Henry VIII, Man, Monarch, Monster

In the first episode, our experts look at the ways in which Henry VIII's traumatic childhood would affect his personality - from his older brother's death, unexpectedly making him the heir to the throne of England to the early death of his beloved mother.

Henry's infamous relationship with Anne Boleyn turns from infatuation to deadly hatred. His obsession with marrying Anne results in a cataclysmic break with the Roman Catholic Church which is extremely unpopular with his people.

Henry becomes increasingly ruthless as he faces down one of the biggest popular Catholic rebellions for hundreds of years known as the Pilgrimage of Grace and has the ringleaders arrested and executed.