We’ve been keeping an eye on Fools and, after the initial excitement around its announcement, have been waiting to hear how the project has progressed. However, looking back now, it appears the only real wave of press came in early 2024, it does raise the question, what’s actually happening with Fools?
It feels like the kind of Tudor mix-up television has been crying out for, and we’re hoping Fools might still land in that space. That said, there are already elements that give us pause, particularly the absence of a performer with a disability in the role of Jane Foole.
Fools, the historical comedy from writer director Guy Jenkin, with Karen Gillan as Mary Tudor and Patsy Ferran as Jane Foole, which is consistently described as focusing on their relationship and portraying Jane as a jester performing comedic routines.
What has caught our eye is a publicity still of Patsy Ferran as Jane Foole. Historically, Jane Foole is believed to have been deliberately shaved, tied to the Tudor perception of individuals with learning disabilities having a closer connection to God. Here, not only have they not cast an actor without a learning disability, but they haven’t even leaned into that visual identity with something as simple as a shaved head or bald cap. It feels like a miss.
That said, it is only a publicity image, so there’s every chance the final character design differs. On a positive note, we do like the tone of the image. It leans into something more brown, dirty, and grounded rather than the overly polished Tudor aesthetic we often see, which gives it a bit more texture and grit.
Alongside this, we’ve also noticed another project in development titled All the King’s Fooles. This was originally announced with Sarah Gordy attached as Jane Fool, although the only current listing we can find on IMDb is a documentary version featuring her in the role. It does suggest there may have been a recast, particularly as Sarah Gordy is older than the version of Jane Foole typically portrayed. There were also rumours of other established actresses with Down syndrome being considered, but nothing concrete.
For those interested in the real history, it’s worth noting that Jane Fool was not a jester in the slapstick, performing sense often portrayed, and much of the research into her life has been explored in this Jane Foole documentary produced by Verve Bee Media. The version of the story being described by Stonefalls Productions leans into a more traditional comedic framing, presenting Jane as a jester performing routines, but historically this distinction matters.
In the Tudor court, “fools” and entertainers were not all the same, and while jesters were trained performers often doing acrobatics and comic routines, figures like Lucretia the Tumbler were specifically known for that kind of physical performance, including acrobatic dance. Jane Foole, by contrast, is widely understood to have been what was termed a “natural fool”, likely someone with a learning disability who held a different role within court life, often closer to a companion than a performer. Of course, all of this remains open to interpretation, but it is an important distinction when looking at how the character is being adapted.
Of course, this is being positioned as a comedy drama, so historical accuracy may not be the priority. If the tone leans closer to something like Blackadder, then it arguably doesn’t need to be accurate at all. It just feels like a missed opportunity that such a compelling historical figure, particularly one tied to disability, risks being flattened into just another Tudor character.
We’ll keep a close eye on both projects and update as soon as there’s anything more concrete.