Game Of Thrones actress Dame Diana Rigg latest star to sign up for ITV’s smash-hit period drama Victoria
VICTORIA was the hit period drama of last year, beating Poldark in the ratings war.
And producers have added to their impressive line-up for its second series by casting DAME DIANA RIGG.
The former Avengers and Game Of Thrones star will play the Duchess of Buccleuch, the young queen’s new Mistress of the Robes.
Like her Westerosi character Olenna Tyrell, this new role will be quite outspoken and help guide the monarch as she enters motherhood.
Both JENNA COLEMAN and TOM HUGHES are returning to play the young queen and Prince Albert.
But speculation has mounted over whether heart-throb RUFUS SEWELL would reprise his role as prime minister Lord Melbourne after being left off the official list of returning cast.
Neither ITV nor makers Mammoth Screen would confirm last night whether he would make an appearance after filming this month.
A source said: “Diana Rigg is a fantastic signing and will be brilliant in her role dishing out home truths to the young Victoria as starts married life.
“She gained a whole new generation of fans from Game Of Thrones who didn’t know her from when she was a star in the Sixties so is bound to be a hit. Losing Rufus though would be a big loss.
“But it’s understandable if his character didn’t have as much contact with Queen Victoria and it isn’t historically accurate.
“Their relationship and his performances helped them win over the drama fans and kept them from channel hopping back to Poldark.”
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It comes after I revealed earlier this month how Mammoth, who also make Poldark, had asked the BBC and ITV if they could halt further hostilities by not making the two shows clash this year.
Bosses want the dramas to run at different times this autumn to let fans watch both on the same night.
Victoria won the Sunday night clash in 2016, despite AIDAN TURNER flaunting his torso just as he did in the first episode.
I wonder which star the Cornish drama will line up for series three.
A knight in with Taboo 2
TOM HARDY drama Taboo was criticised for its graphic sex scenes and mumbling actors.
But it clearly hasn’t put STEVEN KNIGHT off writing a second series.
I can reveal the screenwriter is already working on a follow-up to the brilliant first season of the BBC show, which stars
Tom as social outsider James Delaney who returns to 19th century London to claim his legacy.
The aim is to get the series back on the Saturday night bill next year.
A source revealed: “Steven has made no secret of his plan to write a second series and is currently in final-stage talks with the BBC about launching a sequel.
“He’s keeping his cards very close to his chest but it looks set to follow Tom’s character as he travels to America.
“There could be new romance for him in a sequel after OONA CHAPLIN’s character Zilpha was killed off in the first series.
“Steven has never steered clear of controversial content so the next run of episodes is sure to be just as powerful and dramatic as the first.”
Steven recently revealed that viewers could be in for a long ride as he is looking towards a third series as well.
He said: “We think it has got a two and a three certainly, that’s the plan.
“After that, who knows? The first series is eight parts – it’s a lot of time.”
Expect more grunting from Tom then.
SOAPBOX
HOLD on to your frying pans as the Queen Vic’s Pancake Day race proves perilous in tonight’s EASTENDERS.
Following Polish Night, Italian Night and Burns Night, Shrove Tuesday gets the pub’s event treatment with a fun run up Bridge Street.
Despite his health worries, Ian Beale’s competitive streak takes over and he is eager to join in the fun.
But the race takes a terrifying turn as the Walford stalwart collapses as he approaches the finish line.
Meanwhile, Rakesh is the victim of a mystery attack in EMMERDALE. He is brutally hit over the head and abducted by an unknown assailant with an axe to grind.
I’m sure the list of suspects is as long as Rakesh’s tally of debts.
Caprice calls time on The Jump due to 'mystery illness'
BROKEN bones and strained ligaments are the usual injuries that force celebs on The Jump to quit. But CAPRICE has had to leave the Channel 4 show after suffering from a mystery illness.
An insider said: “She hasn’t been well for a couple of days. She was obviously upset as she was having a great time and had made a load of friends.”
It comes after Olympian BRADLEY WIGGINS told how he tried to “ride off” a broken leg he sustained while practising the snowcross before also pulling out.
VOGUE WILLIAMS had to be replaced by fellow model AMY WILLERTON after rupturing her knee before an episode had even been aired.
Made in Chelsea star SPENCER MATTHEWS also dislocated his shoulder during a heavy fall but was allowed to stay in the competition. I hope Caprice gets better soon.