Dear Mr Cornwell,

I’ve devoured the books of the Last Kingdom Series.  I’ve admired the brilliant way in which you have developed the storylines, and with them the carefully constructed characters of the protagonists and their interactions.  These have formed powerful images and expectations in my mind: Uhtred, Brida, King Edward, Stiorra, Sigtryggr, Father Prylig, King Constantine, and so many more … I know it’s just fictionalised history but … Where did second son Uhtred get to?  Why have not only the storylines but also the characters been steered so fundamentally off-piste by Series 5?  What was wrong with what you had so meticulously crafted?

Yours sincerely,

Simon Mainwaring