Eighth February 1587, by mid-morning Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots will be dead

This is the story of the final 24 hours of the life Mary, Queen of Scots. From the news that after 19 years in prison she would be finally going to her death, to the final moments of drama on the scaffold at Fotheringhay.

The story is told in a dramatic minute by minute countdown which ends with the botched blows of the executioner.

The tale is told from the viewpoints of the major players in the events:

Francis Walsingham - the man's life over the last 15 years was to gather evidence incriminating Mary Queen of Scots. Finally, his moment of triumph had come.

William Cecil - like Walsingham he was fearful of the catholic threat and at the head of that was Mary Stuart... her death would be the end of it all.

The Earl of Shrewsbury - Earl Marshall of England and Mary's longest serving jailor. How would he react when he gave the news to the woman he had fallen in love with that she was going to die?

Sir Amyas Paulet - Mary's final jailor and the man responsible for the preparations for her death.

Elizabeth I - the fabled queen whose throne that Mary so desired, and the woman who wanted no responsibility for the death of her cousin.

And of course....

Mary, Queen of Scots herself. How did she feel as she walked those final steps to her death?