UKTV, Viasat read Russian love letters

UKTV and Viasat’s World History Channel have greenlit a two-part factual series on the roles of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra in the Russian Revolution, told through the couple’s love letters.

UK indie Back2Back is working on Nicholas & Alexandra: The Letters (2×60’) which will air on UKTV’s Yesterday channel and on World History internationally.

The films mark the centenary of the execution of the last emperor of Russia and his family in 1918. Distribution of the docs is being handled by Flame.

The documentaries will include contributions from historians and experts on the Russian Revolution.

Back2Back MD David Notman-Watt, who is the executive producer, said: “Nicholas and Alexandra’s letters not only reveal their affectionate and humane sides, but also their cavalier attitude to politics, ruling Russia, and its people, which culminated in the 1917 Russian Revolution.

“To be honest, on first read some of these letters can come across as a draft script for an episode of Love Island – it’s not what I expected at all, and that’s an understatement.”

In related news, UKTV has greenlit a second season of medical series DR Christian Will See You Now (8×60’) for its W channel from Firecracker Films.