Francis Urquhart is a fictional British political schemer created by Michael Dobbs for his House of Cards novel. The BBC adapted the story for television, and the later U.S. series reworked Urquhart as Frank Underwood—not as a scene-for-scene copy, but as his counterpart in a different political system.
Who is Francis Urquhart?
Urquhart is the central political operator in Dobbs’s original House of Cards story. He is a fictional character, not a portrait of a real British politician. Dobbs says the idea took shape in the political atmosphere after the bruising 1987 general election: it inspired him to devise a fictional plot to remove a Prime Minister. That account explains the story’s starting point; it does not establish a single real-life model for Urquhart. Michael Dobbs’s account of how the story began.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
House of Cards: The Complete First Season | $9.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
House of Cards Trilogy: The Original UK Series Remastered | $9.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
House of Cards - Season 04 | $14.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
House of Cards | $28.63 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
House of Cards - Season 06 | $19.12 | Buy on Amazon |
Dobbs has also described Shakespeare as an influence, preferring to cite the playwright rather than Margaret Thatcher. He has pointed to enduring themes of ambition, vulnerability, weakness and desperation, including the political tragedy of Julius Caesar. These influences help explain the story’s interest in power and betrayal without turning Urquhart into a disguised historical figure. The National interview with Michael Dobbs.
How did Francis Urquhart become Frank Underwood?
The American Frank Underwood is an adaptation of Urquhart, relocated to U.S. congressional and presidential politics. Dobbs describes the American series as a reinvention in a different political environment. The useful distinction is lineage: Urquhart is the source character, while Underwood is an Americanized counterpart shaped for another political setting. Dobbs’s account of the adaptations; Kevin Spacey discussing the BBC original and Underwood’s source character.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- DVD
- Multiple Formats, AC-3, Box set
- Spanish (Published), French (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled)
- 4
- 675
| Francis Urquhart | Frank Underwood |
|---|---|
| Fictional British political schemer in Dobbs’s original story and the BBC adaptation. | American counterpart in the U.S. adaptation. |
| Operates in British party politics and Parliament. | Operates in U.S. congressional and presidential politics. |
| Introduced in Michael Dobbs’s novel. | Reworks the source character for a different political system; not a scene-for-scene copy. |
What did the American series inherit?
One unmistakable link is Urquhart’s line: “You very well might think that, I couldn’t possibly comment.” U.S. series creator Beau Willimon told BAFTA that the phrase was iconic in the BBC version and that he wanted to pay homage to it in the American series. The line is therefore a deliberate bridge between the adaptations, not evidence that the characters or plots are identical. BAFTA & BFI Screenwriters’ Lecture Series interview with Beau Willimon.
Both versions present a political schemer who addresses the audience directly, while the American story adapts that approach to its own setting. Beyond these points of continuity, detailed claims about how the characters differ need to be grounded in the books or specific episodes; the adaptation relationship alone does not establish them.
Rank #2
Where to read the original story
For the source story, start with Michael Dobbs’s House of Cards novel, which introduced Francis Urquhart before the BBC and U.S. television adaptations. Editions and availability vary, so check the edition details with a bookseller if you are looking for a copy. Michael Dobbs’s site on the novel and its adaptations.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- With Frank out of the picture, Claire Underwood steps into her own as the first female president, but faces formidable threats to her legacy.
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
