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THE TUDORS returns for Season 3 on SHOWTIME April 5, 2009 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT). THE TUDORS covers a short but turbulent period in the life of Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), the most notorious sovereign England has ever had.

As we start the third season, Henry is 27 years into his reign. He is at the height of his political power, but he’s beset by difficulties – both personal and professional. On the political front, the ever-vulnerable Tudor Dynasty comes under threat from within. In the north of England, a make-shift army of ‘Pilgrims of Grace’ rise in revolt at the severity of the Reformation. In suppressing the revolution, Henry displays all his complexity as a ruler -- willing to listen but fearless to ruthlessly extinguish dissent. This period also sees the rise and dramatic fall of Sir Thomas Cromwell (James Frain), Architect of the Reformation.

As if such preoccupations weren’t enough, he has grown increasingly weary of his tumultuous personal life, but finds some solace and newfound happiness with third wife Jane Seymour (Annabelle Wallis). A woman with inner beauty and noble character whom he clearly loves and who has a moderating effect on his excesses; she clearly changes him for the better. But, while her influence is welcomed by her new husband, her Catholic background causes disquiet and discomfort to Cromwell. Cromwell is Henry’s most senior courtier and the ruthless driving force behind the English Reformation that aims to confiscate the moral authority and worldly goods of the Catholic Church.

The pitiless destruction of the monasteries and confiscation of their assets stirs the indignation of the English peasants, among them Robert Aske (Gerard McSorley), an attorney from the city of York in the northern part of the country.

Henry’s new wife intercedes on behalf of her step-daughter, Mary (Sarah Bolger), asking Henry to recognize his first daughter and revoke her illegitimacy. Jane’s supplication is not merely a sign of kindness -- as the late Katherine of Aragon’s daughter, Mary is a potential future Catholic monarch. Henry reluctantly agrees if Mary signs an Oath of Allegiance, recognizing him as the one and only head of the Church. Once she does (with reluctance), his former hostility melts and he is joyfully reunited with his first-born -- something he does not yet extend to his younger daughter, Elizabeth.

As reward for his strenuous and conscientious efforts in abolishing the monasteries, Thomas Cromwell is rewarded with a Knighthood, a Barony and made Lord Privy Seal. His power is now second only to the King's -- an extraordinary achievement for a man born to a low social station.

But he does not enjoy his promotion for long -- the rebels, who now describe themselves as ‘Pilgrims of Grace,’ have marched from the city of Lincoln to York where they are holding 300 of the King’s soldiers hostage, as well as local aristocracy and clergy. Robert Aske and the rebels clarify that their uprising is against Cromwell and his methods, not the King, an explanation which inspires the defection of Lord Darcy (Colm Wilkinson). The army of Pilgrims surges to 30,000 with more signing up all the time.

Henry is under physical and political strain. An old leg wound causes him great pain and confines him to bed. However, he is fortunate to receive the tender attentions of Lady Ursula Misseldon (Charlotte Salt) – one of his wife’s ladies in waiting – of which he takes full advantage. Her beauty inspires the King to commission Hans Holbein (Peter Gaynor) to paint Lady Misseldon’s portrait to the surprise and consternation of her fiancé, who disturbs the sitting.

The King’s oldest friend and contemporary Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (Henry Cavill), is dispatched north to meet the rebels. As a long-time enemy to the upstart commoner Cromwell, Brandon is inclined to be more sympathetic to the point of view of the rebels than might be expected. His willing ear inspires their confidence and when he promises that the King will travel north to take part in a parliament at York in order to hear their grievances, they willingly accept his word and lay down their arms.

The truth is less benign. Following an audience with Robert Aske at court, Henry orders Brandon to return north and secure confession of treason from the rebel leaders and an oath of allegiance to the crown and Cromwell’s Church commissioners. Failure to obey is to be punished by death. Brandon’s misgivings are undermined by news of a new breakaway rebellion. He is instructed to ruthlessly suppress any and all suspected rebels. Cromwell is vindicated -- the rebels are guilty of treason.

In the Tudor tradition, heads roll. Lord Darcy is executed, as is John Constable (Kevin Doyle), one of the Pilgrim leaders. Robert Aske also meets his end.

News of the uprising reaches Rome and her allies where enemies of Henry become giddy at the prospect of returning a Catholic to power. Reginald Pole (Mark Hildreth) is an English cleric and former beneficiary of Henry who has fled to the sanctuary of Rome from where he wrote pamphlets critical of the English King. Two of Henry’s senior courtiers - Sir Francis Bryan (Alan Van Sprang) and Thomas Seymour - are charged with capturing the treasonous Pole -- a task that turns out to be more difficult than it at first appeared.

Amidst these dark threats comes a bright promise. Jane Seymour, who after some months of nervous waiting, is expecting a child. Henry is convinced it will be his long-awaited male heir. When he is proven right, the country goes into a convulsion of celebration. At last a Tudor prince named Edward. But the gaiety is short-lived. Soon after delivering the child, Jane falls into a fever and dies. Henry is heartbroken.

Following the death of his beloved Jane, Henry becomes a recluse. While he plans an extravagant and unprecedented palace he names ‘Nonsuch,’ there are signs that law and order are beginning to break down around the court. Realizing that a King’s power is highly dependent on his visibility, Cromwell encourages Henry back into public view and hopes to have him remarry as soon as possible. Seeing a possibility to correct the Catholic influences of Jane and increase his own powerbase, Cromwell pursues one candidate in particular -- the dowdy sister of the Duke of Cleves, Anne (Joss Stone), who has the defining virtue of coming from the heartland of the Protestant League.

But Cromwell won’t have it all his own way. Henry pursues the possibility of potential wives from France and Milan – Catholic nations - but all are either promised or decline. He also moderates the doctrinal severity of Cromwell’s reforms by requesting that the Bishops draw up ‘six articles of faith,’ to which everyone can agree.

The failure to find Cardinal Pole rebounds badly on his family; his brothers and elderly mother, Lady Salisbury, are arrested and executed. In response, the Pope excommunicates Henry and his enemies seem on the point of invasion.

The threat passes, however, and Brandon is sent to escort Anne of Cleves to England – her marriage to Henry having been hastily agreed. When the monarch meets his young bride-to-be, he realizes he has made a mistake, but it is too late to withdraw. They marry in underwhelming circumstances and the marriage remains unconsummated, despite Henry’s best efforts.

The failure of the marriage reflects badly on Cromwell and his enemies – among them Brandon – sense an unprecedented moment of weakness. On a clever technicality, they proceed to have him arrested on grounds of treason and he is sent to the Tower – where he has sent so many before him. Henry keeps him alive in order to sign an annulment of his marriage to Anne who wisely agrees to go quietly and is rewarded with an income and a fine house in the country. Cromwell is less fortunate and meets his death, pledging his allegiance to his King to the very end.

But Henry, the great adapter, has already moved on. His masculinity has been rejuvenated by a new lover -- Katherine Howard (Tamzin Merchant) – a very young and beautiful woman introduced to court by Brandon and Bryan. As the season ends, he surveys his new palace and dreams of even greater heights of power…

Source: Showtime