jane, and Mariella begin to see a growing trend of strict moral judgment and dislike of women. They grapple with the challenges of marriage, love affairs, disloyalty, and childbirth, but as the Queen’s fate is decided while imprisoned, they realize how perilous it is to be a woman in a country filled with unrest.

With their individual futures becoming clearer, the three friends struggle to maintain their bond. But as the pressure mounts, will their friendship endure, or will they be forced to betray each other to get through it?

1536 is a darkly funny and unsettling series that reflects our times. It examines how the decisions of a powerful man impact the lives of ordinary women, particularly in remote areas. The story explores the consequences when a king is accused of murdering his queen, and asks whether progress for women is as significant as we believe.

Pickett is adapting the series and has a strong background in television writing, with credits on shows like The Great, Ten Pound Poms, Bad Education, The Buccaneers, Brassic, and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.

She expressed her immense pride in reaching 1536 followers and feels fortunate to be able to share the stories of Anna, Jane, and Mariella with a larger audience, continuing to develop their characters and lives.

As a total film buff, I’ve been thinking a lot about how movies can really reflect the times, and this story just feels incredibly timely. It really hits home how much decisions made by those in charge affect all of us. I especially want to thank Lindsay Salt for believing in this project from the very beginning – she’s been a fantastic supporter.

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I’m really excited about this new series! Rebecca de Souza from Drama Republic said Ava Pickett’s writing is amazing – totally unique, gripping, and hilarious. They’re thrilled to be working with her to bring her first original series to life, and honestly, I can’t wait to see it!

Her play, 1536, really captivated audiences. It’s both daring and enjoyable, but also subtly unsettling, offering a powerful message that resonates with today’s world. It’s a historical story told with a strikingly modern and relevant perspective.

The actors who will star in the series haven’t been revealed yet, and more information will be shared soon.

1536 will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Add show 1536 to your watchlist on the TopMob app – get it now for daily TV recommendations and features!

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

As someone who lives and breathes TV, I’ve been following James Hibbs’ work for a while now. He’s a drama writer at TopMob, which means he covers shows on everything from streaming services like Netflix and Hulu to traditional TV channels. Before getting into writing, he actually worked in PR, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a big international production company. He’s got a solid background too, with a BA in English and Theatre Studies, and a journalism diploma to boot – so he really knows his stuff!

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2026-02-24 15:40