King & Conqueror is a new eight-part 60-minute-per-episode BBC historical drama premiering in the UK in August 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Starring James Norton as Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William, Duke of Normandy, the series follows their rivalry leading to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The drama explores decades of political intrigue, family rivalry and shifting alliances on both sides of the Channel. What begins as an uneasy friendship between two ambitious leaders develops into a conflict that would shape the future of England and Europe for centuries to come.
King & Conqueror Season 1 Official Trailer (2025)
When does King & Conqueror start on BBC?
King & Conqueror will premiere on 24 August 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. International distribution is handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
We’re currently waiting for confirmation of an official US release date for season 1 of King & Conqueror, but we’ll update you when we receive an announcement.
King & Conqueror BBC Cast List (2025)
Character Name – Actor – Previous Work
- Harold, Earl of Wessex – James Norton (Grantchester)
- William, Duke of Normandy – Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones)
- Edith Swan-neck – Emily Beecham (Little Joe)
- Matilda – Clémence Poésy (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
- King Edward – Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky)
- Lady Emma – Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply)
- Morcar – Elander Moore (Masters of the Air)
- Gytha – Clare Holman (Inspector Morse)
- Tostig – Luther Ford (The Crown)
- Queen Gunhild – Bo Bragason (Blackport)
- Godwin – Geoff Bell (Green Street)
- King Henry – Jean-Marc Barr (The Big Blue)
- Sweyn – Elliott Cowan (Lost in Austen)
- Earl Siward – Bjarne Henriksen (The Killing)
- Baldwin – Oliver Masucci (Dark)
- Margaret – Indy Lewis (The Duchess)
- Thane Thomas – Jason Forbes (Ghosts)
- Fitzosbern – Ingvar Sigurdsson (Everest)
- Judith – Ines Asserson (Heirs of the Night)
- Hardrada – Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson (Rams)
- Odo – Léo Legrand (A Distant Neighborhood)
Key Characters and Performances
Here’s a more detailed look at some of the key characters of this new 2025 historical drama series, the actors playing them, plus an overview of the characters’ real-life counterparts’ backgrounds and motivations:
James Norton as Harold, Earl of Wessex – James Norton, known for Grantchester and Happy Valley, plays Harold, the powerful English nobleman whose leadership and personal ambitions place him at the centre of a historic struggle for the crown, culminating in his legendary clash with William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William, Duke of Normandy – Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best recognised for Game of Thrones, portrays William, the ambitious Duke of Normandy. His military skill and unyielding claim to the English throne set the stage for a decisive confrontation that would alter the course of English and European history.
Emily Beecham as Edith Swan-neck – Emily Beecham, award-winning star of Little Joe and Into the Badlands, takes on the role of Edith Swan-neck. As Harold’s long-time companion, Edith’s personal and political ties to the Earl of Wessex place her close to the heart of the kingdom’s turbulent events.
Clémence Poésy as Matilda – French actress Clémence Poésy, known for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Tunnel, plays Matilda, wife of William, Duke of Normandy. Matilda is depicted as both a supportive partner and a figure of influence, bolstering William’s claim and strengthening his political alliances.
Eddie Marsan as King Edward – Eddie Marsan, acclaimed for Happy-Go-Lucky and Ray Donovan, portrays King Edward, the monarch whose death without a clear heir sparks the fierce succession crisis. His reign and decisions leave a vacuum of power, setting the stage for the conflict between Harold and William.
Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma – Juliet Stevenson, celebrated for Truly, Madly, Deeply and Bend It Like Beckham, plays Lady Emma, a character tied to the shifting loyalties and political manoeuvres surrounding the English throne. Her presence reflects the personal and dynastic stakes that shape the unfolding power struggle.
Series Background
Created and written by Michael Robert Johnson, the series is produced by The Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content, RVK Studios and CBS Studios, in association with the BBC. Baltasar Kormákur directs the opening episode and serves as an executive producer, guiding the creative direction across the series. Other executive producers include James Norton, Kitty Kaletsky, Magnus Sigurdsson, Robert Taylor, Dave Clarke, Richard Halliwell, Lindsay Martin, Ed Clarke and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The series was acquired for the BBC by Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, and is distributed internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution.