Nostradamus

TV debut for 'chancer' Nostradamus

He has been credited with predicting the death of kings, the rise of tyrants and catastrophes like 9/11, but Nostradamus was just a 'chancer', according to the man who has brought the prophet of doom to the small screen.

Scriptwriter John Milne, a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, has uncovered the myth and speculation behind the legendary figure in the Discovery Channel's first ever factual drama, tomorrow night (Wednesday 17 May, 2006, 9pm).

The lecturer of English says Nostradamus, whose cryptic poems are still claimed by some to have predicted events from the rise of Hitler to the destruction of the space shuttle Challenger, was handsome, charming and an opportunist, contrary to public opinion.

Bermondsey-born John said:

"People have an image of Nostradamus as an old man; a wizard-type figure with white hair and a long beard, but we've portrayed him as a handsome young man, a bit of a charmer really. He was a complex personality though, and the programme is about revealing the person behind the myth.

"It's a real historical story of a man who was involved in some amazing events. It explores his relationship with the French Queen, Catherine de Medici, and how he predicted the death of King Henry II, who was killed when a lance punctured his eye."

The programme, which stars Oliver Dimsdale (He Knew He Was Right) as the prophet and Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave, Waking the Dead) as Catherine de Medici, is based on actual events and information from historical documents and private journals.

"It's a fascinating story, but in my opinion, Nostradamus was just a plague doctor who took his chance. In an age of global terror, his predictions still strike a chord because they seem to address some deep-seated need in human nature to find a way to explain seemingly inexplicable events; the feeling that there could be something more out there".

Born Michel de Nostredame in 1503, Nostradamus has become one of the world's most widely known and read prophets. He wrote 942 cryptic 'quatrains', which he organised into 'Centuries'.

John Milne has written for The Bill, Silent Witness and Waking the Dead. His other television credits include episodes of Bergerac, Eastenders, Lovejoy and Taggart. Also a novelist, John's first book Tyro was published in 1982. His other works include Out of the Blue, which won the John Llewellyn Rhys Award in 1985, Daddy's Girl and Alive and Kicking.

He is currently writing a biopic on the early life of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II for BBC/Wall to Wall TV.

'Nostradamus' (Menthorn Films/Discovery Channel) is on the Discovery Channel on Wednesday 17 May at 9pm.