Daisybeck Studios is proud to announce a brand new commission, our first feature documentary to premiere in primetime on ITV. THE QUEEN & HER COUSINS WITH ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG will be broadcast on Monday 10th May at 9pm.
Alexander Armstrong (of Pointless and Classic FM fame of course), a lifelong royalist who counts the day he met The Queen as one of the happiest of his life, meets Lord Ivar Mountbatten and Victoria Pryor and finds out about their lives. With him as his companion and guide to royal life is Princess Olga Romanov, great-niece of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and third-cousin to The Queen. Alexander soon finds that there is nothing typical about this princess!
He also meets with Ancestry UK researcher Laura House and together they reveal to a member of the public the extent of their royal family tree.
This project was a real labour of love for our small (but perfectly formed) Leeds-based development team led by Development Producer, Claire Scollie. It was commissioned by ITV Head of Factual, Jo Clinton-Davis. Carefully navigating sensitive casting (at the height of Lockdown, no less) and working closely with Production Executive Sophie Macfarlane to ensure ever-changing COVID-19 protocols were met, was at the forefront of our thinking at all times. Never before had Daisybeck Studio’s sense of close teamwork and camaraderie been more important. We’d like to congratulate Claire on securing this commission and Ruth and Rupert for crafting such a brilliant documentary. We’d also like to thank Production Manager John Marques and his team, under Sophie’s guidance, for keeping everyone safe and ensuring the production could continue during Covid.
Once we had been officially ‘greenlit’, the editorial team was headed by Series Producer & Director Ruth Binsley. Under Ruth’s calm and cheerful leadership, the crew filmed in some truly stunning locations (Norfolk, Devon, Oxford and Kent), meeting members of the extended royal family with moving stories of growing up with and around The Queen.
Princess Olga Romanov will be appearing live on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday 10th May to promote the show. Later that day, Alexander Armstrong will be on The One Show BBC One to talk about his experiences making the show.
Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that our original TX date of 15th April had been delayed. This was due to the sad passing of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Both Executive Producer Paul Stead and the The Queen & Her Cousins team are grateful to ITV for finding a slot so close to our original date.
We very much hope that the audience will enjoy this well-timed and uplifting documentary, delivered with the signature wit and warmth of Daisybeck Studios. Also, that the hard work and perseverance of the team shines through. Enjoy!