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In 1546, the court of Henry VIII is on the edge of anarchy as Catholic and Protestant factions vie for power.

While heretics are burned at the stake, the Queen, Catherine Parr, rashly decides to write a confessional book about her religious beliefs. When the manuscript is stolen its contents could endanger her life. In desperation, she has enlisted the help of her old friend, the lawyer Matthew Shardlake - even though he is already involved in a nasty inheritance case between sibling rivals.

After a brutal struggle, a wounded Barak has been dumped on a rubbish heap by his attackers - while Shardlake is to be escorted from the Tower to Whitehall for an audience with Henry VIII.

Based on the best-selling novel by CJ Sansom.

Dramatised in ten parts by Colin MacDonald

Shardlake …. Justin Salinger
Barak …. Bryan Dick
Queen Catherine …. Jessica Hardwick
Henry VIII …. Michael Mackenzie
William Paget …. Gavin Mitchell
Charles Stice …. Matthew Barker

Produced and directed by Bruce Young

A ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2021.