The historical drama was filmed at stunning locations across Derbyshire, Kent and Cambridgeshire.

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An ‘epic’ period drama filmed in Cambridgeshire has been hailed as an ‘outstanding’ production that reduces audiences to tears.

The emotionally powerful film, loosely inspired by genuine historical figures, was shot across numerous breathtaking buildings and countryside settings throughout England.

The overlooked 2008 production from director Justin Chadwick features an impressive ensemble cast, including Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirstin Scott Thomas and Mark Rylance.

The IMDb synopsis for the picture simply states: “Two sisters contend for the affection of King Henry VIII.”

The historical drama chronicles the devastating tale of Anne Boleyn (Portman) and her sister Mary Boleyn (Johansson).

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In the film titled The Other Boleyn Girl, both vie for the affections of the perilous monarch Henry Tudor (Bana), notorious for his appalling treatment of his spouses, reports Derbyshire Live.

Viewers flocked to the comments section of Rotten Tomatoes to express their opinions on the production, with one person declaring: “Every scene has been shot brilliantly! The Other Boleyn Girl is a masterpiece.”

“Whoa, shockingly good, a lot better than I expected it to be,” another confessed, while a third remarked: “I cried, and that is a thing per sé, I never cry.”

One audience member noted: “I definitely never expected to like this movie as much as I did. Amazing performances by Johansson and Portman with a really good cast as well. Probably one of the most messed up and tragic love stories I’ve ever seen.”

Another reflected: “It’s a very complex and heartbreaking story. The acting is great, outstanding really. I enjoyed the movie greatly, even though it scared me from time to time. The hardship of literally staying alive in that time frightened me quite a bit.

“It’s a nice epic drama about betrayal,” one viewer remarked, while another added: “Amazing. Brilliant acting, direction and perfect portrayal of the well known and tragic historical story.”

Nevertheless, not everyone was impressed, with one viewer describing it as “overly dramatic and visually unsettling”.

Another contended: “The acting is great but they play so fast and loose with history it is deeply unsatisfying.”

But where was the sweeping Tudor tragedy filmed? Let’s explore some of its most memorable filming locations throughout the UK.

Where was The Other Boleyn Girl filmed?

Cambridgeshire

According to The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations, the impressive Ely Cathedral, featuring its intricately carved spiral organ stairs, represents the grand ceremonial areas of the palace.

The Cambridgeshire cathedral, situated 12 miles north of Cambridge, was also employed to recreate Westminster Abbey in the 2012 film The King’s Speech.

Derbyshire

The historical drama captured numerous scenes in Derbyshire, particularly around the Peak District.

Multiple Tudor properties were combined to create the interior of the Boleyn family residence, including the historic Haddon Hall, situated just south of Bakewell in Derbyshire.

Meanwhile, Cave Dale, a limestone valley extending south from the village of Castleton, served as the picturesque green valley through which the King and his entourage ride while travelling to the Boleyn estate. Finally, when Mary is exiled from court, she makes her home in the countryside with William Stafford and her children. These sequences were captured at North Lees Hall, Hathersage in Derbyshire’s Peak District.

Kent

The Other Boleyn Girl was filmed across numerous locations throughout Kent, including the stunning Knole House in Sevenoaks, which served as the palace exterior and the rooftops of 16th century London.

The Tower of London sequences featured in the film were not actually captured in the capital, with Dover Castle in Kent substituting for the famous landmark.

Meanwhile, the 14th century Kent manor house of Penshurst Place serves as Baron’s Hall, where Anne is depicted flirting with the king at a banquet.

The Other Boleyn Girl can be rented for £3.49 or bought for £5.99 on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

Cyclists were told they were ‘in a crime scene’ following an e-scooter crash with a police officer near Buckingham Palace.

An area near the royal residence was cordoned off on Friday after the vehicle collided with an officer on Constitution Hill.

The black vehicle and a policeman’s helmet were both discarded at the scene, the BBC reported.

Passing cyclists were told to ‘get out’ of the cordoned area, which they were told was a ‘crime scene’.

