The Pillars of the Earth ( miniseries ) - wikipedia The Pillars of the Earth ( miniseries ) The Pillars of the Earth Genre Historical drama Based on The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Screenplay by John Pielmeier Story by Ken Follett Directed by Sergio Mimica - Gezzan Starring Ian McShane Theme music composer Trevor Morris Country of origin Canada Germany Hungary Original language ( s ) English No. of episodes 8 ( List of episodes ) Production Producer ( s ) Executive producers : David A. Rosemont Jonas Bauer Tim Halkin Michael Prupas David W. Zucker Rola Bauer Tony Scott Ridley Scott Producers : John Ryan Running time ( Episodes ) 45 minutes ( Full running time ) 428 minutes Production company ( s ) Tandem Communications Muse Entertainment Enterprises Scott Free Budget $40 million Release Original network The Movie Network Movie Central Starz Sat. 1 Original release July 23 ( 2010 - 07 - 23 ) -- August 27, 2010 ( 2010 - 08 - 27 ) Chronology Followed by World Without End External links Website www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv The Pillars of the Earth is an eight - part 2010 TV miniseries, adapted from Ken Follett 's novel of the same name. It debuted in the U.S. on Starz and in Canada on The Movie Network / Movie Central on July 23, 2010. Its UK premiere was on Channel 4 in October 2010 at 9pm. In 2011, the series was nominated for 3 Golden Globes, including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Ian McShane for Best Actor and Hayley Atwell for Best Actress at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Differences from the novel 2 Cast 2.1 Additional Cast 3 Production 3.1 Historical accuracy 4 Broadcast 5 Episodes 6 Reception 7 Awards and nominations 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Overview Like the novel on which it is based, the miniseries centres on the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge during a tumultuous period of English history known as The Anarchy in the 12th century. Differences from the novel A number of character changes were made for the series. For example, Waleran is older and Remigius is younger in the series than the novel. Similarly the actors playing Alfred, Jack, Richard, and Aliena are initially older than those portrayed in the novel. Also, the characters of Henry of Blois, Andrew Sacrist, Milius the kitchener, or Thomas Becket are not introduced in the series. The incestuous fixation of Regan to her son William in episode 2 is not introduced in the novel. Further, the thief character who attacks Martha and steals their pig is merged to become the monk Johnny Eightpence. Character events were also modified on occasion. Shareburg, Ellen 's lover and the father of Jack, is not hanged but burnt at the stake, and does not sing the minstrel song seen in the novel. In the TV series, Ellen is not pregnant at that time ( but holds a baby ) and does not use a cockerel during her curse. The romantic tryst between Ellen and Tom in the woods after the death of Agnes as per the novel does not occur, rather they become closer after Ellen states that Jack needs a master builder to apprentice to. Similarly, Alfred is not seen physically bullying Martha or Jack in the series either. The execution scene of Bartholomew ( and Aliena 's appeal to Stephen for mercy, and Stephen 's offer of a knighthood to Richard ) in episode 3 do not occur in the novel, where he simply languishes and dies alone in prison. Also, Jack does not duel Walter for the rights to the quarry as shown in episode 3, nor have his hand broken. In the novel Percy Hamleigh dies of unknown causes, whereas in episode 4 he is bled to death by his ambitious wife Regan, and the poisoning of Jack in episode 6 was added by the series. Several plot changes also happened. For example, the body of the saint in the burning church is not saved as per the novel, but the body-less skull is lost in the inferno. Also, in the series, Tom tells Jack to sculpt a stone statue of St. Adolphus. In the novel Henry of Blois ( and not Stephen ) visits the cathedral work - site, and in episode 4, it is Jack ( and not Richard as per the novel ) who accompanies Philip to Lincoln. Episode 5 's lake scene where Aliena swims and later rescues Alfred from drowning is not seen in the novel. The tales of Jack and Aliena travelling in Spain are not shown in episode 7. Further, rather than being given a weeping statue in Toledo as detailed in the novel, Jack carves one himself from wood and a rejected stone from St. Denis. Philip 's loss of the priorship to Remegius, Cuthbert 's assassination attempt on Jack, and William murdering Regan are also creations seen in episode 7 of the series. Alfred dies at the hands of Richard in the novel, rather than a poisoned knife as seen in episode 8. Similarly, Waleran falls off the cathedral and dies in the series ( compared to being disgraced for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket portrayed in the novel ). Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Waleran and the Hamleighs are not mentioned in the novel as being present on the White Ship nor attacking the young prince and his wife. Cast Ian McShane as Waleran Bigod Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder Matthew Macfadyen as Philip Eddie Redmayne as Jack Hayley Atwell as Aliena Sarah Parish as Regan Hamleigh Natalia Wörner as Ellen Anatole Taubman as Remigius John Pielmeier as Cuthbert Robert Bathurst as Percy Hamleigh Clive Wood as King Henry I Sam Claflin as Richard Liam Garrigan as Alfred David Oakes as William Hamleigh Götz Otto as Walter Tony Curran as Stephen Donald Sutherland as Bartholomew Alison Pill as Maud Gordon Pinsent as Archbishop Additional Cast In alphabetical order Feodor Atkine as Abbot Suger David Bark - Jones as Francis Skye Bennett as Martha young Freddie Boath as Henry 15 years old Douglas Booth as Eustace 15 years old Matt Devere as Gloucester Kate Dickie as Agnes Ken Follett as Merchant Jody Halse as Johnny Eightpence Emily Holt as Martha older Sidney Johnston as Jonathan 4 -- 5 years old Skye Lourie as Elizabeth Michael A. Mehlmann as Prior James Mark Phelan as Otto Tibor Pintér as Shareburg Kevin Rees as Jonathan 30 years old Brooke Dean as Maud - 6 years old Production Donald Sutherland, Hayley Atwell, Natalia Wörner, Rufus Sewell and Ken Follett The miniseries took about a year to produce, at a cost of US $40 million. The project was funded by the German production company Tandem Communications, the Canadian film company Muse Entertainment Enterprises, and the UK and U.S. based Scott Free Productions. It was filmed in Austria and Hungary in 2009. The final aerial shot is of modern - day Salisbury with a CGI cathedral combining elements of Salisbury Cathedral and Wells Cathedral, to represent the complete fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral, which were the two cathedrals which inspired Follett during the writing of the novel. The series was followed by an adaptation of the sequel World Without End in 2012. Historical accuracy Several ahistorical timelines of The Anarchy were modified or invented for the series, and in the view of one reviewer `` great liberties are taken with the actual history ''. For example the birth of Henry II and the death of his grandfather Henry I timelines are shortened in episode 1, given that young Henry was born in March 1133, and the older Henry died in December 1135. Further, geographically, Henry II was living in Maine when Henry I fell ill in Normandy while hunting. Similarly in episode 4, both King Stephen and Robert of Gloucester are captured at the Battle of Lincoln. While it is accurate that Stephen was captured in Lincoln in early February 1141 ( and later imprisoned in Bristol ), Gloucester was not captured until more than seven months later in the Rout of Winchester in mid-September. Similarly, other historical characters were given premature deaths. For example, the nameless Archbishop of Canterbury seen in episodes 1 - 6 ( historically Theobald of Bec ) was not murdered, but served throughout the period of The Anarchy from 1138 - 1161, and he died after a long illness. Similarly Maud 's illegitimate half - brother, Robert of Gloucester, did not die nor was beheaded on the battlefield as shown in episode 7. Rather he died in 1147 at Bristol Castle, where he had previously imprisoned King Stephen. Finally, while Eustace does precede his father Stephen in death, it was not at the hands of his cousin Henry in battle as shown in episode 8, but probably due to a fit or seizure. Broadcast The premiere was simulcast on both Starz and Encore. On Starz 423,000 people watched, and on Encore 267,000 people watched, for a total of 690,000 total viewers. In the Starz broadcast, episodes 1 and 2, as a series premiere, and episodes 7 and 8, as a series finale, were broadcast together as a single episode. In the 2011 broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the series was re-cut into nine episodes. In December 2012, the series was shown in Australia by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in four parts at weekly intervals, combining pairs of episodes each with a single introduction. Episodes No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers ( millions ) `` Anarchy '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier July 23, 2010 ( 2010 - 07 - 23 ) 0.690 The succession to the crown of England is left in doubt after the heir apparent to the throne dies in the White Ship disaster in 1120. Eighteen years later, in 1138, this lack of heir causes Henry I of England 's daughter, Maud, and nephew, Stephen, to compete for the throne. Church politics see Philip, a monk, elected as the new prior of Kingsbridge, which leaves him indebted to Archdeacon, and soon to be Bishop, Waleran. Lady Aliena of Shiring rejects the marriage proposal of William Hamleigh, and Tom Builder and his family are left destitute when William Hamleigh dismisses them from building his house. While in the forest, they meet Ellen and Jack, a mother and son living free in the