Castle Howard will feature in a new ITV drama based on the life of Queen Victoria.

Created and written by acclaimed novelist Daisy Goodwin in her screenwriting debut and produced by Mammoth Screen, makers of series such as the BBC's Poldark and ITV's Endeavour, Victoria filmed in the house for a week in October. 

BAFTA-nominated actor Rufus Sewell has been cast alongside Jenna Coleman in the new drama series.  The ambitious 8-part drama follows the early life of Queen Victoria , from her accession to the throne at the tender age of 18 through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert.

Rufus Sewell stars as Lord Melbourne, Victoria’s first prime minister. The two immediately connected and their intimate friendship became a popular source of gossip that threatened to destabilise the Government – angering both Tory and Whigs alike.

Jenna and Rufus are joined by a stellar ensemble cast including Paul Rhys as Sir John Conroy, the ambitious controller of the Duchess of Kent’s household, who controlled Victoria’s upbringing, hoping to rule through her, when she came to the throne.

Peter Firth is the Queen’s conniving uncle the Duke of Cumberland and Catherine Flemming plays the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s mother. Eve Myles plays Mrs Jenkins, the Queen’s senior dresser and Adrian Schiller is Penge, the Household Steward.

Nichola McAuliffe is the ruthless Duchess of Cumberland, Daniela Holtz is Victoria’s governess and confidante Baroness Lehzen, and Nell Hudson plays the mysterious new member of the household, Miss Skerrett. Tommy-Lawrence Knight also joins the royal household as the hall boy, Brodie. Nigel Lindsay is Sir Robert Peel, the leader of the Tory party. Alice Orr-Ewing is cast as Lady Flora Hastings, lady-in-waiting to Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. 

The series will open with a 90-minute episode, followed by 7 one-hour episodes.