God's Revolution

An epic 12-part drama about the events leading up to, and following, the execution of King Charles I'Classy writing... wonderfully crisp, with a brilliant cast' The SpectatorEngland, 1647. Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army has routed the Royalists, and the King, having fled to Scotland, has been ransomed, sent back across the border and imprisoned. It seems the war is over, but there is trouble ahead. Parliament wants to disband the army and install its own militia - an act that looks, to Cromwell's loyal soldiers, like outright betrayal.As dissent grows within the ranks, agitators such as Francis White and John Reynolds, and leading Leveller John Lilburne, step up to speak for the common man. What began with a dispute over army demobilisation soon becomes far more, and a radical faction arises demanding freedom, equality and power to the people. But for Cromwell and his Commander-in-Chief, Thomas Fairfax, this is a challenge to Parliament's authority, and smacks of revolution. Facing a schism within the army, Cromwell is torn - but when the King escapes from custody, he and his troops have a new threat to deal with...Meanwhile, the women at home have troubles of their own. Clever, independent Penelope White is subject to the whims of her intransigent father, who wants her to marry a man of his choosing. And Lilburne's wife, Elizabeth, must risk her life each time she smuggles forbidden political papers into his cell in the Tower of London. As their men prepare to fight once more, what does the future hold for them?Set between the pivotal years of 1647 and 1649, this classic Civil War drama stars Bernard Hepton as Cromwell, Nigel Anthony as Fairfax, Graham Blockey as Francis White, Christian Rodska as Lilburne, William Eedle as Charles I, Deborah Makepeace as Penelope and Maureen O'Brien as Elizabeth.Cast and creditsWritten by Don TaylorGod's RevolutionLord General Fairfax - Nigel AnthonyJohn Church - Eric AllanFrancis White - Graham BlockeyCharles I/Lieut. Colonel Jackson/Cornet Denne - William EedleOliver Cromwell - Bernard HeptonStephen White - David MarchJohn Reynolds - Kim WallJohn Lilburne - Christian RodskaJames Thompson - Simon CuffMiles Sindercombe/Col. Rainsborough/Sir William Waller/Morrison - John BaddeleyCorporal Perkins/Silent soldier/Simeon/Joseph/Winstanley/Brother Gerard - Steve HodsonColonel James/Lockyer/Major General Skippon/Huntingdon - Peter CrazeEdmund White/Major Gooday/Col. Scroop - Cornelius GarrettPenelope White - Deborah MakepeaceElizabeth Lilburne - Maureen O'BrienWilliam Thompson/Captain Musket - Anthony JacksonCommissary Ireton - Bill WallisEdward Sexby/Col. Whalley - John HartochLady Anne Fairfax - Lin SagovskyCornet Joyce/Everard - Jonathan NibbsBetty - Zelah ClarkeMrs Cromwell/Martha- June BarrieJohn Lilburne - Christian RodskaBeggar woman - June TobinJohn Wildman - Stephen RashbrookRobin - Elizabeth LindsayIsaac - Christopher AsanteCapt. Hatton - Alan CoveneyPride - Norman EshleyMary Overton - Barbara KellermannMrs Chidley - Ellen DrydenBarry - Paul SirrDirected by Shaun MacLoughlin and Ronald MasonPsalms arranged by Blaise ComptonFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 October-23 December 1988(c) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd