Reading a poem about your ancestor who is a real life king and which you also play in a tv show.

I love that they did this for him. He's been dead for centuries and there's no-one left alive who remembers him, but they granted him the basic human dignity of a proper burial, just as they did with the Unknown Soldier.

That's how you read a poem. Exceptionally well done.

These comments are horrible. Show some respect, guys, instead of making jokes. I think Benedict did a lovely reading and it was smart move by the people in charge of the burial service and direction to choose him for this. Imagine what a privilege and honour it must have been for him, considering this is a very distant family member he is doing it for.

this beautiful man knows how to read solemnly. just wow.

Benedict Is my 18th cousin through Joan Beaufort. Richard III is also my cousin, what a delight this is to watch 🥰

I think he read this beautiful poem beautifully.

My bones, scripted in light, upon cold soil, a human braille. My skull, scarred by a crown, emptied of history. Describe my soul as incense, votive, vanishing; your own the same. Grant me the carving of my name. These relics, bless. Imagine you re-tie a broken string and on it thread a cross, the symbol severed from me when I died. The end of time - an unknown, unfelt loss - unless the Resurrection of the Dead … or I once dreamed of this, your future breath in prayer for me, lost long, forever found; or sensed you from the backstage of my death, as kings glimpse shadows on a battleground. -- *Richard* by Carol Ann Duffy

Came here after they said a line about Benedict Cumberbatch reading this poem in the movie, love it!

I could listen to his voice forever bouncing off those cathedral walls.

Known throughout history as a villian and more than likely to continue on as to be portrayed as a villian. But re-buried with compassion, honour, dignity, respect and as a King. The myth is now a man.

we, cumbercolletive are very proud of him

Supposedly this was the last English king to die in battle. The post mortem mutilation of his genitals as well as his head prove his enemies feared and respected him. He also had a protruding spinal column that made him a bit of a hunchback. This King was a badass, no wonder the Tudors tried to slander him

This certainly puts a smile on my face! I need to see a recording of the entire ceremony-it is not every day one has the privilege of viewing a funeral for a historical legend like Richard! Plus, Cumberbatch's voice in a cathedral? That cannot go by without a mention-that is something to listen to! And it is insane he is actually related to Richard! I wish I was...

I envisioned Richard the 3rd sounding like Cumberbatch.

He has the same eyes as Richard!

His voice is amazing! So powerful and spine tingling. Just wow! And is he really related to Richard III? OMG! That is crazy and very special!

As an upper level undergrad, I took a course at University of Michigan taught by a wonderful PhD in study of the Tetralogy, and Cumberbatch's work in this segment of Hollow Crown was impeccable. Watching the program was voluntary: we'd studied the text, but she'd featured some clips for our examination. I was enamoured and watched the entire series on DVD. I was so touched at the entire idea of his doing this reading at this solemn event (particularly given his connection to the king) that I sent this clip to my professor for anecdotal use as she wraps up that segment of future classes. I am now a graduate student involved in a research project with the same professor, who has a true passion and talent for British history and literature and is published in same. Anyone who really appreciates the incredible drama that unfolded in the story of this king has to tear up at seeing this clip. I know I did. Cumberbatch could be "posh" a thousand years from Sunday, but his talent and passion is undeniable. I wish I'd discovered his work sooner.

Richard may not have been king for long, but his bloodline does flow thru many a prominent & glorious Brit. You suffered in life & in death. Weep no more, dear king. Your name & family are as celebrated today as they should have been in your own lifetime.

for a moment i thought he waas gonna shout "I AM FIRE! I AM DEATH!" and kick the microphone over :)

he could be a good sith lord

@chris dowell Benedict Cumberbatch's success has nothing to do with him being from a posh family. He is successful because he's got massive amount of talent and put a lot of hard work towards achieving his goals. His family are not really that posh either ... his parents were jobbing actors who sacrificed a lot to send him to a very good school (he supposedly won a drama scholarship to Harrow) hoping he would become a lawyer or something in a more stable profession.

they did much about his fellow relative, but Benedict is one who looks more like Richard than the other cousin. The height, long face, cheek bones. You can see him straight away.

