Judi Dench has joined the list of celebrities to voice concerns over Netflix’s The Crown, as season 5 is set to release 9^th November.

In a letter written to The Times on Wednesday 19^th October, Dench accuses the series of “crude sensationalism.” Stating concerns that viewers overseas may take “its version of history as being wholly true.” Suggesting that each episode should include a disclaimer, stating the show being a work of dramatised fiction.

The scenes in question that have prompted the Oscar-winning actress to pen her letter, depict: “King Charles plotting for his mother to abdicate” and “suggesting his mothers parenting was so deficient that she might have deserved a jail sentence.” Fans of The Crown added to the discourse by highlighting Dame Judi Dench’s personal friendship with both King Charles and the Queen Consort, Camilla Parker Bowles.

Dench joins other popular voices in requesting a disclaimer. Such as John Major who recently described the show as “fictional dramatisation.” In 2020, then culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, suggested the streaming service should add a health warning to remind viewers that what they were watching should not be taken as fact. Helena Bonham Carter has also voiced concerns, despite playing Princess Margret in season 3: “I think we have a moral responsibility to say, ‘Hang on guys, this is not… it’s not a drama-doc, we’re making a drama’ so they are two different entities.”

Netflix has stated that: “series 5 is a fictional dramatisation, imaging what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians”, while no plans have been announced for any disclaimers to be added to the new season. Netflix has also said that the sixth and final series of The Crown will not be depicting the 1997 car crash that killed Diana, however it is believed the show will lead up the incident, and the aftermath, but not the crash itself.

Breaking: Netflix has added disclaimer for The Crown season 5

Words: Kiefer Jones | Subbing: Anna Kamocsai