Claire Foy’s replacement as older Queen Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown’ Season 3 revealed

It’s been announced who’ll take over from Claire Foy in the third and fourth seasons of The Crown.

Netflix’s award-winning period drama debuted in November 2016 and ten new episodes will premiere on the streaming service later this year.

The biographical series tells the story of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Creator Peter Morgan’s plan is for The Crown to run for six seasons and 60 episodes in total, with an entirely new cast taking over in Season 3 to better represent the main figures as they age.

It is thought that the cast will then again be replaced with older actors in Season 5.

Variety has now revealed that Broadchurch star Olivia Colman will be taking over from Wolf Hall actress Claire Foy as Elizabeth.

The 43-year-old English actress won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in the BBC’s The Night Manager adaptation.

Writer Peter Morgan previously commented: “What’s so beautiful about Claire [Foy] is her youth. You can’t ask someone to act middle-aged. Someone has to bring their own fatigue to it. The feelings we all have as 50-year-olds are different than the feelings we all have as 30-year-olds. That informs everything we do.”

Claire Foy teased earlier this month: “I know who’s doing it and I’m not telling you … It’s really exciting and great and amazing!”

Covering the period from 1956 to 1964, Season 2 arrives on Friday 8 December and the official synopsis reads: “As Queen Elizabeth’s marriage and empire crumbles around her, she must do what is required to ensure the British monarchy survives.”