The rip-roaring new historical fantasy goes full ‘Bridgerton’

With ‘Bridgerton’s success, many more revisionist dramas are arriving in the streaming space. Shows like ‘Mary & George’ and now ‘My Lady Jane’ subvert British history while retaining the costumes and grandeur of the time. The latter is a Prime Video historical fantasy that has Bridgerton production designer Will Hughes-Jones handling all the Tudor-era worldbuilding.

Backdropped by Britain’s historical castles, manors and stately homes, the series revolves around Lady Jane Grey, the ill-fated ‘Nine Days’ Queen’ who was executed by Mary I – aka ‘Bloody Mary’ – in 1554. But what if the titular heroine had lived a little longer? And what if there was also a war between humans and Ethians, humans who can transform into animals? That’s the premise behind My Lady Jane alternate history of Tudor England.

Despite its magical elements, ‘My Lady Jane’ sticks to the period setting and incorporates many real-world medieval locations ranging from Dover Castle to the gardens of Hampton Court Palace.

Where did they film My Lady Jane?

Period drama isn’t a new genre for ‘Bridgerton’ production designer Will Hughes-Jones who also worked on 2011’s ‘Jane Eyre’, the Jodie Comer-starring ‘The White Princess’ (2017) and ‘The Spanish Princess’ (2019). He and locations manager Bill Darby scouted dozens of historical properties to use in the show’s exterior shots. Most of the interiors were designed and filmed in studios.

‘We blur the lines so much that people don’t notice when they’re going from location onto set,’ says Hughes-Jones. ‘After two years of doing “Bridgerton”, where we threw the rule book away, it was quite easy to do.’

Wiltshire’s Great Chalfield Manor doubles as Lady Jane’s house as the protagonist’s original home (Bradgate House in Leicestershire) exists only as ruins today. The manor house is grand without being grandiose, summing up Lady Jane’s status as a disgraced royal. Other Tudor-set dramas filmed at Great Chatfield Manor include ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and the BBC miniseries ‘Wolf Hall’.

Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex stands in for King Edward’s royal residence, Hampton Court Palace. The 15th-century castle is one of the oldest brick buildings still standing in Britain. It’s currently used as the UK campus of Queen’s University (Canada).
Jonathan PrimeHerstmonceux Castle in East Sussex doubles as Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace and its gardens do pop up as the backdrop for many of ‘My Lady Jane’s outdoor scenes. Aerial shots of the cast walking through the palace grounds capture the gardens’ vibrant flowerbeds, although some realistic-looking silk flowers was scattered to fill out the frame.

Broughton Castle stands in for the house of Lord Guildford Dudley, the nobleman to whom Jane is forcibly married. Uniquely for the show, the castle’s interiors were used for filming, with the modern amenities, like central heating, covered up. Hughes-Jones used specially woven tapestries instead of the present-day ones that have faded into ‘muted and soft’ shades.

Other filming locations include Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire, Dover Castle in Kent, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Dorney Court in Windsor, Langley Park in Wexham, and London’s The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great.
Photograph: Jonathan PrimeTudor England was partly recreated on Pinewood soundstages in ‘My Lady Jane’

Who’s in the cast?

The titular heroine of ‘My Lady Jane’ is played by American actress Emily Bader (‘Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin’), while ‘Sex Education’s Edward Bluemel portrays her real-life husband Lord Guildford Dudley. Jordan Peters (‘Pirates’) plays King Edward VI and ‘Preacher’ star Dominic Cooper is influential nobleman Lord Seymour. Other cast members include Anna Chancellor (‘The Hour’, ‘The Crown’), Rob Brydon (‘The Trip’), Will Keen and Kate O’ Flynn.
Photograph: Jonathan PrimeKate O’Flynn as Princess Mary on location at Hampton Court

What have reviews been saying so far?

The reviews have largely been positive, with critics praising its subversive take on Tudor history along with the dark comedy and fantasy elements. Some also drew comparisons with other acclaimed revisionist dramas like ‘The Great’, ‘Dickinson’ and ‘Bridgerton’.

Variety describes ‘My Lady Jane’ as ‘a rip-roaring and hilarious adventure full of magic, romance and bold female characters’. Guardian finds it ‘a decidedly odd concept’ but one that ‘works by throwing its whole heart into the endeavour’.
Photograph: Jonathan PrimeJordan Peters as King Edward

Is there going to be a season 2 of My Lady Jane?

‘My Lady Jane’ was released as an eight-part miniseries on Prime Video. And the finale doesn’t end on any cliffhangers, so our best guess is that it’s one and done for her ladyship.