She lived during an age of intolerant religious turmoil, and because of her claim to the English throne she became the focus of international rivalries. The private ambitions of the Scottish nobles and their unscrupulous behaviour made it very difficult to control them. At key points in Mary's reign, it is difficult to judge whether people acted out of personal ambition, religious principle or political expediency. Whether Mary made mistakes or was the victim of irreconcilable circumstances is left as an open issue.

Introduction

In the introduction, the Detective highlights the most famous areas of controversy in Mary's reign: who did kill Darnley, why was Riccio murdered, was the civil war which deposed Mary the result of religious intolerance, personal ambitions or national revulsion at her supposed immorality, was the evidence at her trial falsified and what were the real reasons for her execution?

Scenes 1-5: Reform and Civil War

While some Scots became alienated from the Roman Catholic Church by the excesses of some individuals targeted in'The Satire of the Three Estates' (written and performed for the Roman Catholic King James V), it must be remembered that satire makes its point by caricaturing and exaggerating the few, while ignoring the unremarkable majority.

In the same vein, Protestant reformers emphasised their martyrs (Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart) although, at this time, there were comparatively few religious executions in Scotland.

International rivalries also affected the religious history of Scotland, as Protestant England supported reformers in Scotland and Catholic France backed the status quo under which its influence predominated. On that basis, the French intervened at St. Andrews Castle to capture the murderers of Cardinal Beaton while the murderers awaited help from England.

Scenes 6-12: Mary's International Relations

The Detective lists Mary's immediate predecessors to show they all died young (often violently). He demonstrates that investigating Mary's life is popular, with over 300 books about her, but that historians have not been able to make up their minds about her.

The programme then establishes Mary's position at the centre of international rivalries by explaining her claim to the English throne and France's interest in Scotland through Mary's intended marriage to the Dauphin and the French-supported Regency of Mary of Guise in Scotland.

An expert witness then attests to the importance of the ambitions and religious interests of the Scottish nobility.

The return of Knox in 1559 brought the mounting religious and political crisis in Scotland to a head. At the key moment, Mary of Guise died and Protestants seized control of Scotland's government and church.

Scenes 13-20: Mary and Knox

Mary returned to Scotland after the death of the Dauphin and her mother. Political tensions and religious intolerance are illustrated before Mary's religious policy is discussed and evaluated.

The relationship between Knox and Mary is explored through reconstructions of their meetings. The reliability of dialogues as historical evidence is evaluated by emphasising how extreme Knox was in his views and that we have only his version of what was said.

Scenes 21-26: From Marriage to Murder

Having sketched in life at Mary's court, the international, dynastic and religious significance of Mary's choice of a husband is discussed before the merits and demerits of Darnley are considered.

Darnley's arrogance and indolence form the link to the murder of Riccio, which is illustrated through Mary's own account of what happened. This evidence is evaluated before the possible motives of the participants are examined by an expert witness.

Scenes 27-29: Kirk o'Field

This section of the programme examines the motives, events and consequences of the murder of Darnley at Kirk o'Field.

While the birth of James VI should have consolidated Mary's power, the collapse of her marriage undermined it.

The Detective learns that the public believed that Mary and Bothwell were involved in the murder, and historians agree that Bothwell remains prime suspect.

The implications of the marriage of Mary to Bothwell are assessed by an expert witness, firstly in terms of international importance (Catholics were offended by a protestant marriage ceremony) and then in terms of local significance (there was a rebellion in Scotland, Bothwell fled, Mary was captured and forced to abdicate and James VI was crowned King).

Scenes 30-31: Langside

After a defeat in battle Mary fled southwards. A few days later she decided to go to England and to ask for help from her cousin and fellow Queen, Elizabeth.

Scenes 32-38: The First Trial of Mary, Queen of Scots

The problems of the relationship between the two Queens are explored. Mary emphasised their kinship and their equal status as monarchs. Elizabeth's reaction was influenced by the fact that Mary claimed her throne and as a Protestant she could not help a Catholic ruler against her Protestant subjects.

The status of royalty is illustrated by Mary's objections to being put on 'trial' and the nature of 'evidence' is considered through the value of the Casket Letters. Although the 'trial' found Mary innocent, she was kept prisoner in England.

Scenes 39-41: The Second Trial of Mary

The final part of the programme considers Mary's position at the centre of international plots against Queen Elizabeth.

It is not certain whether Mary was at the centre of the plots, or whether she was the victim of the plotting of others (either Roman Catholics or Protestant Government Ministers in England).

The programme concludes by giving Mary's own explanation of why she was executed and an eye witness description of the execution. Finally the viewers are challenged to decide.