“There was a slightly more ambiguous ending to that story in the original script.
We decided to cut it this way in the end.
And you want fairly conclusive endings.”
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CreatorJulian Fellowessays there was also a more emotional reason for choosing to resolve Barrow’s story more positively.
“He just had such a difficult experience one episode after another,” the producer reflects.
Though this different ending was the most crucial cut they made, it wasn’t the only one.
The script as a whole could have gone in any number of directions.
Neame says they explored several different ideas before landing on the central plot of a royal visit.
“We decided this was the right thing,” he notes.
“It had the right tone.
Not to mention, he was inspired by real history.
