The Great, Series One

Category: Press Pack

Production company: Civic Center Media in association with MRC Television


The Great is a satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. It’s modern love story that incorporates historical facts, occasionally.


It is the fictionalised, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl (Elle Fanning), who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter (Nicholas Hoult). Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside.


Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Sebastian de Souza, Bayo Gbadamosi and Belinda Bromilow complete the cast.


The Great is a 10-part comedy drama that airs at 9pm on Sunday, 3rd January on Channel 4 
• C4 press contact: Georgie Hobbs; GHobbs@Channel4.co.uk
• C4 Pictures contact; Stephen Green; SGreen@Channel4.co.uk

Includes interviews with:
• Tony McNamara, Writer
And cast members:
• Elle Fanning; Empress Catherine
• Nicholas Hoult, Emperor Peter
• Phoebe Fox, Marial
• Sacha Dhawan; Count Orlo