Hilary Mantel

A handsome BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, Mark Rylance gives a stunning performance as Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister, as it chronicles his part in the king’s split from the Roman church and follows events up to the execution of Anne Boleyn. With a terrific cast (Damian Lewis also stars, as Henry) it is very engaging, though its sympathetic presentation of Cromwell – seen by most historians as a self-serving, bullying figure – does suggest it’s to be taken with a pinch of salt. The score is by Debbie Wiseman and is one of her best – it’s absolutely captivating. It is credited to The Locrian Ensemble, a famous chamber string ensemble in London but evidently augmented by other soloists (some authentically Tudor) for this recording.