This version of Shakespeare's play opened at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Courtyard Theatre in 2007, and toured the world before transferring for a London run.
During previews of the stage production, Frances Barber injured her leg, and was replaced for a considerable time by her understudy Melanie Jessop.
This television production includes the same cast and director as the 2007/8 RSC production, performed on tour worldwide and at the New London Theatre, West End.
In Laurence Olivier's film of King Lear (1983), the Fool was played by John Hurt. Hurt and Sylvester McCoy have also both played Doctor Who: McCoy was the Seventh Doctor, and Hurt was the War Doctor.