The King was not thought to be at the Palace at the time of the incident, as the Union Flag was flying rather than his personal standard.

An air ambulance attended the scene and both the cyclist and the police officer were taken to a major trauma unit, London Ambulance Service confirmed.

Their injuries were not thought to be either life-threatening or life-changing.

A spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 4.01pm today (22 May) to reports of a road traffic collision near Constitution Hill, SW1A.

‘We sent an ambulance crew, incident response officer and dispatched London Air Ambulance via car to the scene.

‘We treated two males at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre as a priority.’

A statement from Met Police said: ‘At around 16:00hrs on Friday, 22 May an e-scooter was involved in a collision with a police officer who was on foot at the eastern end of Constitution Hill next to Buckingham Palace.

‘Both the rider of the e-scooter and the police officer were taken to hospital. Their injuries were assessed as non-life threatening and non-life changing.

‘The scene of the incident was cordoned off while the level of injuries was confirmed.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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ITV’s newest game show has made a solid first impression, with viewers declaring it ’10 times better’ than The Neighbourhood, which had a pretty rough run.

Hosted by Graham Norton, the reality show followed real households competing for a £250,000 prize. Alas, it failed to secure a loyal audience and was pulled from its primetime slot following dwindling ratings each week.

Hoping to succeed where The Neighbourhood failed is Nobody’s Fool, fronted by Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.

Tipped with the potential to become the next Traitors, the quiz show plays on the success of saucy drama series Rivals, in which Emily plays Sarah Stratton and Danny plays Freddie Jones.

‘It’s not about how smart you are, but how smart your rivals think you are. Expect lying, scheming, and a whole lot of quizzing,’ teases Nobody’s Fool’s synopsis.

As for the format, 10 contestants stay in a ‘unique and mischievous Smart House,’ which tests intelligence.

In a game of strategy, players must eliminate the worst performer among them, or they will lose half the prize pot.

Nobody’s Fool was first broadcast last night after the final Britain’s Got Talent semi-final in the 9pm slot.

From there, it’ll air on Sunday and Monday evenings at 9pm on ITV1, and episodes can be streamed on ITVX.

It’s fair to say the game show market is saturated these days, meaning it takes a lot for one to stand out and keep viewers coming back.

However, Nobody’s Fool got off to a strong start.

Taking to X, viewers were admittedly shocked by how much they enjoyed its debut.

@roaringleo89 called it ‘addicting’, adding: ‘Great new reality competition show! I’m hooked!’

@JuFitJuJu also praised the ‘twists’, while @JulieMc14795436 predicted: ‘I’m going to really like this.’

@KingOfSunshine ‘will be watching again’, and @SocialMediaJon1 already ‘can’t wait’ for more.

‘Oh I am ENJOYING this… Much more than Neighborhood…’, wrote @TMSdrawings.

‘It’s a bit Traitors/Generation Game/The Chase…and I’m here for it!’, added @gillyn4.

Others need warming up a bit more, though, as @ryxtilley accused the format of ‘ripping off’ The Traitors, and @JeffDGraves said it was ‘not original’.

Launching in the middle of a UK heatwave also likely didn’t help Nobody’s Fool’s campaign, as ratings were lacklustre.

Episode 1 garnered 875k viewers, half a million down on The Neighbourhood as well as Genius Game, which was hosted by David Tennant and landed on the chopping block after just one season.

Commenting on the figures, @KingOfSunshine tweeted: ‘Episode 1 Hottest day of the year combined with Saturday night launch doesn’t give the full picture I would say. Give it a chance to bed in and see. Certainly a much more enjoyable watch compared to other shows launched recently’.

Over the past couple of years, ITV has aired several new reality shows and quizzes.

Sadly, though, not all have triumphed like The 1% Club or been guaranteed a renewal like Love Island.

Instead, Stephen Mangan’s The Fortune Hotel has not yet been confirmed for a third season, Sir Stephen Fry-fronted Jeopardy! UK will not return, and Pictionary, presented by Mel Giedroyc, had its plug pulled after one outing.