woods. After the death of Tom 's wife, Agnes, in childbirth, and the abandoning of the newborn, the group end up at Shiring Castle just as it is attacked by the ever ambitious Hamleighs. `` Master Builder '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier July 23, 2010 ( 2010 - 07 - 23 ) 0.690 Tom, Ellen, and the children make their way to Kingsbridge Priory and encounter Tom 's abandoned baby taken in by the monks. A fire started by Jack destroys Kingsbridge church and its holy relic, giving Tom, his son Alfred, and stepson Jack the chance to settle down and build a new cathedral. Prior Philip learns the power of politics when he gets caught between Bishop Waleran and the Hamleighs ' machinations for Shiring Castle. Kingsbridge is rocked by Alfred 's accusation of Ellen being a witch, and a trial that Waleran personally oversees. William and his underling, Walter, ambush Aliena and Richard in a brutal attack at Shiring that leaves both siblings scarred. Aliena makes a life - long promise to her father, Earl Bartholomew to regain the family honour, and Ellen makes a daring escape. `` Redemption '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier July 30, 2010 ( 2010 - 07 - 30 ) 0.298 In Winchester, Aliena appeals to the king for clemency for her father, but Bartholomew is beheaded publicly anyway, and Richard is offered a knighthood. Aliena then starts a fleece middleman business to help earn money for Richard 's expenses. Tom, Philip and William find themselves in a standoff over access to the Shiring quarry, and Jack is injured in a duel with Walter. Waleran and Regan plot to have the cathedral moved from Kingsbridge to Shiring, and invite the king to Kingsbridge to observe the feast day of St. Adolphus. Despite his injury, Jack 's artistic talents take hold as he carves and paints a statue to honour the cathedral 's patron saint. After Philip recruits peasants to assist with building, King Stephen visits the cathedral work site but collapses in a nightmare - induced fit before the statue. `` Battlefield '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier August 6, 2010 ( 2010 - 08 - 06 ) 0.361 Four years later, in 1141, in Shiring, Regan hastens her husband 's death for the sake of her son, and arranges to have Waleran absolve William of all past and future sins. Meanwhile, Maud is besieged at Lincoln Castle, and it is unclear when Robert of Gloucester can come to her aid. King Stephen holds court in Winchester, and William applies to have his father 's title transferred to him, only to learn that Richard, now a battle - hardened knight, is also a claimant. Aliena, now a wealthy merchant, is in town to support her brother. Later, Philip travels to Lincoln to reclaim quarry rights - but Stephen is frightened by Jack 's appearance and orders his death. The battle between Stephen and Gloucester sees each side 's leader being taken hostage. The Hamleighs and Waleran switch allegiance, and Philip is tortured under Waleran 's orders. 5 `` Legacy '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier August 13, 2010 ( 2010 - 08 - 13 ) 0.364 Philip is rescued by his brother Francis, and finds Jack `` risen from the dead ''. Waleran and Regan manipulate the prisoner exchange so that they remain on the winning side of the war, and Waleran helps Gloucester by suggesting a replacement for the king 's son, Eustace. The Hamleighs and Philip are offered terms by Maud to Shiring 's estate and resources, but at a steep price. Tom wants Jack and Alfred to be friends, but Alfred 's jealousy over Jack and inheriting his father 's tools is too intense, and he smashes all of Jack 's gargoyles. To resolve the tension, Jack is offered an assistant and overseer position by Philip, on the condition that he takes the vows of a monk - he accepts the deal against Ellen 's wishes. Meanwhile, William is encouraged by Waleran to attack Kingsbridge and stop the fleece fair. In the ensuing chaos and inferno, Aliena is burnt and Tom is murdered by William. 6 `` Witchcraft '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier August 20, 2010 ( 2010 - 08 - 20 ) 0.432 The dead from William 's raid are buried, and Richard returns from war to find his sister penniless and unable to support his knighthood. Alfred offers himself to Prior Philip as master builder, and also to Richard as sponsor, and Aliena has to choose between her feelings for Jack and her oath to her father. Both Alfred and William marry, although both brides are soon victims of cruelty. Ellen, having cursed the marriage, helps Jack escape the priory, and he leaves for France. Regan murders the Archbishop, and eight months later, forces Waleran to intercede about William 's long - delayed earldom. The ceiling disaster at Kingsbridge becomes a way for Waleran to replace Philip. In the rubble, Aliena gives birth to Jack 's son and is thrown out by Alfred, but Ellen encourages her to seek her lover. Meanwhile, Jack admires the revolutionary Gothic work being done at the Basilica of St Denis. 