Inside the Tower of London

Season 7 (now streaming)

Watch the new season of Inside the Tower of London on My5.

Inside the Tower of London returns to Channel 5 on 21 November 2024 to reveal what goes on behind the walls of this spectacular World Heritage Attraction.

We pick up the story in March 2024 as the Tower prepares for a 700-year old ceremony – the Constable’s Dues. Ceremonies are a common tradition at the Tower, such as Ceremony of the Keys, but this particular one will see over 80 Royal Marine commandos participating.

Elsewhere in the Tower, a new Ravenmaster is welcomed – only the sixth ever to take over the post.

Meanwhile Chief Curator Tracy Borman follows in the footsteps of famous prisoners at the Tower, including Sir Walter Raleigh, Gunpowder Plot conspirator Everard Didgy and Tudor courtier Jane Boleyn.

Header image: Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator, Tracy Borman. Courtesy of Channel 5.

Close up shot of Ravenmaster Barney Chandler (smiling) posing in front of the White Tower. Showing the Ravenmaster badge on the right sleeve of the Yeoman Warder uniform. — *Image: Ravenmaster Barney Chandler. © Historic Royal Palaces*

Season 7, Episode 1

Channel 5

New Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller and new Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell standing in uniform in front of the White Tower. — *Image: Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller and Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell. © Historic Royal Palaces*

It's March 2024, and Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller and Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell are settling into their new roles at the royal palace and fortress.

They are hitting the ground running as the Tower prepares to pull off one of the biggest events in its calendar – the Constable’s Dues. This year will see over 80 Royal Marine commandos taking part in the 700-year-old tradition. General Sir Gordon Messenger prepares for his first Dues as Constable of the Tower.

Meanwhile, the Tower welcomes YW Barney Chandler into the role of Ravenmaster. Responsible for the wellbeing of the Tower’s legendary birds, Barney is already feeling the pressure of his new role. But there’s no turning back as the Tower’s sixth Ravenmaster is announced to the press.

Over at the White Tower, Keeper of the Royal Armouries Emma Mawdsley prepares a new display case that will make the hairs on the back of the public’s neck stand up – as an ancient executioner’s block and axe – likely used for the last beheading at the royal fortress in 1601 - are moved down into the Tower’s basement.

Finally, Chief Curator Tracy Borman is on the trail of Jane Boleyn, Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law. She’s long been considered a villainous schemer in the court of King Henry VIII, playing a key role in the downfall of two Queens of England, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.

But Tracy’s investigation into Jane’s downfall paints a very different picture of a pawn of the Tudor court trying desperately to stay out of the crosshairs of England’s most paranoid monarch.

Exterior view of the White Tower and the lawn taken from the south by the Wakefield Tower — *Image: The White Tower © Historic Royal Palaces.*

Season 7, Episode 2 (streaming soon)

20:00, Thursday 28 November on Channel 5

A small wooden barrel borne by two Royal Marines in uniform on a wooden oar is placed on a table in front of the Constable of the Tower, who also wears a military uniform with a feathered hat and a number of medals and other adornments. A parade of Royal Marines and the Royal Marines Band with instruments are stood behind them. — *Image: The Royal Navy at the Constable's Dues Ceremony © Historic Royal Palaces*

It is the morning of the Constable's Dues. This year the spectacle is larger than ever for the event rooted in 700-year-old tradition, with over 80 coordinated Royal Marine commandos, high speed boats racing along the Thames, a helicopter fly past, and a Royal Marine marching band.

With some of the most senior members of the Armed Forces arriving to watch the Dues take place, the pressure couldn’t be higher.

But it isn't just the Marines on show today. Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell has a special role to perform – challenging the Marine commandos at the Tower gate. This is a traditional security protocol to decide who can enter the fortress, which he must perform whilst wielding his 500-year-old Gaoler's axe.

It's a tricky balancing act, but Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller is on hand to show him the ropes, having spent three years mastering the art of ceremonial axe carrying when he was Gaoler.

Over at the raven enclosure, brand new Ravenmaster Barney Chandler has his first big test as a team of vets from London Zoo arrive to check up on the health of the birds. After they suggest a little refresh to the raven cages, Barney has difficulty winning the stubborn ravens around to his changes.

Meanwhile, the nearly thousand-year-old fortress is proving it still has stories to tell, as Dr Jamie Ingram investigates some mysterious carvings in a former prison cell. With help from Dr Constantina Vlachou-Mogire, they employ cutting edge laser scanning techniques on the ancient graffiti to help decipher what it says. Will its secrets be uncovered?

But that's not the only prisoner memento etched into the Tower walls, Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator Tracy Borman hunts down a carving by another Tower prisoner who found himself embroiled in one of the most notorious plots in British history – the Gunpowder Plot.

Tracy investigates how the Tower played a crucial role in bringing down the plotters, and how they met their gruesome ends.