An incredible period drama based on a series of best-selling novels is available to watch for free.  Wolf Hall, available to watch on BBC iPlayer, is a two-season period drama based on Hilary Mantel’s book trilogy of the same name, which focuses on the life of Thomas Cromwell, an English statesman and lawyer who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII. 

The BBC iPlayer synopsis reads: “The irresistible rise of Thomas Cromwell – who defied and defined an era. Mark Rylance leads the acclaimed adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s tales from the dark heart of Tudor history”. The fascinating drama has garnered high acclaim from both fans and critics, earning it an impressive score of 98% on the film and TV review website Rotten Tomatoes.

“Brilliant”, “spellbinding”, and “phenomenal” are just a few of the words that viewers have used to describe the series that first aired in 2015. Fans had to wait until 2024 for the second and season titled Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light to be released, and it seems it was worth it.

One fan wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “This is one of the best series that the BBC has produced for a very long time. The pace and subtlety are exquisite. It’s a watch.”

Echoing what has been mentioned, another said: “This is one of the best period pieces I’ve ever seen. It masterfully captured the lives of the characters at the time, and I was glued to the screen for every second of it. I definitely recommend it for drama and history fans!”

Everything down to the acting, writing, and costumes was commended, with one describing the outfits as “sensational”, the same fan also described the entire drama as “superb”, adding that they were “sad when it was over”.

Wolf Hall stars Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, Claire Foy, Bernard Hill, Anton Lesser, Mark Gatiss, Mathieu Amalric,  Joanne Whalley, and Jonathan Pryce, who were all praised for their work throughout the drama.

One fan wrote: “Based on Hilary Mantel’s award-winning novel of the same name, the Wolf Hall TV series did its source material justice. The excellent

“Mark Rylance puts in a great, understated performance as Thomas Cromwell, while the rest of the cast is stacked with talent. The way the scenes are designed, and the series is filmed, creates a compelling sense of being transported back to Tudor England.”

Whilst another added: “This is about as well-acted a series as I’ve ever seen! The whole thing is ridiculously well made”.

Both seasons of the popular drama are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.