Cardinal Thomas Wolsey fails to fulfil Henry's desire to obtain a divorce from Catherine (and later dies while en route to the Tower of London).
Henry, rattled by her reaction, declares her ugly and attempts to nullify the marriage contract, but this proves impossible and the wedding proceeds with two unwilling participants.
We see Catherine Howard, a pretty and foolhardy teenager, who confides in her cousin, Anne Carey, that she had sexual relations with a young man named Francis Dereham the previous summer.
She states her concerns arising from Anne Boleyn's fate, but her uncle assures her all will be well if she follows his instructions and does not show fear or timidity when addressing the king.
Historian Eric Ives commended the interpretation of writers Rosemary Sisson and Nick McCarty as leading the modern audience to a better understanding of the actions and values of King Henry and Anne Boleyn.
[8] The series spawned a sequel, Elizabeth R (1971), starring Glenda Jackson, which included several performers reprising their roles in the first episode: Ronane, Hepton, Dignam and Crutchley.
Michell reprises his role, with the wives being portrayed by Frances Cuka, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Asher, Jenny Bos, Lynne Frederick and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.