To Play the King

- Season 1

(1993)

Frances Urquhart is now Prime Minister and is somewhat haunted by what he has done in the past. A newly crowned King presents him with more of a challenge that he may have expected. The King has a conscience and to Urquhart's distress, wants to 'make a contribution'. Urquhart doesn't stand by idly and the King's interest in a major urban renewal project means curtains for the Environment Secretary who proposed it. Meanwhile, the PM hires a new political adviser Sarah Harding and his right-hand man, Tim Stamper, puts into motion an insurance policy of sorts they've ...

In his ongoing battle with the King, Urquhart decides to call an election and has senior party members and his new adviser Sarah Harding spend the weekend at Chequers. He names Chief Whip Tim Stamper party chairman but is somewhat reticent at making any post-election promises. The King also decides to go on the offensive and plans a television documentary where he will again push his views on the need for a compassionate, caring society. Sarah arranges for a poll favorable to the government. Having separated from his wife, the King's chief of staff and press secretary...

Despite his pleas to the King to avoid a constitutional crisis and not publicly express his personal views, the King refuses and Urquhart decides to destroy him. As planned, the King goes on television and the program is seen as a clear attack on the government. Urqhart has seriously underestimated the King's influence and the party finds itself falling in the polls. Princess Charlotte begins dictating her memoirs and also sleeping with publisher Sir Bruce Bullerby. She has a lot to tell about the Royal Family. When a conservative MP, John Staines, is arrested by the ...

Francis Urquhart calls the election but the party is down 13 points in the polls and he will obviously have a hard slog ahead if he is to be reelected. A gas explosion in a block of flats gives the King a platform to drive home his point about the need to invest more in housing and social services, but the PM also makes use of the opportunity to remind the King to stay out of politics. Party Chairman Tim Stamper is not very pleased that his old friend Urquhart won't promise him a senior Cabinet post should they win the election and he sets out to ruin him. As the ...