Jason Watkins Joins ‘The Crown’ As Harold Wilson
Netflix series ‘The Crown‘ has found one of its new Prime Ministers for when the show returns for the 3rd Season. BAFTA award-winning and Olivier Award-nominated British actor Jason Watkins has landed the role of Harold Wilson the streaming service announced today.
‘The Crown’ tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
Season 2 of ‘The Crown’ ended with the birth of the Queen and Philip’s 4th and last child Edward in 1964. Exact details of the 3rd season have yet to be released, but we know it will span the 70’s era of UK politics which saw Harold Wilson become Prime Minister twice, with Edward Heath taking office in the middle. This era also includes Princess Margaret’s divorce, the 1972 miners’ strike and the assassination of Lord Mountbatten. It will also feature a young Camilla Parker Bowles whom Charles first met in 1971, and we could potentially see a young Diana Spencer towards the end of this season, as they first meet in 1977.
Jason Watkins has been a fixture in British TV for a number of years. You may have seen him in such comedies as ‘Trollied’, ‘W1A’, and ‘Hold the Sunset’, or dramas such as ‘Safe House’, ‘Taboo’ and ‘Being Human’. He has previously worked with ‘The Crown’ creator, Peter Morgan, in ‘The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies’ for which he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor.
“I am delighted to become part of this exceptional show. And so thrilled to be working once again with Peter Morgan,” commented Watkins about his casting. “Harold Wilson is a significant and fascinating character in our history. So looking forward to bringing him to life, through a decade that transformed us culturally and politically. And excited to be working so closely with Olivia; and the whole team.”
Netflix has also officially confirmed the casting of Helena Bonham Carter, who takes over the role of HRH Princess Margaret from Vanessa Kirby. “I’m not sure which I’m more terrified about – doing justice to the real Princess Margaret or following in the shoes of Vanessa Kirby’s Princess Margaret,” adds Bonham Carter. “The only thing I can guarantee is that I’ll be shorter (than Vanessa).”
As has been discussed a lot on the site, ‘The Crown’ will switch up the actors every two seasons so the cast are a more age-appropriate for the characters as time moves on. Watkins and Bonham Carter join the previously announced Olivia Colman, who take over the role of Queen Elizabeth from Claire Foy, and ‘Outlander’ star Tobias Menzies, who takes over the role of Prince Philip from Matt Smith.
‘The Crown‘ Seasons 1 & 2 are currently available on Netflix. No official air date has been given for Season 3 yet, other than it will arrive in 2019.
