{"id":29177,"date":"2014-12-14T00:02:15","date_gmt":"2014-12-14T05:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/quotulatiousness.ca\/blog\/?p=29177"},"modified":"2021-04-02T14:13:08","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T18:13:08","slug":"new-bbc-historical-tv-series-as-accurate-as-possible-except-for-the-codpieces-being-too-small","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quotulatiousness.ca\/blog\/2014\/12\/14\/new-bbc-historical-tv-series-as-accurate-as-possible-except-for-the-codpieces-being-too-small\/","title":{"rendered":"New BBC historical TV series as accurate as possible … except for the codpieces being “too small”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apparently, the fear was that US TV audiences would be shocked by authentic sized boasting pieces<\/a>:<\/p>\n

They may have been the crowning glory for any right-thinking Tudor gentleman, but it appears the traditional codpiece may be a little too much for American television viewers.<\/p>\n

The stars of Wolf Hall<\/em>, the BBC\u2019s new period drama based on the novels of Hilary Mantel, have disclosed they have been issued with \u201csmaller\u201d-than average codpieces, out of respect for viewers’ sensibilities.<\/p>\n

Mark Rylance, who stars as Thomas Cromwell in the forthcoming BBC series, said programme-makers had decided on \u201cvery small codpieces\u201d which had to be \u201ctucked away\u201d.<\/p>\n

He suggested allowances had been made amid concerns about the taste of modern audiences, particularly in America, who \u201cmay not know exactly what\u2019s going on down there\u201d.<\/p>\n

It is one of few concessions permitted by programme-makers, who have otherwise gone to remarkable lengths to ensure historical accuracy, including trips to Shakespeare\u2019s Globe to learn sword-fighting, lessons in etiquette and bowing, and a comprehensive study on spoons. <\/p>\n

Mantel has given her seal of approval to the production, issuing a statement of glowing praise for how it has been adapted on screen.<\/p>\n

Saying she was pleased programme-makers had resisted the temptation to \u201cpatronise\u201d the Tudors to make them \u201ccute\u201d, she said: \u201cMy expectations were high and have been exceeded.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the costumes in a Q&A to launch the BBC show, alongside actors Damian Lewis and Claire Foy, Rylance said they \u201cdid take a while to put on\u201d but praised the overall effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the codpieces are too small,\u201d he added. \u201cI think it was a direction from our American producers PBS [the US public service broadcaster] \u2013 they like very small codpieces which always seemed to be tucked away.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked to clarify, he said: \u201cI wasn\u2019t personally disappointed by the codpieces: I\u2019m a little more used to them than other people from being at the Globe for ten years.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can see for modern audiences, perhaps more in America, they may not know exactly what\u2019s going on down there.\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n