Queen Cate narrates royal doco

By David Knox on December 16, 2007 / Filed Under News 5

Cate Blanchett will narrate a six part series, A Year with the Royal Family for Nine next year.

The Aussie actress, who has twice portrayed Elizabeth I, is now the co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, allowing more time in her schedule to be based in Oz.

Nine has previously announced the series Monarchy, first for 2007 and again recently at its 2008 launch retitled as Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work. It would appear same series has been retitled again for the Aussie market.

Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work has just aired in the UK where it was narrated by actor Tim Piggott-Smith. It is the same series which resulted in Queen Elizabeth supposedly storming out of a photo-shoot. After it was revealed this had been edited, ‘heads rolled’ at the BBC.

Reviews in the UK have been mixed for the series:

TVScoop said, “There were some interesting insights into the daily life of ‘The Firm’, but, at an hour and a half, it also felt like the producers simply thought “we’re never going to get this sort of access again; better use everything we’ve got.”

The Independent said, “It was depressing that the first instalment of Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (BBC1) had so many minutes of tedium.”

But The Telegraph says, “the real appeal of programmes like this lies in the little behind-the-scenes details – and Monarchy certainly serves up plenty of those.”

Additional source: PerthNow.

5 Comments »

  1. Anonymous December 31, 2007 at 6:36 pm -

    So which exact date will it be shown?i really love to record it and i’m about to going on a holiday for a month and do not want to miss it!

  2. Anonymous December 17, 2007 at 12:02 am -

    Nah I wouldnt, this aint America, some people are happy and content with their jobs and have no desire to be on TV.
    So hows your BB audition going?

  3. jbondm007 December 16, 2007 at 10:22 pm -

    I guess u cant stand her enough to even spell her name wrong!!!

    I presonally think Cate is awesome and any Aussie that can make it big on the world stage is deserving in my book.

    Why would she think she was “royalty”……if u were offered a job in tv wouldnt u take it…….not matter what it was…..

  4. Anonymous December 16, 2007 at 9:26 pm -

    I cant stand Kate, i guessing she thinks she is actual royalty of some sort.

  5. Johnson December 16, 2007 at 9:16 pm -

    A BBC program such as The Royal Family at Work will be more suited to the ABC. I can’t see it rate on Nine.

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