‘Doctor Who’ star to play long reigning monarch!

Following the news of her Doctor Who departure, Jenna Coleman is to star as the young Queen Victoria in a major new ITV drama, Victoria.

Created and written by acclaimed novelist Daisy Goodwin, the 8-part drama follows the early life of Queen Victoria, from her ascension to the throne at the tender age of 18, through to her courtship and marriage to Price Albert. Victoria went on to rule for 63 years, and was our longest-serving monarch until she was overtaken by Elizabeth II on 9th September this year.

Jenna Coleman said: “I am delighted to be cast as Queen Victoria in this ambitious drama of her life. She is a vivid, strong, inspirational and utterly fascinating woman in British history and I can’t wait to tell her story.”

Made by Mammoth Screen (Poldark, Endeavour), Victoria will open with a 90-minute episode, followed by 7 one-hour episodes. Tom Vaughan (Doctor Foster, Starter For Ten) will direct, with Paul Frift (Doctor Who, Room at the Top) producing.

Victoria starts filming in locations around the North of England this October.