Written by Russell T Davies, A Very English Scandal tells the extraordinary true story of Jeremy Thorpe MP – the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy to murder – and his ex-lover Norman Scott.
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Here are the characters you need to meet – and the actors who play them…
Hugh Grant plays Jeremy Thorpe
Who was Jeremy Thorpe? A British politician who was tried at the Old Bailey on charges of conspiracy and incitement to murder. The alleged victim was Norman Scott, a former model and his ex-lover. Jeremy Thorpe MP was the Leader of the Liberal Party and had great political ambitions, but lived in fear of discovery of his homosexual affairs – and of his history with Scott in particular.
What else has Hugh Grant been in? Best known for his comic roles, Hugh Grant’s memorable movies include Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually. In A Very English Scandal he reunites with his Paddington 2 co-star Ben Whishaw; Grant played the devious Phoenix Buchanan in the 2017 movie.
Ben Whishaw plays Norman Scott
Who is Norman Scott? Originally known as Norman Josiffe, Scott met Thorpe in 1961 when he was just 21 and working as a groom. A troubled young man with a fondness for animals, no family, no money and a history of mental illness, he appealed to Thorpe for help when things went wrong – and the two men began an affair. But things turned sour.
The real Norman Scott is one of the only people involved in the Thorpe affair who is still alive. He is now 78.
What else has Ben Whishaw been in? You may recognise Ben Whishaw as tech genius and inventor Q from the James Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre. And if he sounds familiar, that’s probably because he is the voice of Paddington. Other film credits include Brideshead Revisited, Cloud Atlas, Suffragette, and The Danish Girl. On TV he was Danny in London Spy.
Alex Jennings plays Peter Bessell
Who was Peter Bessell? One of the key players in the story is Peter Bessell MP, a Liberal politician who was Thorpe’s confidante and right-hand man. He was one of the few people who knew the full truth about Thorpe’s homosexual affairs, and after hearing about the Scott problem in the mid-sixties he became an intermediary between the two men. He witnessed Thorpe allegedly inciting his ex-lover’s murder.
A womaniser and a chancer with a string of failed businesses, he had a complex relationship with Thorpe and ultimately testified against him at the trial.
What else has Alex Jennings been in? If you watch any period dramas, you’ve probably seen Alex Jennings as either an aristocrat or a royal. The actor plays King Leopold in Victoria, and spent the first two seasons of The Crown lurking around as the Duke of Windsor. He’s also played Prince Charles in The Queen.
Patricia Hodge plays Ursula Thorpe
Who was Ursula Thorpe? Jeremy Thorpe’s mother. A wealthy, formidable woman and a devoted Conservative, she wore a monocle and smoked cigars and ate a lot of boiled eggs. She was also determined to do anything she could to advance her son’s career.
What else has Patricia Hodge been in? When she’s not been on stage winning Olivier Awards, Patricia Hodge has appeared on our screens as Penny in the TV series Miranda and Mrs Pelham in Downton Abbey. She earned a Bafta nomination for her role in Hotel du Lac.
Blake Harrison plays Andrew Newton
Who was Andrew Newton? The small-time aeroplane pilot who, after 16 pints, allegedly agreed to kill Scott for £10,000. Nicknamed “Chicken-brain” by his friends, he only managed to shoot his intended victim’s dog, a Great Dane named Rinka.
What else has Blake Harrison been in? To members of a certain generation, Blake Harrison will be forever known as Neil Sutherland from The Inbetweeners. Since the sitcom wrapped up he’s played Karl in Jodie Whittaker drama Trust Me, DS Spencer Gibbs in Prime Suspect 1973 and Dave in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.
Monica Dolan plays Marion Thorpe
Who was Marion Thorpe? Jeremy Thorpe married Austrian concert pianist Marion Stein (the Countess of Harewood) a few years after the death of his first wife Caroline Allpass in a car crash. Marion was formidable and loyal, standing by his side throughout the trial and for the rest of his life.
What else has Monica Dolan been in? The actress starred in W1A as Tracey Pritchard. She was Tess Wall in The Casual Vacancy, Alice More in Wolf Hall, and Janet McIntyre in Agatha Christie adaptation The Witness for the Prosecution.
Paul Freeman plays Sir Joseph Cantley
Who was Sir Joseph Cantley? The Honourable Sir Joseph Donaldson Cantley was so little-known outside the legal world when he was selected to preside over Thorpe’s trial that none of the news agencies had a picture of him on file. He was considered an establishment man and a bit of a snob and his summing up has become infamous, later spoofed by Peter Cook.
What else has Paul Freeman been in? If Paul Freeman’s face looks familiar, that’s probably because he has appeared in everything – even though he’s not a household name. He was the villain Belloq in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Rev Philip Shooter in Hot Fuzz, and The Architect in Da Vinci’s Demons. He played Andrew Booth in Monarch of the Glen, and Professor Moriarty in Michael Caine comedy Without a Clue. Interestingly, the role of Joseph Cantley was first offered to Sir Ian McKellen, according to director Stephen Frears.
