Royal fever is alive and well on BritBox South Africa in May, with the live stream of the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6th adding an exciting regal touch.
In addition to experiencing all the pomp and splendour of the Coronation, we go behind the scenes for an intimate portrait of the royals through the lens of legendary royal photographer Arthur Edwards in the documentary Arthur: A Life with the Royal Family.
Launching exclusively on BritBox is the third and final season of the Jane Austen-inspired period drama Sanditon – where our favourite characters are joined by intriguing new arrivals as they search for happy endings in the fictional seaside town.
Expect gorgeous costumes and plenty of romance and drama.
Speaking of fictional seaside towns, Northern Ireland provides a stunning seaside setting for popular crime drama Hope Street, which returns for a second season with its strong ensemble cast of detectives and locals. Lots of must-watch fare on BritBox this May!
BritBox South Africa MAY Highlights
Doccie – Arthur: A Life with the Royal Family (new & exclusive to BritBox)
Airs Thursday 4 May
Arthur Edwards, the legendary royal photographer, has been credited with taking some of the greatest royal pictures of all time while working for one of the UK’s best known newspapers, The Sun. For more than 40 years he has shot key members of the British royal family and has spent decades charting their highs and lows. On Saturday 6 May 2023, he will fulfill a lifelong dream: to photograph King Charles III’s coronation.
Across four decades, wherever the royal family travelled, Edwards has gone with them, capturing more than 200 royal tours across 120 countries. He’s been behind the lens at seven royal weddings, four funerals and seven royal births. In Arthur: A Life with the Royal Family, Edwards tells his own personal story, as well as revealing how he developed an enduring and trusting relationship with the family, and built a friendship with King Charles III and the Queen Consort, Camilla, allowing him to capture many unique and intimate moments over the last 45 years, from the joy of weddings to the heartbreak of loss.
This feature-length documentary captures iconic images of Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, William and Kate, Harry and Meghan, and of course King Charles III, along with footage of the royals and Edwards and launches on BritBox in the lead up to the live streamed special programme King Charles III: The Coronation, covering all the pomp and pageantry of this historic event on Saturday, 6 May.
Live & On-Demand King Charles III: The Coronation
Airs Saturday 6 May, live from 10:00 SAST
The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla takes place on Saturday, 6 May and BritBox coverage includes the live streamed special programme King Charles III: The Coronation, produced by ITN and hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham, giving viewers a front row seat at the historic event. This will be broadcast from Canada Gate, London, with the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony as the backdrop. After the live coverage ends, audiences will be able to watch the entire programme on demand, plus a special one-hour highlights show, available soon after the live programme concludes.
The Coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey, London and the service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, will reflect the British Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.
Sanditon (new & exclusive to BritBox) – Season 3
Airs Thursday 11 May
It’s finally here! After much anticipation and speculation from fans, the third and final season of the Jane Austen-inspired period drama Sanditon launches exclusively on BritBox. Prepare for intrigue, secrets, adventure, plot twists, humour and romance, as our favourite characters are joined by a number of fresh new faces. Will everyone finally get their happy ending?
Rose Williams (Curfew) returns as high-spirited heroine Charlotte Heywood, who journeys back to the seaside resort of Sanditon with her new fiancé, Ralph Starling (Cai Brigden, Summer of Rockets), for the society event of the year – but seeing former love Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Industry) reignites old feelings. Kris Marshall (who can be seen on BritBox in Death in Paradise and its new spin-off, Beyond Paradise) is also back on screen as entrepreneur Tom Parker, full of ambitious plans to develop the town.
Meanwhile, the fortune of Charlotte’s friend Georgiana is under threat and it’s up to lawyer Samuel Colbourne, Alexander’s estranged brother, to come to her aid. There’s also a new family in town – Lady Montrose, who is desperately trying to marry off her children to wealthy residents. These newcomers bring their own secrets, romantic prospects and plot twists in true Austen style. Why not binge seasons one and two while you wait for the final instalment, only on BritBox, the home of Sanditon!
Hope Street (new & exclusive BritBox Original) – Season 2
Airs Thursday 25 May
Picking up six months after season one’s cliffhanger finale, the opening episode of Hope Street season two introduces detective Al Quinn (Stephen Hagan, Risen), who’s struggling to deliver at his new job while also raising his strong-willed daughter. Each of the ten episodes features a self-contained crime story delivered with wit and warmth, involving the police and local community in the fictional Northern Ireland town of Port Devine, while also continuing some of the storylines from the first season, including Clint and Nicole’s efforts to start a family.
With its beautiful coastal setting, the second season also showcases a strong ensemble cast including Ciaran McMenamin (Primeval), Niamh McGrady (The Fall), Kerri Quinn(Coronation Street) and Aaron McCusker (Shameless). Season one, which starred Amara Karan (The Night Of), is already available to binge exclusively on BritBox.
“With its warmth, humour and absolutely delightful collection of characters, it [ticks] all the boxes.” – Metro UK
Coming to BritBox this June
Limited Series – The Barking Murders
Airs Thursday 1 June
Stephen Merchant (The Office, Extras) gives a chilling central performance in the true crime drama The Barking Murders, based on the story of serial killer Stephen Port and the investigation which finally brought him to justice. Retelling a heart-rendingly poignant case from the perspective of the victims’ families who fought for justice in the face of persistent police failings, this three-parter looks at the devastating impact Port’s crimes had on the families and friends of his four victims and on the wider gay community in London.
Going beneath the headlines to deliver a new perspective on the story, it reveals missed opportunities by the police to stop Port in the midst of his murderous spree. From the creative team behind Appropriate Adult, currently available on BritBox, The Barking Murders also stars Sheridan Smith (Cilla, Mrs Biggs, Gavin & Stacey), Jamie Winstone (Made In Dagenham, Tomb Raider, Kidulthood) and Rufus Jones (Stan & Ollie, W1A, Episodes). In episode one, when two young men are found dead in London, the police initially blame their deaths on overdoses.
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