James Norton broke collarbone on set of BBC drama King & Conqueror
King & Conqueror follows Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy who began as allies but were destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings.
The BBC series tells the story of a a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea.
While both Harold and William originally had no plans to become King of England, they found themselves become obsessed with the idea of wearing the crown.
Much of the filming for the series took place in Iceland with James Norton taking the role of Harold as well as working as an executive producer on the project.
Filming certainly seemed eventful as the cast opened up at a Q&A about nose-biting during battle scenes and breaking bones.
James explained: "I literally bit his nose, the poor guy. I went through his skin. It was terrible."
The actor went on to reveal the stunt actor came into rehearsal the next day with a "huge bandage" on. But James stated that the adding in nose-biting was a "stroke of genius" as it showed just hot "messy, violent and visceral" battles were.
But that wasn't the only injury on set as the lead star broke his collarbone. Fellow executive producer and co-founder of Rabbit Track, Kitty Kaletsky revealed James had fallen off his horse during filming.
"It ended up being great because James had a break scheduled," Kitty laughed.
James added: "It was painful but luckily this goes to show how incredible and collaborative this crew was and we managed to sort of deal with it.
"It was during a rehearsal and I fell off and landed on my shoulder and actually it was a remarkably quick recovery.
"It was quite painful. For the latter half of the shoot, some of those battle scenes I'm yelping very loudly and the yelps are pretty authentic."
But it wasn't just James who had a slightly painful experience as his co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau revealed during on scene in episode five, a stunt star was knocked out.
He dished: "We had rehearsals where there was a guy knocked out. I mean they go so close, right? And it was a mistake both of them. I mean you should always be able to hold your fist but the other guy, he instead like holding the distance, he kind of moved forward right as he was swinging.
"And they were also you know MMA fighters. So his tooth went out, blood out. And then the other guy, of course, because he hit the tooth, broke [his knuckle], he had to have stitches in his hand as well."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EastEnders star Michelle Ryan shares glam Zoe Slater transformation pics amid her return to the BBC soap
EastEnders star Michelle Ryan has shared before and after glam transformation snaps amid her return to the BBC soap. The actress, 41, briefly reprised her role as Zoe Slater back in June after 20 years away from Albert Square. Michelle is set to make a full time return as Zoe this summer where she'll come face-to-face with her estranged mother Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) in explosive scenes. And amid filming for her scenes, Michelle gave fans a glimpse into how she gets into character as Zoe as she snapped selfies in the make-up chair. The soap star initially showed off a bare-faced look without a scrap of make-up, before a follow-up picture showed her with eye-liner and sleeker hair. Subsequent images followed showing Michelle looking glam with a sweep of bold red lipstick, while her raven locks were styled in glam waves. Set to Modjo's 2001 track Lady (Hear Me Tonight), Michelle captioned her post writing: 'Make up transformation today in the chair. Grateful to costume and make up for helping me find the role of Zoe again over the past couple of months. 'When I first played Zoe early 2000's this song was a huge hit and played all the time.' It comes after Jessie revealed she 'burst out crying' after reuniting with her on screen daughter Michelle amid her return to the soap. During her time on the show, Michelle was involved in one of the soap's biggest storylines when it was revealed that Kat Slater (Jessie) was in fact Zoe's mother and not her sister, with explosive scenes seeing her yell: 'You ain't my mother!', only for Kat to reply: 'Yes I am!' And now, after returning to Albert Square two decades after her dramatic exit, Jessie, 53, revealed she was overcome with emotion at the news. Speaking in an interview with the Radio Times she confessed that they reunited at a secret dinner date with the executive producers. 'I burst out I saw Michelle, I cried – we were all very emotional. It was nostalgic and lovely.' While it isn't uncommon for roles to be recast in the soap world, Jessie was also determined that if Zoe returned it could only be Michelle. Michelle captioned her post writing: 'Make up transformation today in the chair. Grateful to costume and make up for helping me find the role of Zoe again over the past couple of months' 'I said to Ben [executive producer], "It has to be Michelle. It won't feel right if Zoe is recast." I wouldn't be able to give my best performance. The audience would feel completely conned.' She added: 'I love Michelle and have always been protective over her, perhaps that's natural having played her mum. I'm a mother myself now, which I wasn't when we worked together before, and I'm very protective over my daughter.' Michelle had been asked to return to the soap before but had always declined. However this time she felt the time was right after she was moved after seeing the comments on social media following EastEnders' 40th anniversary. After reminiscing on her time on the soap with colleagues she mentioned to her agent that she would go back and as coincidence would have it EastEnders had already been on the phone. Back in June Zoe made a bombshell return to the BBC soap, after her return was kept under wraps. Viewers then saw Zoe in two further episodes that week but she will now be back full-time this summer. Speaking previously on her return to the BBC soap, Michelle said: 'It feels like coming home. After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away. It all happened at the right time. 'I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I'd also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character. 'It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back.