Reality-wise, viewers haven’t been sold by the likes of Celebrity Sabotage and Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters also tanked, with hopes for a second season dead in the water.

Whether Nobody’s Fool can restore audiences’ faith in the channel remains to be seen, but it should help having a link to the next season of Rivals, which launched last week.

With an ensemble cast comprising Alex Hassell, Katherine Parkinson, Aidan Turner, and more, series 1 was a huge win for Disney+, becoming the 10th most-streamed series in the US in October 2024.

A second season was subsequently given the green light to continue the adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s novel series.

Nobody’s Fool airs Sunday and Monday at 9pm on ITV1, and episodes can be streamed on ITVX.

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Re-enactors took part in the Eboracum Roman Festival which runs until Sunday, May 31.

They launched arrows and fought with swords and shields during demonstrations in Museum Gardens on Saturday and Sunday.

The actors also demonstrated daily tasks, such as cooking, showing how they were carried out while York was under Roman rule more than 1,800 years ago.

Display of Roman battle techniques in York Museum Gardens during the Roman festival (Image: Gareth Buddo/Furmoto Photography)

David Hare, one of the re-enactors from the Ermine Street Guard, said he was glad to be at the festival dressed in Roman armour – despite the hot weather over the bank holiday weekend.

David, from Southampton, was dressed as a Roman junior officer and the standard bearer, carrying a 2m tall standard that would have been to rally troops in battle.

David Hare, one of the re-enactors from the Ermine Street Guard, during the Roman festival in Museum Gardens, York, on Sunday (May 24) (Image: Dylan Connell)

He wore a helmet, chain mail on his chest and also carried a small shield.

“It’s quite warm,” he admitted, speaking during highs of 25C in Museum Gardens on Sunday (May 24). “It’s quite unpleasant because under the mail armour I’m also wearing a padded armour over the top of a woollen tunic.  

“I could moan about the temperature, but I have to remember that the Roman soldiers who were at Masada in Judea – what is now Israel – were wearing exactly the same equipment.”

Families watched on as the Romans performed and marched around the gardens.

Children also had the chance to dress as Roman legionaries and charge across the Museum Gardens’ lawn during the ‘Kids Barbaric Battle’.

Bethany Cadell with her children Arthur, six, and Rupert, three, during the Roman festival in Museum Gardens, York, on Sunday (May 24) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Bethany Cadell, from Easingwold, attended with her children Arthur, six, and Rupert, three, who brought with them homemade shields and swords.

“It’s been great,” she said. “The re-enactors have all been wonderful – answering questions and showing the kids all the swords and things.”

People experience the Roman camp in York Museum Gardens (Image: Gareth Buddo/Furmoto Photography)

Bethany said her children are interested in history and visit key events in York, such as the JORVIK Viking Festival during the February half-term.

“Arthur is big into history – he loves history – so this is the second time we’ve been to [the Roman festival],” she said.

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Events will continue across York throughout the rest of the Roman festival.

These include a Roman walking tour of York, led by Uncomfortable York, on Saturday, May 30, and a screening of Gladiator at City Screen on Sunday, May 31, to close the festival.

The festival is organised by the York Museums Trust and its partners including York Archaeology, York Minster, Roman Bath Museum, Uncomfortable York, the University of York and City Screen.

Clare Alton-Fletcher, participation and learning manager at York Museums Trust and organiser of the Roman Festival, said the festival “always offers a fantastic experience for partners across the city to come together and showcase the best of York’s history”.

French hopeful Arthur Gea made a memorable, if uncomfortable, French Open debut Sunday, dramatically dashing from his first-round match for an emergency bathroom break early in the first set.

Trailing 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov 4-2, Gea urgently informed the chair umpire in French, “I need to go to the bathroom. I can’t move anymore. I’m going to (go) on the court,” before hastily running off Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

This unscheduled mid-set departure, typically reserved for breaks between sets, drew a protest from Khachanov as three minutes passed without play. The 135th-ranked Gea ultimately fell to his opponent 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Gea later explained the umpire permitted the break due to “medical circumstances,” and he was given medicine for stomach pain. He said he had woken up feeling unwell, a condition that intensified during play.

