To Play the King | |
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Based on | novel by Michael Dobbs |
Written by | Andrew Davies |
Directed by | Paul Seed |
Starring | Ian Richardson Michael Kitchen Kitty Aldridge Diane Fletcher Nick Brimble Nicholas Farrell |
Music by | Jim Parker |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 4 |
Production | |
Producer | Ken Riddington |
Running time | 50 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | BBC |
Release | 21 November 12 December 1993 | –
Related | |
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To Play the King is a 1993 BBC television serial and the second part of the House of Cards trilogy. Directed by Paul Seed, the serial was based on Michael Dobbs' 1993 novel of the same name and adapted for television by Andrew Davies. The opening and closing theme music for the TV series is entitled "Francis Urquhart's March", by composer Jim Parker.[1] The series details the conflict between British Prime Minister Francis Urquhart and a newly crowned king as well as the run-up to the general election.
The book and TV serialisation follow on from the TV version of the first part of the trilogy. To Play the King (and the final part The Final Cut) reflect upon the end of the first series, which differed somewhat from the plot of the original novel.