Edward and Mrs Simpson
Encyclopedia
Edward & Mrs. Simpson is a seven-part British television series that dramatises the events leading to the 1936 abdication
of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
, who gave up his throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.
The series, made by Thames Television
for ITV
, was originally broadcast in 1978. Edward Fox
played Edward, and Cynthia Harris
portrayed Mrs. Simpson. The series was scripted by Simon Raven
, based on Frances Donaldson's biography of the King, Edward VIII. It was produced by Andrew Brown, overseen by Head of Drama Thames Television Verity Lambert
and directed by Waris Hussein
. The incidental music
was by Ron Grainer
.
The series won the 1980 Emmy award
for Outstanding Limited Series, and BAFTA Awards
in 1979 for Best Actor, Best Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Series or Serial. It has been released on DVD
in Region 2 (UK) by Network, and in Region 1 (United States) by A&E
.
and Lady Furness
, his introduction to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Simpson. DVD chapter titles: Must Have a Bit of Fun; African Misadventure; Rather Unpleasant News; Freda Darling; The House Rules; A Horror in Wales; The Royal Brush Off.
2) Venus at the Prow: The romance between Edward and Mrs. Simpson develops. DVD chapter titles: No Muttering in Corners; Wallis in Wonderland; Don't Be Reckless; Cancel Everything; A Long Convalescence; Both Much Concerned; Long Live the King.
3) The New King: Edward succeeds to the throne upon the death of his father, King George V
, in January, 1936, and asks Mrs. Simpson to marry him. Mr. Simpson agrees to a divorce. The King, Mrs. Simpson, and friends cruise the Mediterranean, an event widely reported by the press outside of England. DVD chapter titles: In His Father's Footsteps; That Calls for a Drink; Wallis Must Choose; Ernest Has Found Someone; Life is a Tease, Walter; Exceedingly Discreet; Father's List With Additions.
4) The Divorce: Edward convinces Mrs. Simpson to go forward with her divorce; she would then be free to marry him and be crowned Queen at the coronation scheduled for May, 1937. The King and the government pressure the British press to maintain silence about the King's romance, but news dribbles into Britain and gossip abounds. The New York Journal breaks the story "King will wed Wally". DVD chapter titles: Perfectly Straight Forward; Something Squalid About It All; Watching Like Hawks; There is Rumor; Everywhere Are Doubts; I Call on the Petitioner at Once; The King's Moll.
5) The Decision: Edward is warned that British press silence about his 'friendship' with Mrs. Simpson is about to be broken. The King tells the royal family and the Prime Minister that he intends to marry Wallis Simpson, and will abdicate if he cannot do so as King. DVD chapter titles: Too Much Time with Lawyers; In for a Miserable Time; Damage to the Crown; Opinion in the Empire; About to be Scandalized; Love Compared with Duty; He is Beyond Reason.
6) Proposals: Attempts are made to resolve the problem without Edward's abdicating, including a proposal put forth by the King for a morganatic marriage
with Wallis Simpson. The British and Commonwealth governments oppose the marriage in any form. DVD chapter titles: The King Edward Touch; My Two Favourite Americans; A Futile Cause; Hands Off Our King; Replies from the Dominions; Unconstitutional; Parliamentary Questions.
7) The Abdication: The final days of Edward as King. DVD chapter titles: Must Not Divide the Nation; Speak to Me Later; At Last I Understand; One Final Effort; 10 December 1936; The Wireless Address; The Duke of Windsor.
Edward VIII abdication crisis
In 1936, a constitutional crisis in the British Empire was caused by King-Emperor Edward VIII's proposal to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite....
of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
, who gave up his throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.
The series, made by Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, was originally broadcast in 1978. Edward Fox
Edward Fox (actor)
Edward Charles Morice Fox, OBE is an English stage, film and television actor.He is generally associated with portraying the role of the upper-class Englishman, such as the title character in the film The Day of the Jackal and King Edward VIII in the serial Edward & Mrs...
played Edward, and Cynthia Harris
Cynthia Harris
Cynthia Harris is an American film and television actress.She is known for her role as Helen Hunt's character Jamie Buchman's overbearing mother-in-law on Mad About You. She has also appeared in many television series and TV movies, such as L.A. Law, All My Children and in the classic drama, Edward...
portrayed Mrs. Simpson. The series was scripted by Simon Raven
Simon Raven
Simon Arthur Noël Raven was an English novelist, essayist, dramatist and raconteur who, in a writing career of forty years, caused controversy, amusement and offence...
, based on Frances Donaldson's biography of the King, Edward VIII. It was produced by Andrew Brown, overseen by Head of Drama Thames Television Verity Lambert
Verity Lambert
Verity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television...
and directed by Waris Hussein
Waris Hussein
Waris Hussein is a British-Indian television director and film director best known for his many productions for British television....
. The incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
was by Ron Grainer
Ron Grainer
Ronald Erle “Ron” Grainer was an Australian-born composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. He is mostly remembered for his film and television music.- Biography :...
.