Jonathan Hyde plays David Napley
Who was David Napley? Jeremy Thorpe’s solicitor.
What else has Jonathan Hyde been in? One of the Australian actor’s most memorable roles was Van Pelt (or Sam Parrish) in Jumanji. Recent projects have included Tokyo Trial, The Strain and MI-5. He played Martin Charteris in The Queen, a role later played by Harry Haddon-Paton in The Crown.
Adrian Scarborough plays George Carman QC
Who was George Carman QC? Jeremy Thorpe’s barrister. Despite his heavy drinking lifestyle, he put on an impressive performance at the Old Bailey, tearing the prosecution’s witnesses to shreds.
What else has Adrian Scarborough been in? The actor is perhaps best known for his roles in The King’s Speech, Gavin & Stacey, and Upstairs Downstairs – where he played the butler Mr Pritchard. Recently he has appeared in the TV series Blunt Talk and Miranda, and the movie On Chesil Beach.
Michele Dotrice plays Edna Friendship
Who was Edna Friendship? The landlady of the Market Inn, where Scott was staying at the time would-be assassin Newton turned up for the first time, acting super-shady and calling himself Peter Keene. Scott and Mrs Friendship had a friendly relationship.
What else has Michele Dotrice been in? The actress is best known for playing Betty Spencer, the long-suffering wife of Frank Spencer, in BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. Other recent projects have included Death in Paradise, Inside No 9, and Grandpa’s Great Escape.
Jason Watkins plays Emlyn Hooson
Who was Emlyn Hooson? A Liberal MP. Along with his colleague David Steel MP, he heard Scott’s incredible story in 1971 and raised concerns, insisting on an internal inquiry.
What else has Jason Watkins been in? Some will know him best as William Herrick from Being Human, or Gavin Strong from Trollied. Others will recognise him as Simon Harwood from W1A or Solomon Coop from Taboo, and recently he has been playing Roger in John Cleese sitcom Hold the Sunset.
Paul Hilton plays David Holmes
Who was David Holmes? Thorpe’s friend from Oxford, described by A Very English Scandal author John Preston as a “tall, slim, bespectacled merchant banker.” He never tried to hide his homosexuality and was, for a time, one of Thorpe’s lovers. He remained intensely loyal to Thorpe and was tried alongside him for conspiracy to murder.
What else has Paul Hilton been in? Credits have included Granchester, Wuthering Heights, and Silk. He is perhaps better known for his stage work, starring in the title role of the National Theatre’s Peter Pan and of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus at the Globe.
Rhys Parry Jones plays John Le Mesurier
Who was John Le Mesurier? Despite his name, we are not talking about the man who played Sergeant Arthur Wilson in Dad’s Army. Instead, this John Le Mesurier was a cut price carpet salesman from South Wales. He knew David Holmes through the carpet business and allegedly agreed to help find an assassin. He was one of the four men who went on trial for conspiracy to murder.
What else has Rhys Parry Jones been in? Best known in his native Wales for his role as Llew Matthews in Pobol y Cwm, Rhys Parry Jones has also appeared in 35 Diwrnod, Outlander, and Hinterland.
Dyfan Dwyfor plays George Deakin
Who was George Deakin? One of the four men accused of conspiracy to murder, George Deakin’s involvement allegedly came in 1974 when he was asked by his business acquaintance John Le Mesurier to recruit an assassin to kill Norman Scott. By trade he was a fruit machine salesman known in South Wales as “The King of the One-Armed Bandits”.
What else has Dyfan Dwyfor been in? The Welsheactor recently starred in the TV series Requiem as Ed Fenton. His other credits include Hinterland, Caerdydd and Y Lyfrgell as well as several stage roles.
Flora Mongomery plays Diane Kelly
Who was Diane Kelly? In the early 1970s, Peter Bessell began an affair with a young American woman called Diane Kelly who he’d met on a business trip in New York. Bessell eventually divorced his long-suffering wife Pauline and moved with Diane to a beach hut in Oceanside, California, where he lived for the rest of his life. The two ultimately got married.
What else has Flora Mongomery been in? The Northern Irish actress has appeared in shows including Grantchester, Endeavour, Father & Son, and Midsomer Murders. She is also known for her theatre work.
Lucy Briggs-Owen plays Sue Scott
Who was Sue Scott? Despite her parents’ disapproval, Sue married Norman Scott in 1969. The two of them quickly had a son, and scraped by in a cottage in Dorset – but the relationship was unhappy and they soon separated.
What else has Lucy Briggs-Owen been in? Lucy Briggs-Owen has appeared in Midsomer Murders and Doc Martin, and is also a voice actress in video games Dark Souls III, Civilization VI, and Bloodborne.
Alice Orr-Ewing plays Caroline Allpass
Who was Caroline Allpass? Jeremy Thorpe’s first wife. They married in 1968 and had their son Rupert the following year. It was an unexpectedly happy marriage for Thorpe, but in 1970 Caroline died in a car crash.
