Covington Cross
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Covington Cross was a short lived American TV show that premiered on ABC on August 25, 1992. It also aired in the UK, and dubbed for showing in France. It was a joint American/British show, in that it was filmed and produced in England by an American production company. The series follows the daily intrigues of Sir Thomas Grey, a widower, and his sons and daughter. His sons, Armus (the eldest), Richard (the serious son), and Cedric(the free spirit) and his daughter Elanore. There was also a son William who appeared in the pilot episode, but vanished after the pilot. This was explained away by stating that he was called to head off and fight in the crusades. Also figuring into Sir Thomas's life is his love interest, Lady Elizabeth. The show takes its name from the name of the Sir Thomas's castle, Covington Cross. While not entirely a sitcom nor an out and out drama, the show had a lighthearted feel to it. This was not by any means a terribly accurate portraying of life in the Middle Ages, nor was it meant to be. The Greys each week would face a new dilemma that would test their honor and wits to overcome. Many of these Dilemmas were concocted by Sir Thomas's evil neighbor, Baron John Mullens. Some have compared the shows story setting and format to a medieval version of the classic American TV western 'Bonanza'. This comes from the format of a widower with three sons, who has considerable wealth and influence in his community and is seen as a man of honor living on a sizable estate.
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[edit] Reasons for Cancellation
Thirteen episodes were produced for the show, but only seven aired in the US. The show fell victim to postponement by ABC for several weeks after the first episode, and then again was pre-empted when Ross Perot bought the shows timeslot to air his live political commercials for his candidacy in the 1992 US presidential campaign. It was also, for the time, a fairly expensive show to produce. Overseas production costs and much of the filming was done in and around actual castles in England. The series was filmed on location at Allington Castle for the exterior scenes and shots of Covington Cross and Penshurst Place in Kent was used for the interior scenes.
[edit] Cast
- Sir Thomas Grey - Nigel Terry
- Lady Elizabeth - Cherie Lunghi
- Armus Grey - Tim Killick
- Richard Grey - Jonathan Firth
- Cedric Grey - Glenn Quinn
- Eleanor Grey - Ione Skye
- Baron John Mullens - James Faulkner
- Friar - Paul Brooke
- Alexandra Mullens (semi-regular) - Laura Howard
- King Edward (semi-regular) - Miles Anderson
The show was created by Gil Grant
[edit] Episodes & Original Airdates
- 1.) Pilot - August 25, 1992
- 2.) Armus Returns - September 19,1992
- 3.) Outlaws - September 26,1992
- 4.) Cedric Hits The Road - October 3,1992
- 5.) The Hero - October 10, 1992
- 6.) Blinded Passions - October 24, 1992
- 7.) The Persecution - October 31, 1992
- 8.) Eviction - unaired
- 9.) The Trial - unaired
- 10.) The Plague - unaired
- 11.) Revenge - unaired
- 12.) Celebration - unaired
- 13.) Brothers - unaired
[edit] Interesting Facts
- Nigel Terry & Cherie Lunghi also appeared as love interests in the 1981 film Excalibur, portraying King Arthur and Guinevere.
- The cross pendent that James Faulkner (Baron Mullens) wears on the show is the same prop that Kevin Costner wore in his film 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'
- Jonathan Firth would go on to star in another medieval film, the 2003 Luther is a biopic about Martin Luther and the events leading to the protestant reformation.
- Several episodes that were unaired in English aired in French.
