The Lost Prince

As the twentieth century dawns, the landscape of Europe is about to change forever. Against this backdrop of unprecedented upheaval, The Lost Prince tells the little-known story of one extraordinary boy at the center of the world's most powerful dynasty.

The youngest child of George V and Queen Mary, Prince John is loved for his frankess by the ailing King Edward VII. But he suffers from epilepsy and mysterious learning disabilities prevent him from participating in public life. As the world edges towards World War I, his mother and his newly crowned father are increasingly distant, embroiled in world affairs, while the medical profession declares Johnnie an imbecile and an embarassment to the family.

Born into a world of imperial splendor, Prince John lives his short life isolated from the world--a silent witness to one of the most explosive eras of human history.

The little-known story of Prince John, the youngest child of George V and Queen Mary, whose short life spanned one of the most momentous periods in history - the political build-up to the First World War and the machinations of European royalty in the early part of the 20th Century. This drama tells the very human story of a unique family and an extraordinary boy. Diagnosed as an epileptic, and suffering from autistic-like learning difficulties, Prince John was unable to participate in public life and became increasingly isolated from his family. This visually stunning and richly stimulating landmark drama recounts his life, from the struggles of growing up in the most unconventional circumstances, to the strength he drew from the unfailing support of his devoted Nanny.

Queen Mary	---	Miranda Richardson
Lalla	---	Gina McKee
Edward VII	---	Michael Gambon
Stamfordham	---	Bill Nighy
George V	---	Tom Hollander
Queen Alexandra	---	Bibi Andersson
Asquith	---	Frank Finlay
Mr Hansell	---	John Sessions
Fred	---	David Westhead
Lloyd George	---	Ron Cook
Tsarina Alexandra	---	Ingeborga Dapkunaite
Young Johnnie	---	Daniel Williams
Johnnie	---	Matthew Thomas
Young Georgie	---	Brock Everitt-Elwick
Georgie	---	Rollo Weeks
Kaiser Wilhelm	---	David Barrass
Tsar Nicholas	---	Ivan Marevich
Callender	---	Graham Crowden
Dr Hetherington	---	Jonathan Coy
Dr Longhurst	---	John Rowe
Fine Looking Woman	---	Fritha Goodey
Knutsford	---	Nicholas Palliser
Olga	---	Vanessa Ackerman
Maria	---	Nastya Razduhova
Anastasia	---	Algina Lipskyte
Tatiana	---	Holly Boyd
Suffragette	---	Henrietta Voigts
Young Mary	---	Mary Nighy
May	---	Kate Manning
David	---	Dominic Colenso
Lady In Waiting	---	Maggie McCourt
Fat Mary	---	Roz McCutcheon
Russell	---	Joe Sowerbutts
Doctor	---	Robert Swann
Violinist	---	Martin Wimbush
Orderly	---	Paul Brennen
Admiral	---	Andrew Hilton
General	---	Neil Stacy
Lady Warrinder	---	Suzanne Burden

Written by Stephen Poliakoff
Directoed by Stephen Poliakoff
Produced by John Chapman
Music by Adrian Johnston
Executive Produced by Peter Fincham, Joanna Beresford , David M Thompson, Rebecca Eaton

EMMY Awards®
2005 - Primetime Award: Outstanding Miniseries
2005 - Creative Arts Award: Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
2005 - Creative Arts Award: Outstanding Art Direction for A Miniseries or Movie
BAFTA® Awards
2004 - Best Production Design

“It was all beautifully done ... the traumatic events leading up to the First World War through a child’s eyes rendered it magical and dreamlike.True to a child’s view, it did not concentrate on details that are important to adults, but on vivid wordless glimpses often through half-opened doors. It was a blissful succession of opulently composed images ... a masterpiece.”- Daily Telegraph

“Outstanding ... Not since LP Hartley’s achingly sad novel The Go-Between have I encountered a more moving elegy for the Edwardian age than Stephen Poliakoff ’s The Lost Prince ... I wanted it to go on and on.” -Daily Mail

“Outstanding drama of the week ... a visually breathtaking piece of work (with stunning lighting) and a desperately sad story ... Faultless television.” -Mail on Sunday

“Great dramas never make comfortable viewing. The Lost Prince is indeed great, though many will find it difficult and unsettling to watch. I did at some points but it was also very involving ... It has become almost commonplace to praise the quality of BBC period drama but The Lost Prince captures splendidly the minutiae of the late Edwardian period.” -Sunday Express

“I’m completely seduced ... The Lost Prince was many successful things, but most obviously it was awesomely lovely to look at. Indeed, some shots were so gorgeous I had consciously to slow down my breathing to avoid being overcome by a fit of the vapours like those tourists who used to pass out in front of the Caravaggios in the Uffizi, hyperventilating in the presence of beauty ... Absolute majesty.” Observer

“A rare treat – haunting, memorable, delicate, satisfying.” Independent on Sunday “...this is one of the winter season’s landmark TV dramas.” –Sunday Express

“...more than fulfilling its potential as a prestige, upmarket project in BBC1's drama portfolio.” –Guardian

“...superb ... thoroughly absorbing television.” -Daily Mail

“Poliakoff ... in recent years has been a dependable kitemark of intelligently suggestive drama.” Independent “The BBC really did have something to boast about.”- Daily Telegraph

“...breathtaking... The Lost Prince had "event television" written all over it: a quality cast (Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson), a huge budget and a scandalous royal storyline ... it was here, in the child's fractured view of a fragmenting world, that Poliakoff really hit on something. It should also be mentioned that he elicited two of the bestever juvenile performances from his two Johnnies, Daniel Williams and Matthew Thomas.”- Guardian

“...magnificent...”- Daily Mail

“It’s far too early to be predicting the best dramas of 2003, but Stephen Poliakoff ’s two-part profile of the Queen’s uncle, Prince John, will surely be a contender ... it not only looks stunning ... the acting is just as mesmerising ... Seeing events from the prince’s perspective makes this a deeply moving, often very funny take on royal life ... above all, though, it’s an enthralling look at England as the First World War threatens the European order, seen through a half-open door.” -Sunday Telegraph

“The first world war raged, the new House of Windsor was all aquiver and Gina McKee and Miranda Richardson battled it out in the bid for a BAFTA nomination: The Lost Prince grew into a proper TV epic...” –Guardian

“Haunting ... the portrayal of his unhappy life is chilling in its accuracy.”- Daily Mail

“Even by the standards of BBC costume drama, [it] looks magnificent. Like the wide-eyed Johnnie, we gawp at the extravagance of the Edwardians, where red carpets are unfurled on the beach and an enormous birthday cake has a goldfish bowl (complete with fish) between each tier.” -Sunday Times

“Everything looked wonderful, the acting was of a uniformly high standard and there were very clever touches dotted throughout.” -Sunday Telegraph

“...stunning photography...” -Guardian Guide

“...sumptuous ... exquisitely shot.” -Sunday Times

“...sumptuous ... mesmerising...” -Sunday Telegraph

“...lovingly shot, superbly acted...” -People