In the first episode, experts examine how Henry VIII's traumatic childhood affected his personality, from the death of his older brother to the tragic early death of his beloved mother.

A journey through the marriages, affairs and politics of King Henry VIII's reign, exploring how his obsession with marrying Anne Boleyn resulted in a cataclysmic split with the Roman catholic Church.

The series concludes with a look at the king's final years,when the pain caused by an infected ulcer on his leg had a detrimental impact on his increasingly angry temperament. Lauren Johnson examines the king's exotic diet, including meat from porpoises and seals, and considers its impact on both his weight and his health. Plus, a look at a Catholic rebellion and the breakdown of Henry's relationship with advisor Thomas Cromwell.