BBC confirms “unique” Tudor period drama “like no other” against backdrop of Anne Boleyn’s arrest

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The BBC is creating a new historical drama called 1536, adapted from the play by Ava Pickett. The series is set during the time of Anne Boleyn’s arrest and tells the story of three women from a small village in Essex, showing how this major event impacted the lives of women throughout England.

The BBC calls 1536 a funny yet frightening story that feels very current, exploring themes of friendship, sisterhood, and a world in transition. The story focuses on Anna, Mariella, and Jane, who are all longing for their lives to begin.

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

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Over the following weeks, Anna, Jane, and Mariella begin to see a growing trend of strict moral beliefs and prejudice against women. They grapple with the challenges of marriage, love affairs, disloyalty, and motherhood, all while a queen’s imprisonment and likely demise looms over them. They realize how perilous it is to be a woman in a country filled with unrest. As their own lives take shape, the three friends fight to maintain their bond, but they may be forced to choose between loyalty and survival.

Writer Ava Pickett expressed her excitement about her new work, 1536, in a BBC statement. She feels honored to share the stories of Anna, Jane, and Mariella with a broader audience and expand on their lives. Pickett believes the story is particularly timely, highlighting how decisions made by those in power impact everyone. She also thanked Lindsay Salt for her early support of the project.

According to Lucy Salt, Head of BBC Drama, the team was immediately captivated by Ava’s play and eager to adapt it for television. She describes the work as powerful, humorous, thought-provoking, relevant, and brave – truly unique. Salt expressed excitement about collaborating with Ava and Drama Republic to bring the stories of three compelling female characters to life on screen.

Drama Republic, the company behind popular shows like The Confessions of Frannie Langton on ITV, the Netflix series One Day, and Sally Wainwright’s Riot Women, is known for producing high-quality dramas.

Rebecca de Souza, from Drama Republic, praised Ava Pickett’s writing as exceptionally original, exciting, and humorous. She noted that audiences loved Pickett’s play, 1536, calling it both daring and enjoyable, but also deeply unsettling. De Souza highlighted the play’s powerful message for today’s world, describing it as a fresh and relevant take on historical drama.

No cast announcements have been confirmed for the BBC’s 1536 yet.

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2026-02-24 19:19