Episode One: The Monster

During Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign, seven young men, many of
them teenagers, made the fateful decision to attack her. After
each attempt the news shot through Britain like lightning –
journalists, politicians, police and the public all clamoured for
information.  Why on earth did they do it?  Dr Bob Nicholson is
an expert in Victorian journalism and popular culture, but the
seven assailants were unknown to him – even though their lives
intertwined with the most famous woman on the planet. Bob sifts
through the police archives, census returns, court reports and
the grubby world of Victorian newspapers to piece together their
stories, and try and establish the motives of the seven.


The first to attack the Queen was 18 year-old Edward Oxford, who
worked clearing glasses in a London pub. One day in June 1840 he
walked to Buckingham Palace, took a duelling pistol from his
pocket and fired at Victoria as she passed by in her carriage.
Oxford’s target was just 21 years old and pregnant with her first
child. Victoria was unhurt, but shocked. Oxford is caught and put
on trial for high treason; within hours, journalists and
detectives try to uncover the young assassin’s story. Bob carries
out detective work of his own and discovers a traumatic family
history that may hold the key to Edward Oxford’s infamous crime.