…Researched and contributed by Jack Sylva.
Professor Emma Smith, an Oxford professor of Shakespeare Studies, will argue that Hamlet is a misogynist who displays toxic masculinity, much like disgraced influencer Andrew Tate.
The show, Taking Issue With Shakespeare, aims to re-examine Shakespeare’s works through a modern lens.
The series will challenge celebrity guests to view the playwright’s work in a new way.
The third episode will feature Smith persuading Will Self that the toxic masculinity displayed by Andrew Tate finds a chilling counterpart in the misogynist play and character, Hamlet.
Tate is currently under house arrest in Romania and is reportedly being sued by three women in the UK for rape and sexual assault.
The new series will explore how the Bard’s works can be seen in a new light, with Smith arguing that interrogating Shakespeare’s works can be revealing.
In a previous statement, Smith compared Hamlet’s misogyny to that of a school shooter, revealing the dark side of the character.
The series will feature a range of guests, including Gordon Brown and Michael Gove, who will share their views on Julius Caesar and King Lear, respectively.
The blurb for the show says the pair will engage in a lively discussion, with the two eventually agreeing on one point.
Smith, the author of This Is Shakespeare, previously argued that Hamlet’s misogyny could be compared to that of a school shooter.
She has also criticized overlong adaptations of the Bard’s works, stating that readers can skip over the ‘boring’ parts to more fully enjoy his plays.
The new BBC series has been commissioned to mark 400 years since the publication of the Bard’s First Folio.