There was no shortage of criticism of when its last series was screened, but dancer Wayne Sleep is convinced the late would have relished its depiction of her life and marriage.
He says: ‘Diana would have absolutely loved it.It spares nobody! Everybody gets their innings.’
Sleep’s 1985 dance to Uptown Girl with was recreated in Season 4, with Jay Webb playing the flamboyant star who accompanied the Princess () for her surprise performance at the Royal Opera House.
‘He could have been camper,’ Sleep, 75, comments, ‘but I was happy with my portrayal.He could point his feet, he could dance classically and he was handsome, like me.’
Like others, though, he takes issue with Peter Morgan’s dramatised version of events.
Friend: There was no shortage of criticism of The Crown but dancer Wayne Sleep is convinced the late Princess of Wales would have relished its depiction of her life and marriage
‘The audience didn’t clap.There was an intake of breath from 2,500 people as soon as she walked on stage. At first, they thought it was a lookalike…
‘There was a gasp from the audience as they realised it really was her, and they started to warm up to cheers, and by the end we got eight curtain calls.It was super.’
Sleep will discuss his friendship with the Princess on Radio 3’s Private Passions this Sunday.
He said: ‘I first met Diana early in the morning at a small dance studio, and when she suggested us dancing together, I thought it wouldn’t work because she was so tall.
‘I said: “Do you mind if I sit down?” And she said: “Why?” And I said: ‘Because I’ve had a very late night.’ And she said: “You naughty boy.” And we both burst into hysterics.
‘Then I realised we could make it work, and do it tongue in cheek, upstaging each other.’
Sleep previously
He told The Daily Mail: ‘When she died, I had so many phone calls from people, saying they had a message from her for me, that I didn’t want to talk about her.’
The original: Princess Diana and Sleep performed at the Royal Opera House in 1985 and were friends for years
Iconic: Sleep’s 1985 dance to Uptown Girl with Princess Diana was recreated in Season 4, with Jay Webb playing the flamboyant star who accompanied the Princess (Emma Corrin)
He continued: ‘But I don’t mind now.I feel her every time I laugh. She was funny, a lot funnier than people thought.’
Meanwhile, Emma – who played the Princess of Wales – said she got to know Princess Diana ‘like you would a friend,’ while discussing taking on the iconic role.
She told Vogue: ‘I feel I’ve got to know Diana like you would a friend.I know that sounds really weird, but I get a great sense of companionship from her.
‘I suppose, over time, you kind of start to patch together a sense of empathy and a sense of understanding. I love figuring people out.’
Emma played the role for season four of The Crown. It was taken over by Elizabeth Debicki for “http://yg-garments.ru/ season five and six.
New role: Emma played the role for season four of The Crown. It was taken over by Elizabeth Debicki (pictured) for season five and six