7 `` New Beginnings '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier August 27, 2010 ( 2010 - 08 - 27 ) 0.607 It is 1146, and after his time in St. Denis, Jack learns how to fulfil Tom 's dream of a high cathedral filled with light. Aliena successfully tracks Jack in France and the two reunite. As they return, they arrive in Cherbourg where he learns of his father ( with author Ken Follett in a cameo role ) and meets his family. Meanwhile, Waleran offers Philip the archdeacon position but he declines it due to Waleran 's ambitions. In battle, Richard slays Gloucester, pleasing the king, who can only repay him by asking that he to go on crusade. With the arrival of Jack 's weeping statue, Kingsbridge becomes prosperous again, infuriating Regan and William, who plan another attack. Tipped off by Elizabeth, however, Philip is able to rally resistance from the townsfolk who unite to build a town wall. Philip regains control after Cuthbert dies in a failed attempt on Jack 's life, and William tires of his mother 's insatiable control over him. 8 `` The Work of Angels '' Sergio Mimica - Gezzan John Pielmeier August 27, 2010 ( 2010 - 08 - 27 ) 0.607 Ten years later, in 1156, Richard returns from crusade seeking again his title, which is finally granted to him by Eustace. With the support of Elizabeth and Aliena, he is able to reclaim Shiring Castle after a duel with Walter. Meanwhile, Jack 's fixation with the cathedral and the appearance of cracks in its roof leads to tension with Aliena. Waleran 's continued scheming leads to the death of Alfred and the arrest of Jack by the newly appointed Sheriff, William. Stephen 's hopes are shattered with the death of his son in battle. At Jack 's trial, Ellen produces Shareburg 's letter, and Martha produces his ring, as evidence of Waleran 's complicity in the murder of Prince William on the White Ship. In the chaos of the trial, both William and Waleran die, and Jack and Aliena finally marry. 14 years later, in 1170, the cathedral and its glass windows are finally finished. Reception The series was `` Certified Fresh '' with a rating of 86 % by the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. As quoted on their website, `` With its talented cast and strong production values, Pillars of the Earth is the kind of satisfying, eventful miniseries that is rarely seen these days. '' Awards and nominations Year Association Recipient ( s ) Result Ref. 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for ( one Hour ) for the episode `` The Work of Angels '' Marcel Pothier Christian Rivest Dominik Pagacz Guy Pelletier Antoine Morin Tom Trafalski Guy Francoeur Won 2011 Gemini Awards Outstanding Sound for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for ( one Hour ) for the episode `` The Work of Angels '' Marcel Pothier Christian Rivest Dominik Pagacz Guy Pelletier Antoine Morin Tom Trafalski Guy Francoeur Won See also The Pillars of the Earth ( video game ) List of historical drama films References Jump up ^ Chozick, Amy ( July 23, 2010 ). `` Small Screens, Big Budgets ''. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 6, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Pillars of the Earth - Muse Entertainment ''. Muse. Retrieved January 7, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Ken Follett : Is Kingsbridge real ? ''. Ken Follett. Retrieved December 25, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Ken Follett on the Cathedrals in The Pillars of the Earth ''. Oprah.com. May 3, 2010. Jump up ^ The Pillars of the Earth -- A Few Final Words ( 1 ) Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 25 ^ Jump up to : Seidman, Robert ( July 26, 2010 ). `` Starz ' The Pillars of the Earth Draws 690,000 For Premiere Between Starz & Encore ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Seidman, Bill ( August 2, 2010 ). `` Friday Cable : Huge Night for iCarly + Eureka, Haven, The Pillars of the Earth & More ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Seidman, Robert ( August 9, 2010 ). `` Friday Cable : Phineas and Ferb + Eureka, Haven, The Pillars of the Earth & More ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Seidman, Robert ( August 16, 2010 ). `` Friday Cable : Den Brother + Eureka, Haven, The Pillars of the Earth & More ''. TV but the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Seidman, Robert ( August 23, 2010 ). `` Friday Cable : Eureka Down a Bit ; Suite Life on Deck Draws Over 4 Million & More ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Seidman, Robert ( August 30, 2010 ). `` ' Pillars of the Earth Finishes on a High Note ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 6, 2015. Jump up ^ PILLARS OF THE EARTH ( 2010 - 2010 ) https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pillars-of-the-earth/ Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26 Jump up ^ `` Person of Interest ''. Emmys.com. Retrieved September 20, 2011. Jump up ^. Academy.ca http://www.emmys.com/shows/. Retrieved September 7, 2011. 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