Stern & Wild client teams with broadcasting legend to scrutinise the monarchy

A landmark three-part BBC documentary offering a subversive critique of the British monarchy, series produced and directed by award-winning Stern & Wild filmmaker Vicki Cooper, launches on BBC One and iPlayer tomorrow night.

A collaboration with veteran broadcaster, David Dimbleby, WHAT’S THE MONARCHY FOR? investigates the power, wealth and survival of an institution that sits at the heart of our national life.

The series is written and presented by Dimbleby, for decades a commentator on national events for the BBC, and a first-hand witness to the critical relationship between the monarchy and the public.

In an interview for this week’s Radio Times he said: “Over the years, I’ve broadcast on many royal events – jubilees and weddings, state occasions and funerals… [Here] I’m doing something quite different – looking in depth at the institution, how it works, its power, its privileges and how it tries to retain public support. The late Queen, in a famous speech, once said that no institution – including the monarchy – should expect to be free from scrutiny. I am taking her at her word.”

The series is produced by The Garden for BBC One and iPlayer. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. Simon Young is Commissioning Editor for the BBC; Monika Ghosh is Senior Producer; and Exec Producers are Lucie Duxbury and James House. Alongside Series Producer and Director Vicki, there is additional directing by Christian Collerton.

The first episode airs on Tuesday 2 December on BBC One at 9.00pm and will be available to stream afterwards on iPlayer.