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
BBC star James Norton broke collarbone in 'painful' accident on King & Conqueror
BBC star James Norton broke collarbone in 'painful' accident on King & Conqueror King and Conqueror is a new BBC drama which tells the story of Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy who began as allies but were destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings James Norton goes head to head with Game of Thrones star in epic BBC drama King and Conqueror charts the story of Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy, who started as friends but were fated to clash at the Battle of Hastings. The BBC drama explores a confrontation that shaped the destiny of a nation – and a continent – for a millennium, with origins stretching back generations through two intertwined Royal dynasties battling for dominance across two kingdoms and a turbulent sea. Though neither Harold nor William initially harboured ambitions for England's throne, both men became consumed by their desire to claim the crown. Much of the production was shot in Iceland, with James Norton portraying Harold whilst also serving as an executive producer. The shoot proved quite dramatic, as the cast revealed during a Q&A session, discussing nose-biting incidents during combat sequences and bone fractures, reports the Daily Record. James Norton broke collarbone on set of BBC drama King & Conqueror Article continues below James admitted: "I literally bit his nose, the poor guy. I went through his skin. It was terrible." The performer continued by disclosing that the stunt performer arrived at the following day's rehearsal sporting a "huge bandage". However, James maintained that incorporating the nose-biting was a "stroke of genius" as it demonstrated how "messy, violent and visceral" battles truly were. Yet that wasn't the sole mishap onset, as the leading man fractured his collarbone. Co-executive producer and Rabbit Track co-founder Kitty Kaletsky disclosed that James had tumbled from his horse whilst filming. "It ended up being great because James had a break scheduled," Kitty laughed. James added: "It was painful but luckily this goes to show how incredible and collaborative this crew was and we managed to sort of deal with it. "It was during a rehearsal and I fell off and landed on my shoulder and actually it was a remarkably quick recovery. "It was quite painful. For the latter half of the shoot, some of those battle scenes I'm yelping very loudly and the yelps are pretty authentic." James Norton is leading new BBC drama King & Conqueror However, it wasn't only James who endured a somewhat painful ordeal, as his co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau disclosed that during one scene in episode five, a stunt performer was rendered unconscious. Article continues below He revealed: "We had rehearsals where there was a guy knocked out. I mean they go so close, right? And it was a mistake both of them. I mean you should always be able to hold your fist but the other guy, he instead like holding the distance, he kind of moved forward right as he was swinging. "And they were also you know MMA fighters. So his tooth went out, blood out. And then the other guy, of course, because he hit the tooth, broke [his knuckle], he had to have stitches in his hand as well."
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Strictly contestant calls the police and almost turned down the show after being targeted by stalker who issued 'disgusting threats'
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Chris Robshaw was forced to call the police after being targeted by a female stalker who issued 'disgusting threats'. The former rugby legend, 39, was one of the 15 celebrities to be announced for the BBC show this week, however, it has emerged that Chris nearly turned down the gig due to his shocking situation. The Sun reports that the sports star, who is married to opera singer Camilla Kerslake, 37, was subjected to a campaign of harassment from the woman after briefly meeting her twice at work events last year. Six months after their meeting, Chris was then said to have been targeted by the woman who proceeded to threaten violence and spread false allegations about him and his colleagues - causing Chris to contact the cops. It is reported that the woman, who is now on the National Police Wanted List, has fled the country and is being pursued by the police. A source told The Sun: 'Chris almost turned down Strictly because of what this woman has been putting him and his family through. She's made some disgusting threats. It has been awful for them. 'Chris and Camilla have been told by the police they're not alone. This woman has form for what she's been doing to them and has done it to other people too.' They added that the couple, who tied the knot in 2018, are the 'latest victims' in a 'string of lives' the woman attempted to 'destroy. Strictly bosses are said to be aware of Chris' ordeal and are supporting him. The insider added that Chris 'bit the bullet' and only went ahead with his Strictly stint for the sake of his son Wilding, four, who told his dad that he wanted 'mummy to laugh at your dancing'. They told how he'd been 'honest' with the BBC from the get go, with the broadcaster having been 'amazing' in 'supporting' Chris and are aware of everything that's happened. Chris' ordeal reportedly began in July last year when he attended the same event as the woman, who proceeded to make damning allegations about him and wife Camilla, whom he shares two sons with. The woman, who was known to the police, even posted their address online and called up companies Chris and Camilla worked with to spread her 'farcical' lies in an attempt to ruin their lives. The insider noted that it has been an 'absolutely terrible' time for the couple, stating that Chris has 'no idea' why he was targeted seeing as he was 'never alone' with the woman and 'barely spoke' to her. The insider noted that it has been an 'absolutely terrible' time for the couple [pictured in 2024], stating that Chris has 'no idea' why he was targeted seeing as he was 'never alone' with the woman and 'barely spoke' to her Classical singer Camilla was also targeted as the woman recently contacted a company Camilla auditioned for, with her claims about the couple said to be 'stomach churning' and have pushed them to 'utter devastation'. The source to continued: 'It's deeply frightening that no one has been able to stop her, she's fled the country, and has been clever to avoid arrest. They've been advised by their case officer that the minute this woman steps back onto UK soil, she will be arrested.' It is said that the stalker was previously arrested in December and was released with a caution, but went on to continue with her campaign of harassment and has now left the UK. Chris is thought to just want to 'crack on' with the competition and make his children 'proud', with the BBC working alongside him to ensure his safety. Daily Mail have contacted Strictly and Chris' representatives for comment, with a spokesperson for Chris stating: 'This is an ongoing police investigation, and therefore we are unable to comment at this time.
