Mary Villiers’ cruel and abusive husband, Sir George Villiers, is dead and has left Mary and her family destitute. With Mary’s eldest son, John, unable to marry into wealth, Mary decides to send her beautiful but petulant second son George off to France to learn the ways of the Royal Court and return an eligible bachelor.

Meanwhile, Mary, who in George’s absence has married the reliable, but unremarkable, Sir Thomas Compton, spots an opportunity to rise when she hears the King may visit. But Mary’s plan to impress the King is scuppered when Somerset makes excuses to prevent anyone from meeting the King. Mary senses a rift in the King and Somerset’s relationship and spies an opening for George.

Once George returns from France older, wiser and dirtier, Mary, puts in to plan the opportunity for George to get close to the King as a cupbearer at a Royal feast. She knows the King has a soft spot for beautiful young men. This is their opportunity to rise.

With the help of Queen Anne, George is accepted into the King’s circle, where he battles with Somerset for the King’s affection. During a hunt at the Royal Palace, George pushes himself to the very limit to make an impression on the King and keep Somerset at bay.

Elsewhere, Mary is forced to turn her attention to her son John, whose behaviour is getting more troubling. She seeks an alliance with Sir Edward Coke by marrying John to his daughter, Frances. But Mary’s plans are blocked when she meets her match in Lady Hatton, the fabulously wealthy and cynical mother of Frances.

On the back foot, Mary finds an unlikely ally in a sex worker called Sandie. But when one of the King’s closest advisors, Sir David, attains vital information about Mary’s past that threatens to expose George’s position in the King’s circle, Mary and Sandie devise a plan to dispatch Sir David. But unbeknown to them, Francis Bacon, a scheming and dangerous political juggernaut, is plotting Mary’s demise.

We open with Sir Walter Raleigh in Guyana who has just suffered devastating losses after attacking the Spanish. Back in England, Spanish diplomat Gondomar demands James seize Raleigh or risk war with Spain. George, instructed by Mary to prove his political nous and influence, forces his way into the political inner circle of James, Coke and Bacon, but ends up biting off more than he can chew when he finds himself in an impossibly complicated political dilemma.

Elsewhere, Mary desperately tries to keep Frances in line and puts pressure on George to marry the wealthy but boring Katherine Manners.

Anti-Spanish riots have taken hold of the city. With the Crown plunged into debt, George must convince the King to open Parliament to request additional funds. But by doing so, he accidentally unleashes a tidal wave of anger towards the corruption that has taken hold of the King’s court. An investigation is launched, and George finds himself firmly in the firing line.

Meanwhile, Mary has her own battles to fight. Ghosts from the past threaten to tear down all that she has built.

Mary & George available now on Sky Atlantic & NOW