Frankie Boyle to front Channel 4's alternative royal Coronation coverage

16 April 2023 , 21:30

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Frankie Boyle with artist Kit Green as Queen Elizabeth, in Frankie's Boyle's Farewell to the Monarchy (Image: Dean Belcher / Channel 4)

Frankie Boyle is at the helm of Channel 4's royal coverage ahead of King Charles' Coronation next month.

The comedian, 50, will look at the history of the monarchy with his typical wry humour, while satire The Windsors returns for a coronation special, and Emily Maitlis will speak about her infamous interview with Prince Andrew in a new documentary.

The coronation is set to take place on Saturday, May 6 at Westminster Abbey, with a catalogue of royal events to mark the occasion.

And Channel 4 is setting out to provide alternative royal programming.

The broadcaster's chief content officer, Ian Katz, said: “Channel 4 exists to provide viewers with an alternative, so as the nation is engulfed by pomp, circumstance and forelock-tugging, we’ll be offering a rather less reverential slate of programmes including Frankie Boyle’s case against the monarchy and the Windsors’ scabrous satirical take on the coronation.”

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Frankie Boyle to front Channel 4's alternative royal Coronation coverage

Frankie Boyle presents a programme on the monarchy (GETTY)

Frankie's Boyle's Farewell to the Monarchy will air in the build up to the coronation, providing a different perspective on the history of the royal family and its modern-day goings on, as the comedian asks whether the royal family has a place in today’s world.

The often controversial comedian said ahead of the show: “ Increasingly, the British monarchy appear like animals in a zoo that’s fallen on hard times – fidgety, balding, pacing up and down their marble cage, pausing only to chew their own tail off or commit a sex crime out of boredom.”

King Charles III will be coronated on May 6 (Getty Images)

As well as this, The Windsors returns, with Harry Enfield reprising his role as King Charles, who is preparing for the coronation. Hugh Skinner once again plays Prince Williams, while Richard Goulding is Prince Harry, and Kathryn Drysdale portrays Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

In Andrew- The Problem Prince, Emily Maitlis speaks in detail about the interview that shook the monarchy and the world in November 2019.

The two-part documentary series uses archive footage, interviews with BBC producer Sam McAlister and access to palace insiders, to uncover the inside story of Prince Andrew's disastrous Newsnight interview and examine the scandal that led to his spectacular fall from grace.

The Windsors returns for a royal special (Channel 4)

On the day of the coronation, Channel 4 will have an alternative schedule (to be confirmed) that will provide an escape from the pomp and ceremony elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the BBC has announced the line-up for the Coronation Concert, with Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie performing.

Performers will also include Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench, with more acts yet to be announced.

Emily Maitlis will speak about her interview with Prince Andrew (BBC)

The event, on May 7, will be held in the grounds of Windsor Castle in front of a crowd of 20,000, will be broadcast across BBC TV and radio.

The BBC said Take That's performance will feature three of the original members, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen and also offer the chance for Robbie Williams and Jason Orange to rejoin for a one-off reunion.