The Shadow of the Tower

Season 1

The Shadow of the Tower is a historical drama that was broadcast on BBC2 in 1972. It was a prequel to the earlier serials The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R. Consisting of thirteen episodes, it focused on the reign of Henry VII of England and the creation of the Tudor dynasty.

Where to Watch Season 1

13 Episodes

Crown In Jeopardy
E1
Crown In JeopardyHenry Tudor emerges victorious over Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field and seeks to form a coalition from which he hopes to establish a Tudor dynasty. One of Henry's first moved is to recruit John, Earl of Lincoln, Richard III's designated heir, into his cabinet and obfuscate on his promised marriage to fiancée Elizabeth of York.
Power in the Land
E2
Power in the LandHenry consolidates his power when Elizabeth gives birth to Prince Arthur legitimizing Henry's claim of descent from the legendary monarch. Henry finds a way to overcome the plots of the treasonous plots of Stafford brothers, who has thus far avoided justice by claiming monastic sanctuary.
The Schooling Of Apes
E3
The Schooling Of ApesHenrys enemies represent commoner Lambert Simmel as the Earl of Warwick, the York pretender. The Earl of Lincoln leaves for Ireland to head the army that is forming against Henry,
The Crowning Of Apes
E4
The Crowning Of ApesLambert Simnel, a commoner posing as the Earl of Warwick, lays claim to the English throne as the surviving nephew of Richard III. The Irish have gone as far as printing coins with his likeness and German mercenaries along with the Irish launch an invasion fleet against Britain. Henry must raise an army to meet them.
The Serpent And The Comforter
E5
The Serpent And The ComforterKing Henry is intrigued by a preacher who is arrested for heresy and speaks with him to persuade him to give up his dissension against the practices of the Catholic Church. The preacher emphasizes to him the simplicity of the Gospel, and his suffering and convictions impress a young Tower guard.
The White Hart
E6
The White HartThe year is 1494 and King Henry is alarmed that the powerful and arrogant Sir William Stanley may be implicated in a plot against his crown .
A Fly In The Ointment
E7
A Fly In The OintmentAddle-brained Sir John Kendall and his dim-witted nephew devise a ludicrous plan to kill the King with a harmless ointment from phony astrologer.
The Princely Gift
E8
The Princely GiftVisionary Italian navigator John Cabot has a difficult time convincing Bristol businessmen and the King that his Western voyage to China is practical and profitable.
Do The Sheep Sin?
E9
Do The Sheep Sin?It is 1498 and enraged at the crippling taxation of Cornwall local blacksmith Michael Joseph leads a mighty pilgrimage to peacefully confront the King in London but a sinister figure behind the blacksmith places the King in a great crisis .
The Man Who Never Was
E10
The Man Who Never WasCommoner Perkin Warbeck, pretender to Henry's throne, finds he's losing support throughout Europe.
The Strange Shapes Of Reality
E11
The Strange Shapes Of RealityHenry ignores advice to have Perkin Warbeck, th bogus pretender to the throne, executed and maintains him in a comfortable apartment under house arrest. Warbeck continues to have delusions of grandeur and continues to talk about overthrowing Henry. He ultimately bribes his guards and escapes, but is rearrested and re-imprisoned in the Tower in less than comfortable circumstances.
The Fledgling
E12
The FledglingIn order to give his dynasty more credibility, Henry tries to arrange a marriage between his son and the Spanish princess, but their are preconditions.
The King Without A Face
E13
The King Without A FaceThe year is now 1501 and Henry is now finally secure on the throne with his promising son Arthur about to marry Catherine of Aragon, however in the shadows tragic events are lying in wait for the King.