A very English scandal

[Cistersaredoingitforthemselves]

Looking forward to seeing this

I have read the book and it was excellent.

I remember this happening and it being one of the earliest political scandals I was aware of ( and actually understood) - Watergate was my first but I was only small and didn't understand

Peter Bessell - the owner of a face like a badly tessellated pavement

Probably the best caption of a photo ever

I think this has been rally well done so far. Agree that HG is very good.

I was in the VI form when this trial was on and remember discussing it with my friend and discovering how very ignorant I was about the - ahem - physical manifestation of homosexual relationships. I honestly had no idea before then!

A couple of years later at University in the house I was sharing, we came across a stash of leaflets and badges that had been left behind by a previous resident who was involved in student politics. I was still absolutely mystified by the badges that said "I'll be buggered if I vote Liberal". I had been brought up with "bugger" as a very mild swear word and didn't understand why the others found this so funny until one of them kindly explained!

I thought the female characters were very well done. That super-straight moralistic cool distaste that was a 'normal' attitude to homosexuality came across with bells on. Loved the Lord and lady of arran too though I'm never that keen on cute eccentric aristocrats, well done in this though.

I always feel hg thrIves in a good cast, he's a good actor but can't create a world on his own. Ben Whishaw can though, bloody hell.

Hugh Grant played the part with some brilliance

Hugh Grant is very good indeed, an under-rated actor, thoroughly enjoying himself. Ben Wishart is great too, that strange grimacing smile....wonderful.

I though Hugh Grant was brilliant.

Is it on again tonight or next Sunday please ?

reminded me of a character he played years ago in a film called An Awfully Big Adventure.

That's what I said to DH, southeastdweller!

I think it must be on next Sunday as it is not on tonight

Bah 😣

HG is terrific. At last he is getting some parts in which he can show his excellent acting ability.

Really enjoyed this. Good to see HG in a more gritty role.

Gutted HG was so good as he was such an arsehole when I met him in real life.

Loved it!

I wondered about the book being presented as the true version of what happened, given that it is almost entirely based on what Bessell said and he had a distinctly iffy relationship with the truth generally. However, my understanding is that David Holmes agreed with him on the essential facts of the murder plot, so I take it that that much is correct.

Brilliant acting. HG even has the gaunt, chiselled look of JT though I think HG is a better looking version.

I loved it and I thought that HG, now that he's lost the foppish pretty boy look he had i 4 weddings, has morphed into a great actor.

My abiding memory of the time was living in Glos and JT flying over hanging upside down from a helicopter holding out a 'vote for me' banner.
They don't make politicians like that any more

I agree Hugh Grant is demonstrating that he is a very good actor. One of the things I like about him is that he is not desperately trying to hold on to his youth and is prepared to take character parts, parts where he has to look unattractive, and parts where he can look ridiculous. And he is perfectly happy to take the piss out of himself.

It's one reason why he has been a good figurehead for the fightback against Press intrusion: every time they think they can embarrass him he makes it clear that he just isn't bothered, and people tend to like him all the more for it.

Hugh Grant was absolutely brilliant, amazing performance.

Old Hughie has come into his own with this role. But he was also brill as the crook in Paddington 2. I see he's finally getting married to 39 year old gf. Perhaps he's growing up at last.

Watched this on iplayer yesterday and it was excellent - very funny too. And yes it's great seeing Hugh grant doing something different.

It was Paddington meeting Hugh again. I do love Ben’s voice.

I loved this - the music was annoying but the acting was good.

Has Russell T Davis all over this.

It was great but it felt kind of wrong to find it all quite funny when really poor Norman Scott had serious MH issues (he had just been released from a MH hospital when he got the stables job) and was a really vunerable young man.

I remember the coverage of the trial and articles in the Sunday papers - especially the tub of vaseline (and the pain Norman Scott described he felt). Norman Scott is still alive and living in Ireland. Apparently he was consulted about the production but is sad they made him seem so weak and played it for laughs when JT tried to have him murdered.

I didn't think it was played for laughs, I thought he came across as a fragile, disturbed young man. Haven't seen all episodes, though. Ben W. is such a good actor, perfect choice.

I was pleasantly surprised by Hugh G. Ben W kind of did what he always does, though: fragile looks, winsome smiles, affected delivery. He's not bad, per se, but I do find his acting predictable.

Enjoying the self-satisfied double act of Hugh and Alex Jennings though, and I only know the bare bones of the story, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it unfolds

I found it very uncomfortable viewing to be honest