Cumberbatch to read poem on Channel 4 at King Richard III reinterment

24 March 2015

Channel 4 and Leicester Cathedral today announce that Benedict Cumberbatch will take part in the reinterment service of Richard III on Thursday 26 March which will be broadcast live and exclusively on the channel. 

Cumberbatch will read a new poem written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

The actor was recently identified as a third cousin, 16 times removed of King Richard III.

The poem, entitled ‘Richard,’ is a meditation on the impact of his discovery and on the legacy of his story.  As his tomb will soon be revealed, the 14 line poem includes the phrase ‘grant me the carving of my name’, which is what has at last been achieved in the creation of the tomb in Leicester Cathedral.

Channel 4, which captured the discovery and subsequent identification of Richard’s remains in the award-winning documentary ‘Richard III: The King in the Car Park’, is the only broadcaster showing the burial and key services live.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will reinter King Richard at the service which will be held in the presence of members of the Royal Family and will be the first ceremonial burial of a British monarch since 1952. 

Carol Ann Duffy visited before Christmas to hear the story of Richard lll, his death and being found again under a city carpark. Carol Ann Duffy says 'It is a privilege to be involved, in a small way, in this unique event and to have seen the style and grace with which the City of Leicester has made history alive.'

The Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd David Monteith is delighted to welcome such exceptional talents to participate in creating a service of honour and dignity. “King Richard III’s story has been very significant in our cultural and artistic life for centuries.  Now the cream of writers and performers from our day help us to see our history and indeed ourselves in a new light with flair and imagination.”

Thursday’s service will be the high point of a week of extraordinary ceremonial events that began on Sunday 22nd March with the procession of the King’s mortal remains from the University of Leicester where the remains were scientifically analysed, to the battlefield where he died, then back to Leicester Cathedral to lie ‘in repose’ while visitors numbering in their thousands from around the world have been visiting to pay their respects. 

The service in Leicester Cathedral takes place on Thursday 26th March at 11.30 and will be broadcast live from 10.00 on Channel 4.

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