When I showed a clip of Jonathan Rhys Meyers waxing lyrical about his role as Henry VIII in Showtime’s opulent period drama, The Tudors, I hoped that it would be snapped up by someone, anyone, in this country fairly sharpish.

Thankfully, according to Variety, BBC2 has done the decent thing and put pen to paper. Henry is coming home!

The show, which shows a lithe Henry carouse about in a saucy monarch fashion, pursuing all and sundry, will air this autumn on the channel. It’s already a ratings hit (or at least in the world of cable), and I wouldn’t bet against it doing very well here too.

Alongside Rhys Meyers, there’s Jeremy Northam as Sir Thomas Moore, Sam Neill as Cardinal Wolsey and Natalie Dormer as Ann Boleyn, the woman Henry lusts after.

“Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ sexy and vital monarch completely dispels the image of the older, overweight and infirm ruler,” said a BBC person. I can’t argue by that, judging by the pictures and clips.