The series won the 1980 Emmy award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Limited Series, and BAFTA Awards
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
in 1979 for Best Actor, Best Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Series or Serial. It has been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in Region 2 (UK) by Network, and in Region 1 (United States) by A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
.
Episodes
1) The Little Prince: Edward's life in the 1920s as Prince of Wales, his romances with Freda Dudley WardFreda Dudley Ward
Winifred May, Marquesa de Casa Maury , universally known by her first married name as Freda Dudley Ward, was an English socialite best known for being a mistress of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.-Life:Born Winifred May Birkin, she was the second child and eldest of three...
and Lady Furness
Thelma Furness, Viscountess Furness
Thelma, Viscountess Furness , born Thelma Morgan, was the woman who preceded Wallis Simpson in the affections of Edward VIII of the United Kingdom...
, his introduction to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Simpson. DVD chapter titles: Must Have a Bit of Fun; African Misadventure; Rather Unpleasant News; Freda Darling; The House Rules; A Horror in Wales; The Royal Brush Off.
2) Venus at the Prow: The romance between Edward and Mrs. Simpson develops. DVD chapter titles: No Muttering in Corners; Wallis in Wonderland; Don't Be Reckless; Cancel Everything; A Long Convalescence; Both Much Concerned; Long Live the King.
3) The New King: Edward succeeds to the throne upon the death of his father, King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, in January, 1936, and asks Mrs. Simpson to marry him. Mr. Simpson agrees to a divorce. The King, Mrs. Simpson, and friends cruise the Mediterranean, an event widely reported by the press outside of England. DVD chapter titles: In His Father's Footsteps; That Calls for a Drink; Wallis Must Choose; Ernest Has Found Someone; Life is a Tease, Walter; Exceedingly Discreet; Father's List With Additions.
4) The Divorce: Edward convinces Mrs. Simpson to go forward with her divorce; she would then be free to marry him and be crowned Queen at the coronation scheduled for May, 1937. The King and the government pressure the British press to maintain silence about the King's romance, but news dribbles into Britain and gossip abounds. The New York Journal breaks the story "King will wed Wally". DVD chapter titles: Perfectly Straight Forward; Something Squalid About It All; Watching Like Hawks; There is Rumor; Everywhere Are Doubts; I Call on the Petitioner at Once; The King's Moll.
5) The Decision: Edward is warned that British press silence about his 'friendship' with Mrs. Simpson is about to be broken. The King tells the royal family and the Prime Minister that he intends to marry Wallis Simpson, and will abdicate if he cannot do so as King. DVD chapter titles: Too Much Time with Lawyers; In for a Miserable Time; Damage to the Crown; Opinion in the Empire; About to be Scandalized; Love Compared with Duty; He is Beyond Reason.
6) Proposals: Attempts are made to resolve the problem without Edward's abdicating, including a proposal put forth by the King for a morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
with Wallis Simpson. The British and Commonwealth governments oppose the marriage in any form. DVD chapter titles: The King Edward Touch; My Two Favourite Americans; A Futile Cause; Hands Off Our King; Replies from the Dominions; Unconstitutional; Parliamentary Questions.
7) The Abdication: The final days of Edward as King. DVD chapter titles: Must Not Divide the Nation; Speak to Me Later; At Last I Understand; One Final Effort; 10 December 1936; The Wireless Address; The Duke of Windsor.
Cast
- Edward FoxEdward Fox (actor)Edward Charles Morice Fox, OBE is an English stage, film and television actor.He is generally associated with portraying the role of the upper-class Englishman, such as the title character in the film The Day of the Jackal and King Edward VIII in the serial Edward & Mrs...
as King Edward VIII - Cynthia HarrisCynthia HarrisCynthia Harris is an American film and television actress.She is known for her role as Helen Hunt's character Jamie Buchman's overbearing mother-in-law on Mad About You. She has also appeared in many television series and TV movies, such as L.A. Law, All My Children and in the classic drama, Edward...
as Wallis Simpson - David WallerDavid WallerDavid Waller was an English actor best known for his role as Inspector Jowett in the British television series Cribb...
as Stanley BaldwinStanley BaldwinStanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars... - Nigel HawthorneNigel HawthorneSir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the...
as Walter Monckton - Peggy AshcroftPeggy AshcroftDame Peggy Ashcroft, DBE was an English actress.-Early years:Born as Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft in Croydon, Ashcroft attended the Woodford School, Croydon and the Central School of Speech and Drama...
as Queen MaryMary of TeckMary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V.... - Marius GoringMarius GoringMarius Goring CBE was an English stage and cinema actor. He is most often remembered for the four films he did with Powell & Pressburger, particularly as Conductor 71 in A Matter of Life and Death and as Julian Craster in The Red Shoes...
as King George VGeorge V of the United KingdomGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936.... - Cherie LunghiCherie LunghiCherie M. Lunghi is an English film, television and theatre actress. She is probably best known for her role as Guinevere in the 1981 film Excalibur, as football manageress Gabriella Benson in the 1990s television series The Manageress and for starring in a series of adverts for Kenco coffee. She...
