The period drama “The Prince and The Pauper” was an early writing commission for Julian Fellowes. Shown in the United Kingdom, it was a classic six-part BBC miniseries Sunday afternoon serial. Based on the novel by Mark Twain about an urchin who swaps places with a prince who just happens to be his exact double – the prince then finds himself on the run with a man wanted for murder. In an interview Fellowes said “Nothing would give me more pleasure than if someone were to say to me when they were an old man, I remember the moment I got into history was when I saw the burning scene in _The Prince and the Pauper._”
As ever, the story was predicated upon the astonishing resemblance between Prince Edward, heir to the British throne, and Tom Canty, the low-born son of a scoundrelly thief (both parts were played on this occasion by Philip Sarson). Of the many subplots, the one taking up most of the screen time dealt with the combined efforts of Edward and Tom to restore the property and reputation of discredited nobleman Miles Herndon (James Purefoy). The story ended with the hapless Tom, posing as the Prince, very nearly being crowned king in Edward’s absence.
The Prince and the Pauper tells the tale of two boys who trade clothing one afternoon and, as a result, they trade lives as well. After many adventures, matters are set right again, with one of the boys resuming his rightful, royal position and the other boy accepting a position that recognizes his innate intelligence and good heartedness. One of these boys is the long-awaited male heir to the throne of England, Edward Tudor, son of Henry VIII. The other boy is Tom Canty, the unloved son of a beggar and thief.
Starring Peter Jeffrey, James Purefoy, Sophia Myles, Keith Michell, Philip Sarson.
Note: There was a previous BBC serial version in 1975 with Nicholas Lyndhurst as Tom & Edward, with June Brown, Martin Friend, Ronald Lacey. At the time of this writing, it appears that neither BBC version is available on region 1 DVD.
There is also a [The Prince and the Pauper (1937)](http://amzn.to/1mGLZqL) starring Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, Henry Stephenson, a Disney live-action version of The [Prince and the Pauper (1962)](http://amzn.to/1mGLVat) starring Guy Williams, Laurence Naismith, [Crossed Swords / The Prince and the Pauper (1977)](http://amzn.to/1OQDnUS) starring Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed, Harry Andrews, Ernest Borgnine, and a [The Prince and the Pauper (2000)](http://amzn.to/1mGM5yz) Hallmark family television movie starring Aidan Quinn, Alan Bates, Jonathan Hyde.