The Crown (2016 scr Peter Morgan)

Claire Foy finally growing some balls and telling off a great Churchill, John Lithgow. 'Act of God' - Matt Smith up in the clear air (why's he learning to fly in a biplane?) and the London fog that killed 12,000. Cross cutting, back to Jared Harris. It's not Victoria, but it's good.

Vanessa Kirby (Margaret), Alex Jennings (Lady in the Van - Duke of Windsor), Ben Miles (Margaret's beau - this is not Rufus Sewell), Victoria Hamilton (Q. mother), Eileen Atkins, Jeremy Northam, Lia Williams, Greg Wise, Pip Torrens, Harriet Walter, Harry Hadden-Paton.

Morgan wrote The Queen, thus is on familiar ground, as well as Frost/Nixon, The Last King of Scotland, The Jury, Rush, Clint Eastwood flop Hereafter. He's nothing to do with Abi Morgan. The writing is good, solid craftsmanship, nothing particularly amazing though. Some of it's less interesting than others bits, in Queen being thwarted at every turn a little predictable and repetitive, though like scenes between Churchill and painter Graham Sutherland, well played by Stephen Dillane.

Adriano Goldman's photography good (Burnt and Osage August County).