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A Very British Scandal made me think I’d seen this title before, but that was actually A Very English Scandal, the 2018 Jeremy Thorpe drama with Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw.
This is technically ‘series 2’, albeit set in a completely different period of time.
This time round, it’s 1963, and The Duke and Duchess of Argyll (Paul Bettany and Claire Foy) are getting divorced, so this is long time before my time.
We go back to Golden Boat Arrow Train, 1947, seeing where they met, although she’s in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, and it’s not long before we realise she’s quite the marrying type, but you’ll find out why when you watch it. Also, he is due to receive a stack of cash each year income when he inherits the Duchy of Argyll, but how long until that happens? He just wants the cash! That’s clearly an endgame as we see how he starts to ingratiate himself in with Margaret’s family, because he’s a horrible leech and only cares about himself.
However, can they find some common ground? After all, they’re meant to be a couple in the early throws of love and lust!
This opening episode also takes in the 1953 reopening of the restored Inveraray Castle, but it’s a first episode I can’t quite get a handle on.
Overall, I have some vague recollections of Jeremy Thorpe, probably in the ’80s, referring back to the scandal, even though I was only a kid in single figures back then. However, A Very British Scandal is way too far back to even have it coming up for references in the ’80s. This is why I only got into The Crown from series 4 onwards, when Lady Diana Spencer came into the fold.
However, I’ll stick with it to see how it pans out, as it’s only a short series. I’d much rather we had more of these three-part dramas rather than those which ramble on for ten parts, and I never get to finish them because there’s too much out there.
UPDATE Episode 2:
UPDATE Episode 3:
A Very British Scandal begins on Sunday December 26th on BBC1 at 9pm, and runs for three consecutive nights at the same time. It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
However, you can buy A Very English Scandal on DVD.
After each episode is broadcast, they will be on the BBC iPlayer.
Episode 1: 3/10
Episode 2: Meh/10
Episode 3: And the same/10
Director: Anne Sewitsky
Producer: Chris Ballantyne
Writer: Sarah Phelps
Music: Nathan Barr
Cast:
Margaret Campbell: Claire Foy
Ian Campbell, Duke of Argyll: Paul Bettany
Maureen Guinness: Julia Davis
Louise “Oui Oui” Campbell: Sophia Myles
Helen Whigham: Phoebe Nicholls
George Whigham: Richard McCabe
Lennox: Mitchell Robertson
Dora: Olwen May
Charles Jauncey: Richard Goulding
Yvonne MacPherson: Amanda Drew
Niall Campbell: David Hargreaves
Malcolm Kerr: Don Gallagher
Charles Sweeney: Matt Rippy
Diana Napier: Camilla Rutherford
Freddie: Freddie Lund
Janet Kidd: Sophie Ward
Frances Sweeney: Phoebe Farnham
Brian Sweeney: Matthew Stagg
Ian Campbell Jr: Daniel Burt
Colin Campbell: Lawrence Oswald
Jeanne Campbell: Albertine Kotting McMillan
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.