Watch Wednesday: The White Queen review

BBC1's new drama The White Queen kicked off on Sunday, the first part of a ten-part blockbuster based on Philippa Gregory's book of the same name. Is it a historical drama? Is it a TV adaptation of a novel? Is it a romance? The truth is as ever is that it includes elements of all of these genres. 

As a historical drama I'm afraid it disappoints avid historians. The story is that of peasant and relative commoner Elizabeth Woodville and her rise to be 'The White Queen' of England alongside her husband King Edward IV. England is in a tumultous time as the Wars of the Roses (the Yorks and the Lancastrians) kicks off, and yet The White Queen is seemingly oblivious to the poverty and grit of 15th Century life.

As a romance the story is much more fitting. Some have described it as a romp buster and a bonk buster, but there is something beautiful about the cinematography of the piece, and the cast isn't half handsome! Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson (Wallander, Vi) is Elizabeth Woodville to Max Irons (Red Riding Hood, The Host, Jeremy Irons son, and Edward Cullen lookalike) Edward IV, and the two have chemistry from the off.

Much has also been said about the filming taking place entirely in Belgium, but I don't think this detracts much from the landscape. Finally, I cannot comment much on its value as a novel adaptation as I started but didn't finish the paperback. I do however want to finish it now, which I think makes it somewhat of a success. As I said, there's also nine more hours to go.

What do you think?

Carpe Diem xx

Genealogy: My Family in 1911

In a short diversion from both beauty and food, I wanted to write a blog about my genealogy work. Here's some of my family history, told through the stories of three of my ancestors living in different classes in 1911.

Upper Class:

My paternal great-grandmother Agnes Grace 'Jan' Cancellor (10) living in Kensington with her brother, aunt, and uncle, my paternal great-great uncle Henry 'Harry' Lannoy Cancellor (49). Her mother had died and her father had was exiled abroad for fraud, and she spent most of her childhood living with different 'aunts'. 'Uncle Harry' was a wealthy barrister and kept three servants. His wife, Lily 'Aunt Lil', ran a bookshop and was involved in the suffragette movement.

'Jan' Bateson (nee Cancellor), in her 80s

Middle Class:

My maternal great-grandfather Albert Miller (10), living with his parents Richard (67) and Sarah (49), sister Ruth (9) and housekeeper Ellen Message (41). His parents ran a laundry in Hailsham, Sussex.

Albert Miller, 1989 (aged 88)

Working Class:

My maternal great-grandmother Clara Wright (14), living with her parents William (37) and Clara (37), brothers Frank (9) and Frederick (3), and sister Ida (7). The family were poor and lived in the East End of London; the census shows that Clara gave birth to 2 children who later died.  Her father was a bricklayer and possibly Jewish. I believe that my grandfather Peter Wright was born illegitimately in Wandsworth in 1922, where he then was adopted and lived with a large family in Sussex.

All Rights Reserved to Ancestry.co.uk

Carpe diem xx