Lucan (spoilers)

[TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis]

I binge watched this yesterday, found it a really good watch, though the ending was a bit wishy-washy.

What did others think?

I found it pretty unlikely that they could go to all those lengths, follow all those highly niche clues, and find someone who a) wasn't Lucan but b) had such a strong match on facial recognition and c) spouted so many "appropriate" things like going to Eton (unless the edit just filtered out him saying dozens of things that didn't fit).

And in the end, I thought it was odd that they took one old man's word for it that it was a different person, whilst not taking the same verification steps!

Very sad overall. Especially the ex boyfriend of Sandra who asked her to swap date night, she wasn't even supposed to be there.

I think he did escape to Africa, possibly now dead - or possibly the guy in Australia.

Well exactly, you can think that his rich friends managed to get him out of the country, and probably to Africa. I do think that is a distinct possibility, it's plausible.

But it's a massive, massive stretch to think that he has stolen the identity of a randomer, embraced the hippy/buddhist lifestyle and is still alive in Australia. That's not plausible.

But it's a massive, massive stretch to think that he has stolen the identity of a randomer, embraced the hippy/buddhist lifestyle and is still alive in Australia. That's not plausible.

No, not plausible at all. Lucan was a bombastic, self-important misogynist and extreme gambler. His was a deeply controlling personality, quick to anger, and frequently violent towards Veronica, Lady Lucan.

There is no chance that such a man would become a Buddhist.

Just finished it.
The old man looked just like the drag guy. Nose and ears were so alike.
He seemed way too small to be Lord Lucan.

Absolutely. Lucan was really tall.

What a strange programme. I feel like Neil is obsessessional and was exploited by the BBC, really. It was uncomfortable to watch by the end.

God knows who that old Aussie guy, Derek Crowther really is, but he's not Lord Lucan IMO. I believed Aspinall's PA and I do think he got to Mozambique. I believed the journo and the other guy about their conversation with Lucan's brother admitting he got away. I also believe what he told them about him dying in 2008. I found his friend's behaviour (the one who kept referring to him as Lucky) was highly suspect - he knows what happened to him to some extent for sure!

Would love to know more about Derek.

How does he pay for stuff?! Why does he change his name every 5 minutes!

@TheShellBeach

Laura Thompson’s excellent book on Lord Lucan examines his character in detail and she claims there’s no evidence of him being quick to anger or violent other than Veronica’s testimony. In fact, everyone else who knew him - friends and family - said he was an extremely gentle person who was rarely angry. It’s certainly possible he was completely different at home with his wife but there was no independent corroboration of any violence towards Veronica before the murder.

Not saying he did or didn’t commit the murder and he was obviously under extreme stress and could have snapped but I don’t think the evidence for him being a violent, angry man before that is as clear cut as people seem to think.

That’s not to say he became a Buddhist monk either though!

.....................but there was no independent corroboration of any violence towards Veronica before the murder

He assaulted her in front of witnesses at Aspinall's gambling club.

@TheShellBeach
Ah ok pretty sure that’s not in Laura’s book - though it’s a little while since I read it. The narrative was of someone who wasn’t considered to be an angry or violent person by those who knew him (other than Veronica obviously).

I found it to be a well researched book though so either it’s there and I missed it but also it is over 10 years old so it may be that new info emerged from the police files since then.

I wonder who in his circle claimed that he was gentle and rarely angry. His male friends, I would guess. Cut from a similar cloth. Misogynistic, entitled, arrogant and self serving, as he seemed to be. Certainly that's the impression I got from Aspinall and Taki. They have clearly (to me) been involved in helping him escape and excuse brutally murdering an innocent woman .As we all know, most abusers are charming and charismatic in public.

Nothing I have read has suggested he was gentle and the phone calls to Veronica certainly don't suggest that, do they?

Or hanging around watching the house from across the road. Classic stalker behaviour.

The profile matches.

She only interviewed the men, plus Susie, and the Dowager Countess.

None of whom are impartial.

I've just watched this. It was very interesting but it shouldn't have been made. Neil is clearly obsessed and deluded. The filming of that elderly man when he was clearly not Lucan was a disgrace. It shouldn't have been shown and I'm surprised that the BBC got involved. Glenn came out with some credibility though.

Thank you.
That's exactly my opinion, too.

My grandfather was 6 ft 4 back in his prime. He was still a very tall man in his 80s. Definitely still over 6 ft.

I also don’t think Derek sounded anywhere near posh enough.

A few of the coincidences are striking, I have to admit.

I feel terribly sorry for Neil. I’m sure his adoptive mother would be horrified what her brown envelope has led to.

As one of the cousins of Sandra Rivett I want you to be aware that all of this has been traumatic to us for 50 years. There are direct members of Sandras family alive today who have asked Neil Berryman to refrain from this frenetic obsession. We would prefer to now let it lay. Whilst I sympathise with his feelings, he is not a recognised member of our family, other than by DNA. Neil is making this about him. My sister has repeatedly asked him to drop all of this for the sake of the family that knew Sandra and can assure you went through more trauma than he will ever know.

I very much understand your sentiment @Wardencand the wider family was never mentioned. It was all about Neil.

@Wardenc thank you for your post.

I remember Sandra's parents being distressed at the inquest, because it was all about Lucan and Veronica.
They said that they felt that their beloved daughter had been forgotten.

The Press pretty much ignored Mr. and Mrs. Hensby.

That was my mother at the inquest with Bert, Sandras father. Eunice, Sandras mother was too distressed to go.

Ah. My apologies. I didn't realise.

The press were a disgrace. A member of the press knocked on the door of Sandras parents in Basingstoke within an hour of the news breaking. Eunice was in shock and handed over a photo of Sandra for the man to look at. He about turned and left, the photo was syndicated for £32,500 - the family wanted to procecute - but there was too much trauma. I would also add that Lady Lucan might have said nice things about Sandra, but when it came to (much later) collecting her possesions - clothing - they were screwed up in a bin bag and left on the doorstep. Lady Lucan did not even open the door to my mother fully and was very condesending. I think that reflected the true outlook this class of people. As my mother said - it was as if the washer woman had called.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Goodness, that's awful @Wardenc

Lady Lucan was known to be a terrible snob but treating Sandra's bereaved parents like that was cruel. And indefensible.