For Philippa believed that a sixth sense – you could call it a “hunch” – had led her to the 1485 burial site of King Richard III which had eluded “proper” historians for centuries. But, as they opened the very first trench, two leg bones appeared, followed by a twisted spine.
Comic actor Farnaby suddenly felt horribly miscast. They should have gone for Jennie Bond. But this slight film twists the story into an underpowered underdog drama.
Sally Hawkins is sales rep Philippa who suffers from ME, has been passed over for promotion, and has developed an unlikely kinship with the hunchbacked king, much derided by Shakespeare’s play.
After being visited by the dead king’s ghost (Harry Lloyd), she hits the library to search for his grave, to the dismay of her loving husband (Steve Coogan).
When we get to the dig, Channel 4 and Farnaby are weirdly absent. Here, the villains are the suits from the University of Leicester, who initially ridicule Philippa but go on to take credit for her discovery.
It is an interesting and quietly inspiring yarn but nothing here comes close to that nugget of pure TV gold.
The Lost King is in cinemas now (certificate 12A).