“During the match it was even worse,” he said. “I had to go to the toilet really quick.”

The intense Roland Garros heat, with lunchtime temperatures hitting 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit), likely compounded his discomfort.

“It was harder than usual, because I was ill,” the 21-year-old added.

Gea had received a wild card invitation from organizers to participate in the main draw.

Among the early matches on Day 1 of the clay-court Grand Slam were 13th-seeded Khachanov against Gea on Court Suzanne-Lenglen and 15th-seeded Marta Kostyuk against Oksana Selekhmeteva on Court Simonne-Mathieu.

Spectators folded newspapers in half and fanned themselves to keep cool as players on court attempted to stay hydrated.

The opening match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the main stadium, was due to start an hour later with 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic playing Sinja Kraus.

The night match on Chatrier features three-time champion Novak Djokovic against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Two days after his 39th birthday, Djokovic will play a men’s record 82nd Grand Slam tournament — one more than Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.

Here are some of the aircraft you might be seeing at the next IWM Duxford flying day.

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) Duxford’s flying season has started with the next event at the start of June. The iconic museum has a range of events happening from May through to October, including themed flying days.

On Saturday, June 6, the IWM Duxford will be holding the Flying Days: D-Day event that will celebrate the air base’s role in Operative Overlord that provided “air support for D-Day operations”. While the display is the main event, visitors will be able to take a look around the museum and its exhibitions.

If you already have tickets or are thinking about whether to buy some, you might want to see what planes will be performing in the display. The impressive line-up includes classic Spitfires as well as aircraft that flew in the Korean War.

Spitfire Mk 1

The Spitfire Mk I N3200 is the museum’s only airworthy aircraft and played an important role in the Dunkirk Campaign. The aircraft was restored to flying condition in 2014 and was donated to the IWM by Dr Kaplan and his family.

Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann

Described as ‘sporty’, the Jungmann was used as a basic trainer for the Luftwaffe as well as featuring in aerial performance competitions. The plane proved to be quite popular with private pilots too, who have opted to have the Jungmann refitted with modern engines.

LeVier Cosmic Wind

The LeVier Cosmic Wind was designed and built by the Lockheed Corporation in 1947 and was originally created for Formula 1 class racing. The plane did not successfully race in the US but has won the premier cross-country competition in the UK in 1964.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

The P-47D Thunderbolt, also known as ‘the Jug’, was one of the largest single-engine fighters of the Second World War. It was popular in Europe as an escort fighter and was well-suited to high-altitude air-to-air combat as well as an in the ground-attack role.

Spitfire Mk XIV

Only 957 production Mk XIVs were built with the first entering service in 1944 and were the most successful of the variants at destroying V-1 flying bombs. The MV293 was built after the Second World War for the RAF and served with the Indian Air Force.

Fieseler Storch (replica)

The Storch, also known as Stork, was used by the Luftwaffe as a liaison and spotting aircraft during World War Two with multiple variants of the aircraft being made. The plane was famed for its low speed flight and STOL abilities.

Grumman F8F Bearcat

The Grumman F8F Bearcat was introduced to the Second World War late and served in the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other nations. Adaptations of the Bearcat have broken speed records for piston-engined aircraft.

Grumman Wildcat FM2

The Wildcat FM2 is described as the “ultimate version” of the aircraft and was a collaboration between Grumman and Eastern Aircraft to operate from escort carriers. The plane flew for all active U.S Navy fighter squadrons throughout the Second World War.

Hawker Fury FB11

This British fighter aircraft was designed and manufactured by Hawker and was the last-propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy. The plane was popular with overseas militaries and was also used during the Korean War and in the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba.

Aeronca L-3

The Aeronca L-3 was used as an observation and liaison aircraft by the United States Army Air Corps during the Second World War. The L-3 series were adapted from Aeronca’s pre-war Tandem Trainer and Chief models.

L-4 Cub

The L-4 Cub is an aircraft with a simple, lightweight design, which helps give it “good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance”. The L-4 was used for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and moving personnel behind the lines.