As the astonishing story of the king’s bones being discovered in Leicester hits the screen, we meet the sleuth whose extraordinary tenacity – despite chronic illness – located the monarch
I can actually remember where I was when it was announced that Richard III’s remains had been found under a car park in Leicester, 10 years ago. It made headlines globally, most likely because of the juxtaposition: “It’s a car park and it’s that king,” says Philippa Langley. “So it’s a really great story.”
Her agreement surprises me. Langley spent eight years looking for the remains of the hunchbacked king, after trying to restore his reputation for the previous decade. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that she thinks he is objectively the most interesting thing ever – and, from her perspective, this story doesn’t need any frilling up with the bathos of a private car park. But maybe she was just being polite.
