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The Trial of Christine Keeler

283 replies

unique1986 · 05/12/2019 20:44

BBC drama starts 29th December 9pm

Yeah I know I'm early with this thread, but I can't wait.
I know nothing about this other than the brief articles I've read but it just looks like my kind of drama.

OP posts:
CoolCarrie · 29/12/2019 21:33

Did the men pay for their company then? It’s like writing that Holly Golightly wasn’t a prostitute.

CoolCarrie · 29/12/2019 21:39

I don’t discredit their POV, their evidence or what happened, but the women were never on trial, it was Ward who carried the can and Rice Davis did well for herself in later life, in spite of her infamous name.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 29/12/2019 21:40

as an aside - i'd forgotten how good this song is

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 29/12/2019 21:41

They were being groomed by Stephen for sure. He's so nicey-nice to Christine but really he's using her and Mandy as a sort of social lubrication for his little soirees. He's an interesting character because he was made a scapegoat for what eventually happened, but he was also a shifty pimp.

I'm enjoying it so far. I don't like James Norton that much usually but I think he's good in this.

GoGoLego · 29/12/2019 21:41

I'm getting a bit confused

Doesn't help at the beginning I was getting the Profumo thing mixed up with the Lord Lucan thing

CoolCarrie · 29/12/2019 21:46

Rachman was a total bastard

CoolCarrie · 29/12/2019 21:47

The amazing Dusty what a voice she had

ageingdisgracefully · 29/12/2019 21:50

James Norton is excellent.
Wasn't the DofE supposedly in the background of a photo of one of Ward's parties? I think it was featured in The Crown.

southeastdweller · 29/12/2019 21:51

It was ridiculous that Ward was even charged for living for immoral earnings when the money Keeler and Rice-Davies gave him was for money they owed him and for housekeeping. But the Establishment had to get him for something.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2019 21:54

I ended up turning it off after ten minutes , I think it's because we know this story so well already. Either that or it's just me and I can't concentrate. Might try again tomorrow.

GoGoLego · 29/12/2019 21:55

Ageingdisgracefully yes I'd forgotten about that DofE was in a photograph according to the The Crown anyway

First tome I've heard Cash the Cheque in a non mn context for a while

wowfudge · 29/12/2019 21:57

Oh come on, Stephen Ward was benefitting from grooming Christine and introducing her to his society pals.

Supersimkin2 · 29/12/2019 21:57

Ward was a social climber who used hot teen girls as bait for the rich 'n' famous. Like Ghislaine Maxwell, but with teens over the age of consent.

southeastdweller · 29/12/2019 21:59

Oh come on, Stephen Ward was benefitting from grooming Christine and introducing her to his society pals.

Yes but doesn't mean he deserved to be convicted of some trumped up charge.

Oblomov20 · 29/12/2019 22:02

I could never work out what the actual problem was.
Profumo never disclosed anything sensitive to her, did he?

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 29/12/2019 22:03

He was screwed by the establishment but he also took advantage of young women who were down on their luck and vulnerable to anyone who showed them a bit of kindness. Of course it doesn't mean he deserved it but there are shades of grey to the story. He's neither hero nor villain.

wowfudge · 29/12/2019 22:06

It amounts to the same thing though! Exactly like GM today.

The problem was that Keeler was the link between the Soviet and the defence secretary. It's a security risk when someone's sexual foibles can be used to blackmail them.

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 29/12/2019 22:07

I think the idea of a prominent, married government minister sleeping with a very young "call girl" was almost enough to do him down. Even today, that would probably ruin someone, let alone in the early 60s. The fact that he might have been sharing pillow talk with a Russian attache via Christine was just the icing on the cake really!

GetRid · 29/12/2019 22:11

A bit bored by this. The original 'Scandal' film with Joanne Whalley Kilmer is just so much better. Pacy, atmospheric and a fab soundtrack. Won't bother watching the next episode.

southeastdweller · 29/12/2019 22:11

Who's GM?

IcedPurple · 29/12/2019 22:11

I enjoyed it. Lead actress is wonderful - even though she's 10 years older than Keeler was at the time, she captures just how very young she was, and how horribly she was being exploited by older, 'wiser' men. "Little baby" puke! What a very sleazy era it was, and how few were the options available to women.

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 29/12/2019 22:14

Also think you can't underestimate the effect the Cuban missile crisis had on the political climate and the panic about what the Soviets might do next.

Is GM Ghislaine Maxwell?

dirtyrottenscoundrel · 29/12/2019 22:15

Got bored and turned over.

Janaih · 29/12/2019 22:16

The constant "little baby" thing is creepy af

IcedPurple · 29/12/2019 22:19

Agree that it was a bit slow paced at times. Is it a 3 parter?