as Lady Thelma FurnessThelma Furness, Viscountess FurnessThelma, Viscountess Furness , born Thelma Morgan, was the woman who preceded Wallis Simpson in the affections of Edward VIII of the United Kingdom... - Kika MarkhamKika MarkhamKika Markham is an English actress.Markham was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire. She is a daughter of actor David Markham and writer Olive Dehn . She has led a long career in the cinema, television, and theatre as an actress...
as Freda Dudley WardFreda Dudley WardWinifred May, Marquesa de Casa Maury , universally known by her first married name as Freda Dudley Ward, was an English socialite best known for being a mistress of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.-Life:Born Winifred May Birkin, she was the second child and eldest of three... - Jessie MatthewsJessie MatthewsJessie Matthews, OBE was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period.-Early life:...
as Aunt Bessie Merryman - Charles KeatingCharles Keating (actor)Charles Keating is a British actor of stage, screen, and television, and narrator of audiobooks.Of Irish Catholic extraction, Keating was born on October 22, 1941 in London, England, the son of Charles James Keating and Margaret Shevlin...
as Ernest Simpson - Andrew RayAndrew RayAndrew Ray was an English actor who was best known as a child star.He was born Andrew Olden , in North London, the son of the famous radio comic Ted Ray and his wife, showgirl Dorothy...
as the Duke of YorkGeorge VI of the United KingdomGeorge VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death... - Amanda Reiss as the Duchess of YorkElizabeth Bowes-LyonElizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
- John ShrapnelJohn ShrapnelJohn Shrapnel is an English actor.Shrapnel was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, the son of Mary Lillian Myfanwy and journalist/author Norman Shrapnel....
as Alexander HardingeAlexander Hardinge, 2nd Baron Hardinge of PenshurstAlexander Henry Louis Hardinge, 2nd Baron Hardinge of Penshurst GCB GCVO MC PC was Private Secretary to the Sovereign during the Abdication Crisis of Edward VIII and during most of the Second World War.... - Maurice DenhamMaurice DenhamMaurice Denham OBE was an English character actor who appeared in over 100 television programmes and films throughout his long career.-Life and career:...
as Cosmo LangCosmo LangWilliam Cosmo Gordon Lang, 1st Baron Lang of Lambeth GCVO PC was an Anglican prelate who served as Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury . His rapid elevation to Archbishop of York, within 18 years of his ordination, is unprecedented in modern Church of England history...
, Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group... - Ed DevereauxEd DevereauxEd Devereaux was an Australian actor, who lived in the UK for many years. He was best known for playing the part of "Matt Hammond" in the Australian children's television series Skippy. He was also involved in the series behind the scenes: Devereaux directed The Veteran , for which he received...
as Lord Beaverbrook - Patrick TroughtonPatrick TroughtonPatrick George Troughton was an English actor most widely known for his roles in fantasy, science fiction and horror films, particularly in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 to 1969,...
as Clement AttleeClement AttleeClement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955... - Trevor BowenTrevor BowenTrevor Bowen , is an English actor and screenwriter who has appeared frequently in United Kingdom television dramas since the mid 1960s.-Early life:...
as Duff CooperDuff CooperAlfred Duff Cooper, 1st Viscount Norwich GCMG, DSO, PC , known as Duff Cooper, was a British Conservative Party politician, diplomat and author. He wrote six books, including an autobiography, Old Men Forget, and a biography of Talleyrand... - Patricia HodgePatricia HodgePatricia Ann Hodge is an English actor.-Early life:The daughter of the Royal Hotel owner/manager Eric and his wife Marion , Hodge attended Wintringham Girls' Grammar School on Weelsby Avenue in Grimsby and then St...
as Lady Diana CooperLady Diana CooperLady Diana Cooper, Viscountess Norwich was an English socialite and actress.-Birth and youth:Born Lady Diana Olivia Winifred Maud Manners, she was officially the youngest daughter of the 8th Duke of Rutland and his wife, the former Violet Lindsay, but Lady Diana's real father was widely supposed... - Elsie Randolf as Lady Sybil ColefaxSybil ColefaxSibyl Colefax, Lady Colefax was a notable English interior decorator and socialite in the first half of the twentieth century....
- Bessie LoveBessie LoveBessie Love was an American motion picture actress who achieved prominence mainly in the silent films and early talkies. With a small frame and delicate features, she played innocent young girls, flappers, and wholesome leading ladies. Her role in The Broadway Melody earned her a nomination for...
as Emerald CunardNancy CunardNancy Clara Cunard was a writer, heiress and political activist. She was born into the British upper class but strongly rejected her family's values, devoting much of her life to fighting racism and fascism... - Tony Church as Sir Samuel Hoare
- Wensley PitheyWensley PitheyWensley Pithey was a South African character actor who had a long stage career.Pithey was born in Cape Town, South Africa. A graduate of the University of Cape Town where he studied music and drama, he travelled to England in 1947...
as Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...