Encore: Screenwriter Alexander Eik Brings Forgotten WWII History To Life

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4.5 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an encore release of an earlier podcast episode.

For American viewers, the story of Norway’s Crown Princess Märtha is likely mostly unknown. But the Crown Princess’ World War II influence was a surprise even for Atlantic Crossing co-writer and director Alexander Eik, who spent almost seven years researching his miniseries. Eik explains how he found the key to Märtha’s story, and what viewers should anticipate in the next seven episodes, in a new interview.

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's Viking believes that a journey on the rivers of the world can be an experience designed for the thinking person.
0:07.7	Viking, exploring the world in comfort.
0:10.8	Learn more at viking.com.
0:13.8	Sponsors for Masterpiece on PBS are Viking Cruises, Raymond James, and the Masterpiece Trust.
0:21.7	There's no new episode of Masterpiece Studio this week, but as PBS rebroadcast
0:26.6	Masterpieces' 2021 production of Atlantic Crossing, we thought we'd revisit our conversation
0:31.6	with creator, director, and co-writer Alexander Ike. We hope you enjoy it.
0:42.5	I'm J. Laykob and you're listening to Masterpiece Studio. The history of World War II has been told on our screens again and again and
0:49.2	again. Indeed, you've seen some of those wartime stories of triumph and tragedy on masterpiece in recent years,
0:56.1	and will likely continue to see them for years to come.
0:59.5	But I'd wager you haven't seen the hidden story of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha.
1:04.8	Oh, Princess Martha, what do you like best about America?
1:09.6	My husband.
1:12.9	Princess Martha, a Swedish royal who married into the Norwegian royal family,
1:17.8	was a major influence on the World War II strategy of both her husband,
1:22.0	Crown Prince Olaf, and that of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
1:26.6	Norway?
1:27.7	Hmm. Or Denmark. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Norway? Hmm.
1:29.0	Or Denmark.
1:30.5	Or both?
1:31.6	But those countries are neutral?
1:33.9	Explain that to Hitler.
	...

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