Will revolution in Europe threaten Victoria’s reign?
It is 1848, and revolution is breaking out across Europe. In Britain, one woman stands between order and chaos: Queen Victoria.
Jenna Coleman (DOCTOR WHO) stars as the young but fearless monarch, facing a crisis that threatens to end her reign, on VICTORIA Season 3, premiering January 2019 on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
The series was a runaway hit during its first two seasons, with The New York Times calling it “tremendously engaging...immediately gratifying.” The Boston Globe pronounced it, “captivating,” and Paste Magazine proclaimed, “Victoria is a royal masterpiece.”
Continuing the story of Victoria’s rule over the largest empire the world has ever known, Season 3 introduces fascinating new historical characters, including Laurence Fox (INSPECTOR LEWIS) as the vainglorious Lord Palmerston, who crosses swords with the queen over British foreign policy.
Also vexing the queen this season is Kate Fleetwood (HARLOTS) as Victoria’s devoted but troubled half-sister, Princess Feodora, who seeks refuge at Buckingham Palace due to political unrest back home in Germany.
Other new characters include John Sessions (OUTLANDER) as reformist Prime Minister John Russell, and Lily Travers ("Kingsman") as the beguiling Duchess of Monmouth.
Returning are Tom Hughes (DANCING ON THE EDGE) as Victoria’s devoted, obsessive husband, Prince Albert; Nell Hudson (OUTLANDER) as the queen’s chief dresser, Nancy Skerrett; Ferdinand Kingsley (BORGIA) as Charles Francatelli, the royal chef and cookbook king; plus a host of others.
As Season 3 gets underway, Victoria is pregnant with her sixth child. But she has much else on her mind, chiefly the Revolutions of 1848, when the downtrodden throughout Europe begin agitating for the overthrow of aristocratic rule.
In England, this discontent leads to Chartism, a set of demands for universal male suffrage, the secret ballot, equal representation for voters and other reforms that were considered radical by leading political figures during Victoria’s reign.
As with many crusades, passions are aroused on both sides — sometimes violently. At the time, who knew if events might turn out like the French Revolution, which resorted to widespread use of the guillotine?
Passion is also an issue in the bedroom at Buckingham Palace, where Victoria is reluctant to risk more pregnancies. Parents now of six, Victoria and Albert find themselves at odds about their offspring, especially the troubled Bertie, the role of the monarchy, and increasingly with each other.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1 airs Sundays, Jan. 13 at 9 p.m. & Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Watch as revolution sweeps across Europe and pressure builds on Victoria with new arrivals at the Palace.
Episode 2 airs Sundays, Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. & Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Victoria must decide whether to fight the Chartists with force or allow them to present their petition.
Episode 3 airs Sundays, Jan. 27 at 9 p.m. & Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS 2 - At Osborne House, Albert relishes the opportunity to spend time with the family away from London, but Victoria is desperate to get back to the Palace and the business of politics.
Fact or Fiction: Which OMG moment in Episode 3 actually happened? Find out what's fact and what's fiction when Victoria series writer, creator, and executive producer Daisy Goodwin reveals all!
Episode 4 airs Sundays, Feb. 3 at 9 p.m. & Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - When Albert leaves the Palace for Cambridge, Victoria faces the traumatic impact of a cholera epidemic on the streets of London.
Episode 5 airs Sundays, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. & Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS 2 - After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visit Ireland. Intrigue, conflict and romance all blossom during a stay at the Palmerston estate.
Episode 6 airs Sundays, Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. & Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - A Georgian ball at the Palace could not come at a worse time as private pictures of the Royal family are made public.
Episode 7 airs Sundays, Feb. 24 at 9 p.m. & March 3 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Albert and Palmerston put their reputations on the line, and Victoria must fight against her better judgment to decide where to place her allegiance.
Episode 8 airs Sundays, March 3 at 9 p.m. & March 10 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, March 5 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - The world’s eyes are on the Great Exhibition, and the Royal couple. Does triumph or failure beckon?
WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:
Each episode will be available to stream on demand for a limited time after broadcast. Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members ($60 yearly) using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn more and activate your benefit now.
All episodes from Season 1 and 2 are available to stream on demand with KPBS Passport.
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CREDITS:
A co-production of Mammoth Screen and MASTERPIECE, VICTORIA is created, written, and executive produced by Daisy Goodwin. The third season was commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill, and production is being overseen by Senior Drama Commissioner Victoria Fea for ITV. Executive Producers: Damien Timmer, Kate McKerrell and Daisy Goodwin for Mammoth Screen, and Rebecca Eaton for MASTERPIECE. The series is being produced by David Boulter (DICKENSIAN), and Geoff Sax (TIPPING THE VELVET) is directing the first block. Distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