What else has Alice Orr-Ewing been in? She made a guest appearance in the very first episode of Victoria as Lady Flora Hastings. Other credits have included The Theory of Everything, The Scapegoat, and Our Zoo.
Eve Myles plays Gwen Parry-Jones
Who was Gwen Parry-Jones? Scott met Gwen Parry-Jones, a recent widower and a middle-aged woman of strict moral principles, during the time he was living in Wales. When he ran out of money, she let him live rent-free in her cottage – and they began an affair.
What else has Eve Myles been in? She may look very different out of period dress, but Eve Myles played Mrs Jenkins in Victoria. She previously starred as Claire Ripley in Broadchurch and Lauren Gray in You, Me & Them, and as Gwen Cooper in Torchwood and Doctor Who. Recently you might have caught her as Faith Howells in the TV series Keeping Faith.
Michael Culkin plays Reggie Maulding
Who was Reggie Maulding? The Home Secretary, and a Conservative politician. As Liberal leader and a fellow member of an exclusive dining club, Thorpe was able to enlist his help in suppressing Scott’s allegations.
What else has Michael Culkin been in? He’s no stranger to playing a British politician: Michael Culkin was Secretary of State Rab Butler in The Crown. Poldark fans will recognise him as Horace Treneglos, and he also played Jacopo Pazzi in Da Vinci’s Demons. According to his Wikipedia page, he lives in London with “several dogs and a llama,” which is excellent.
Naomi Battrick plays Diana Stainton
Who was Diana Stainton? Peter Bessell’s secretary – and mistress.
What else has Naomi Battrick been in? Naomi Battrick plays the scheming Jocelyn in Sky drama Jamestown. She is also known for her roles in My Almost Famous Family (as Toyah Swann) and Waterloo Road (as Gabriella Wark).
Marianne Oldham plays Stella Levy
Who was Stella Levy? In 1972, Scott – needing a place to stay – went to live for a while with his friends Jack and Stella Levy at their new house in North Devon. Coincidentally, this was Thorpe’s constituency, and it was while riding his horse in the local area that Scott saw Thorpe in person for the first time in eight years. Thorpe later tried to discredit his ex-lover’s friends, telling Harold Wilson that the Levys could be running “some sort of vice ring” (based on the evidence that they had a really large bath).
What else has Marianne Oldham been in? Most recently Marianne Oldham appeared as Nicola in Finding Your Feet alongside Joanna Lumley, Imelda Staunton and Timothy Spall. Her other credits include The Living and the Dead and The Crimson Field, where she played Rosalie Berwick.
Morgan Watkins plays Mike Steele
Who was Mike Steele? Thorpe’s press officer.
What else has Morgan Watkins been in? You may remember Morgan Watkins from the TV series Harlots, where he played Mr Osborne. He’s also appeared in Silent Witness as Ben Logan, and played George Gissing in Bill Nighy movie The Limehouse Golem. Oh, and music fans may recognise him from Florence + the Machine’s video for The Odyssey.
Anthony O’Donnell plays Leo Abse
Who was Leo Abse? Welsh Labour MP Leo Abse was in Parliament for nearly 30 years, and was noted for promoting private members’ bills to decriminalise sexual relationships between men and to liberalise the divorce laws. He has been described as a “flamboyant dresser”, though he was not homosexual himself, and he liked to drop references to Freudian psychotherapy into his speeches in the Commons.
What else has Anthony O’Donnell been in? The Welsh actor has recently appeared in the TV series Stella as Dai Davies and played Kaagh in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
David Bamber plays Lord Arran
Who was Lord Arran? The eighth Earl of Arran (also known as Sir Arthur Strange Kattendyke David Archibald Gore, or “Boofy”) was MP Leo Abse’s unlikely ally in the House of Lords. He did not usually speak in the House, except on matters relating to badgers. He shared his passion for badgers with his wife, who was also a champion powerboat racer, and at their house in Hemel Hempstead badgers were allowed to roam freely – so the Arrans wore gumboots at all times to protect their ankles. He was heterosexual, but took up the cause of homosexual law reform with a passion. Later, it came out that Arran’s elder brother had been gay and had killed himself.
What else has David Bamber been in? The veteran actor’s credits include Pride and Prejudice, Valkyrie, Darkest Hour, Call the Midwife, and Gunpowder.
Michelle Fox plays Lyn
Who is Lyn? In the drama, Scott meets a Dublin boutique owner and strikes up a sexual relationship with her. It is Lyn who propels him into male modelling, booking him jobs and launching his short-lived career.
In reality, Scott did meet a woman who owned a boutique in Dublin and embarked on an affair with her. Soon, through a friend of a friend, he met another woman at a dinner party who had just started a modelling agency and wanted him to be her client.
What else has Michelle Fox been in? The young actress had a breakout role in TV mini-series Overshadowed, playing a teenager struggling with anorexia. She has also starred as Bea Kinsella in Casualty.
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