A Very English Scandal (2018)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Very English Scandal - is a historical and biographical drama in three parts which premiered on British television (BBC) in 2018.

 

This drama is about is the British MP Jeremy Thorpe and the scandal that ended his career in 1979.

 

Here is some basic information about this drama:

 

** Director: Stephen Frears

** Writer: Russell T. Davies

** Based on a book by John Preston

** Original music composed by Murray Gold

** Run time: 3 x ca. 56 minutes = ca. 168 minutes

 

The cast includes the following:

 

The first group

** Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe (1929-2014) – a politician

** Ben Whishaw as Norman Josiffe aka Norman Scott (born 1940) – a stable hand and later a fashion model – Jeremy had an affair with Norman which began around 1961 and ended two or three years later (1963 or 1964)

** Alex Jennings as Peter Bessell (1921-1985) – a politician

** Patricia Hodge as Ursula Thorpe (1903-1992) – Jeremy’s mother

 

The second group

** Naomi Battrick as Diane Stainton – Jeremy’s assistant

** Alice Orr-Ewing as Caroline Allpass (1938-1970) – Jeremy’s first wife (married 1968-1970)

** Monica Dolan as Marion Thorpe (1926-2014) – Jeremy’s second wife (married 1976-2014)

** Jason Watkins as Emlyn Hooson (1925-2012) – a politician

 

The third group

** Michele Dotrice as Edna Friendship – owner of an inn

** Anthony O’Donnell as Leo Abse (1917-2008) – a politician

** Eve Myles as Gwen Parry-Jones – a widow

** Michelle Fox as Lyn – owner of a fashion boutique

** Adrian Scarborough as George Carman (1929-2001) – Jeremy’s lawyer

 

Jeremy Thorpe was an MP for twenty years (1959-1979). Until 1988 he represented the Liberal Party. From 1988 he represented the Liberal Democrats. He was chairman of his party from 1967 to 1976.

 

He was a popular politician with a high public profile, but he had a secret; a big secret: he was not really interested in women; he was more interested in men.

 

He could not say so in public. Having an affair with a man was not only dangerous to his political career, it was illegal, according to an old English law. A law that was not repealed until 1967.

 

When the law was changed, it was no longer illegal, but during the first years after 1967 it was still dangerous for a male British politician to tell the world that he was in love with a man.

 

I do not wish to spoil the viewing for anyone. This is why I am not going to tell you what happened when Jeremy met Norman in 1961. Nor am I going to tell you what happened during the fifteen years after Jeremy ended the affair.

 

The story of Jeremy and Norman has so many twists and turns that it is almost impossible to believe it. But the drama is based on a true story, and as far as I know, the drama is very close to the true story.

 

What do reviewers say about it?

 

Here are some results:

 

** 77 percent = IMDb

** 80 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)

** 84 percent = Meta

** 97 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)

 

On Amazon there are at the moment more than 1,000 ratings of this product, more than 1,000 with reviews.

 

The average rating is 3.8 stars which corresponds to a rating of 76 percent.

 

As you can see, the ratings are quite good. But if you ask me, they are not good enough.

 

I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).

 

*****

The British politician

Jeremy Thorpe

(1929-2014)

Member of Parliament

1959-1979

 

*****