The way he say's "you've own the same" 0:49

Just beautiful.

Benedict Cumberbatch The True King of England God Save The King 👑

Beautiful poem. A beautiful recite by a relative. These historical persons helped to shape all english speaking nations today. A little respect please for all who has gone before us and helped shaped our world.

Majestic. Can't wait for his Richard III and Hamlet.

Good recitation by Cumber... Kept all the technique invisible. First time I heard this I was really impressed by Carol Ann Duffy's poem, but that was first impressions (no doubt buoyed by Benedict's great delivery). On revisiting the text, I find it a little thin in essence, even though the word-crafting is beautiful

I am in love with his hair right now

They first evacuated all young women from the hall, for decency's sake.

This was beautifully symbolic.

My ancestor, Baron Walderne fought for the Planteagents. I never knew Benedict was a relation of theirs though.

This ceremony is all about a respect for history rather than who the person was as king

GOD save the King

The king is dead, long live the king!

As a direct descendant of Richard the III, (I'm his great, great + grand daughter) I was also impressed that Benedict Cumberbatch and I are also related! I'm going to have to research more on the family history to see how, exactly.

On Yorkshire Day..much Love

I can see Sherlock & Khan reading this. I need to see his R3 portrayal 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

awesome

This would've been much better if Cumberbatch read the poem in Smaug's voice.

a song of rain and clouds

The metal detector comment made me laugh my arse off

Why did they not have a big screen in the Cathedral gardens?

Как приятно послушать чистую английскую речь.

Why is there a dude walking around with a metal detector?

Does this make you want to pull an Alan Turing?

Richard III was a (Roman) catholic and should have been given a catholic funeral but here we have his burial dominated by the CofE. Probably because the Church of England is the established Church and closely associated/ aligned with the Crown!!!!

The link to the Channel 4 web page doesn't seem to work?

I'm King

Smaug sounds younger in this...probably due to the lack of dwarfs at the funeral service......

Whats this guys name again? I forget...

So does this mean that bingleditch is more of a legitimate heir to the throne of the British isles than the current campers?

DAMN THAT VOICE IS SEXY

The whole ceremony, when you think about it, is *profoundly* ridiculous....but Cumberbatch gave a superb oration.

Hahaha of course they're related. Of course

*Cough* JAMES BOND *Cough*

Was this the last king of York ?

reburial?! You mean they dug him up and buried him again ?

I keep coming back to this !, I can't believe fully grown adults went to all this elaborate length for a bag of calcium , Adults Actual Adults ! ,

Didn't Richard III murder his nephews?

"My bones scripted in light", Poor start. Duffy this is unimaginative. ie too pre , visualized, not human enough, no mention of his wrongs. We cannot eulogise a failed man to this extent

What an odd event. As an aside, how many other kings have been buried outside of the capital? Seems a little disrespectful to me to bury him in a provision city.

That's nice. It would be even nicer if the remains of the princes in the tower could be found and put to rest.

Fake.

Cumberbatch strikes me as good lad but he sure is posh. I somewhat doubt it was hard for him to achieve success with the likely backing he got from his family and there connections.

this dude has been dead for over 500 year, why have another funeral

I'm an atheists t0 me all this is silly and useless but if you are going to do it get the right religion. Richard III would have never heard of Protestantism so this is really stupid you might as well do it in a mosque or a temple.

Ihaba S He sounds like an actor, that's what they sound like. Majestic? why because he's distantly related? Don't make me laugh.

Does no one realise that this king was a horrible man!!!

This wasn't that good.

Richard III is no less evil than any other man in the game of thrones. If he is a villain who murders babes, he is also a warrior king to the end. When Catesby urges Richard to withdraw, he rebukes "Slave, I have set my life upon a cast/And I will stand the hazard of the die".