The Tudors, BBC Two

I see that The Tudors can be celebrated as enjoyable tosh, but it would be rather more enjoyable if the central character were played by someone who had more acting ability than Posh Spice.

I think you must have been watching a different person Tim as I find Jonathan Rhys Meyers abilities at portraying his version of Henry to be nothing short of fantastic - instead of trying to make it into a dull book of facts I think he portrays him as a vivid and current character - I find him the most watchable thing on TV and I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Henry in this adaptation - I think without him it wouldn't be half the show it is he's amazing and indispensable!

Well,I read this report with the usual nonchalance that I have adopted with all the previous ones referring to The Tudors..nothing new here..having been a lifelong student of the Tudor period ,in my opinion watching Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII has brought a breath of fresh air to the character in our history books.He has played him with such energy & power that was long needed after all the usual ''stuffy,grandfather'' type Henrys' of the past.. He is magnificent!! extremely watchable & moreish..all I can say is that its a pity Henry didn't have more wives,then we could still have forthcoming pleasure to enjoy!!

Must have been watching an entirely different programme to me. It shows by casting Jonathan as one of the most controversial monarchys in history that a person without Henry VIII's physique can still manage to portray what he looked like. Jonathan is playing the king as he has said in many interviews 'what he would be like in power if he was that age' I think he is naturally gifted as he never attended drama school as he said you cant learn how to act, youve either got it or you havent and he has definitely got it. It may not be historically accurate but its still blooming good TV! I look forward to it all the time, mostly to see Jonathan but also because Im interested in his reign and Jonathan has never dissapointed in any of the seasons. In my opinion the casting directors made the correct choice as most of the actors that have been chosen to play him have looked like Henry, but Jonathan has bought something new to him. Im sorry but I disagree with this article.

Has anyone else noticed an increasingly Irish accent in the aging king...

watched the tudors last week,have avoided it previously as someone with a great interest in history,and being old eneough to remember the keith michell/glenda jackson era,i suspected it would be a shallow attempt to sex up history for the kids.Having now seen it i see i was right,no focus, depth,or any attempt to explain the times portrayed,or challenge the viewer,the performance of mr meyers is jaw dropping(not in a good way!)i keep waiting to hear the other characters whispering that they suspect the king sounds irish and may not be english at all,genius casting, At the centre of all this is a wonder of appalling casting.Jonathan Rhys Meyers,strange as he physically could be henry,who as a young man had a reputation of being handsome and full of energy