A GROUND-BREAKING TV series, which is filmed in part at Knebworth House, starts at 9pm on Channel 4 tonight (Sunday). Five episodes of The Queen explore key events in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, mixing dramatised scenes with news archives and testimo

A GROUND-BREAKING TV series, which is filmed in part at Knebworth House, starts at 9pm on Channel 4 tonight (Sunday).

Five episodes of The Queen explore key events in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, mixing dramatised scenes with news archives and testimonies from Royal insiders.

Five leading British actresses, including Diana Quick and Emilia Fox, play the Queen at pivotal times in her life.

The episodes will cover events such as Princess Margaret's affair in 1955, the kidnap attempt on Princess Anne in 1974, and the tension between the Crown and the Government in 1986. The series concludes with Prince Charles' marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.

Knebworth House features in episode four, which will be broadcast on Wednesday, December 2.

With Barbara Flynn playing the Queen, the episode reveals how the Monarch coped with a catalogue of scandals involving her family, as well as the fire in Windsor Castle.

The formal gardens at Knebworth doubled for the grounds at Kensington Palace, the picture gallery became part of Buckingham Palace, the library doubled for Windsor Castle, and the dining room became part of Kensington Palace.

Martha Lytton Cobbold, who lives at Knebworth House, said: "This is one of many filming projects that we have had at Knebworth this year and we have enjoyed working closely and in partnership with them all. It is terribly exciting for all to see the end result."

For more information about The Queen, visit www.sceneonscreen.co.uk