A+E Networks UK & Sky Order Royal Docu-Drama

A+E Networks UK and Sky have commissioned The Royal Mob from Nutopia for the Sky HISTORY channel.

The docu-drama tells the story of the extended royal family—dubbed “The Royal Mob” by Queen Victoria—and how their loves, marriages and feuds dragged the European continent into the world’s first total war and violent revolution.

The docu-drama is told through the eyes of Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughters—the four Hesse sisters, each of whom married into Europe’s royal courts. Michele Dotrice (Vanity Fair, The Importance of Being Earnest) will play the role of Queen Victoria.

The series combines premium scripted drama from writers Jamie Brittain (Skins, Breeders) and Abigail Wilson (Ten Percent, Trollied, The Tail of The Curious Mouse, Larkins) with expert historians Emma Dabiri (Hair Power, Me and My Afro), Simon Sebag Montefiore (author: The Romanovs: 1613-1918, Young Stalin), Priya Atwal (author: Royals and Rebels, Empires of the Sikhs) and Miranda Carter (author: Three Emperors).

Executive producers are Ben Goold, Jane Root and showrunner Tom Stubberfield. The series is currently in production and is set to broadcast on Sky HISTORY in November.

“As a lifelong history buff, I was absolutely delighted to be asked to work on The Royal Mob,” said writer Brittain. “Rather than feeling constrained by the historical basis of the drama, I found it to be a genuine creative boon, and the team’s ability to squirrel out weird, wonderful and previously overlooked details meant helping to bring these vivid characters to life was an absolute pleasure.”

Dan Korn, VP of programming at A+E Networks UK, said, “We’re excited to be working with Nutopia to reveal a momentous event in history from the unique perspective of the women who were enmeshed in the mayhem and bloodshed unleashed by the toxic masculinity at the heart of Britain’s extended royal family.”

Goold added, “We are thrilled to join forces with Sky HISTORY and Sky to tell this epic tale of love, war and revolution. It’s an extraordinary family saga which gives a unique perspective on the violent birth of our modern world.”