Plot: “British Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe is accused of conspiracy to murder his gay ex-lover and forced to stand trial in 1979.” (imdb.com)
Stars: Hugh Grant, Ben Whishaw, Alex Jennings
Director: Stephen Frears
Writer: Russell T. Davies
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
A Very English Scandal is a three-part BBC drama series based on true events, starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw. The story begins in the early 1960s when Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant) started a relationship with a man called Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw). Some time later, when their relationship disintegrates, Norman goes to the police to tell them all about their homosexual relations. Thorpe, afraid that Norman would ruin his career and life, decides that his ex-lover has to die and hires a hitman to do the job. The series of events eventually lead up to Jeremy Thorpe’s 1979 trial for conspiracy to murder Norman Scott. Bear in mind, of course, that homosexuality was illegal at the time so this was quite the scandal back then.
Written by Russell T. Davies who is brilliant as always; the script is witty, funny, gripping. Beautifully directed by Stephen Frears who also directed Philomena and The Queen. Also, prepare to see Hugh Grant like you’ve never seen him before; most people associate him with a certain genre of films but he really shines in this one and proves what an excellent actor he is. Ben Whishaw is exceptional as always, of course. There is nothing this man can’t do and he never disappoints. Norman’s speech in the court room in Episode 3 is probably one of my favourite scenes, he did such a good job. Of course, I couldn’t not mention the brilliant Alex Jennings who played Peter Bessell, Jeremy Thorpe’s friend. What an extraordinary cast.
Yes, the series is mainly about an assassination attempt, but don’t let that fool you. It is also unexpectedly funny; there is a perfect balance between drama and comedy. Honestly, there were times I forgot it is based on real events, the storyline with the worst hitman in history in Episode 2 was hysterical. Also, expect frequent mentions of Norman’s National Insurance Card, it comes up a lot. And -spoiler alert!- he still hasn’t got it yet. Unbelievable.
One of the highlights for me (apart from Ben Whishaw’s hair) is Ben’s interaction with the animals. He hangs out with dogs, horses, even more dogs. I couldn’t have asked for more, I absolutely loved those scenes. Furthermore, Ben Whishaw and Hugh Grant are great together and they’ve proved it again for the third time. The first was in Cloud Atlas where Ben played Hugh’s wife (yes, you read that correctly) and the second was in Paddington 2 which is an excellent film and if you haven’t watched it, you definitely should. These two together are a force to be reckoned with.
Whether you are familiar with the story or, like me, this is the first time you’ve heard of it, I can guarantee that you will enjoy it. It truly is terribly interesting and it is written and filmed in such a way that it holds the viewer’s interest at all times. Some artistic licence must have been taken but, to be completely honest, I don’t even mind. The music, the editing, the acting, the direction: all so beautifully crafted. In two words: purely sensational. I wish there were more episodes because I was not ready for it to end. In conclusion, I have nothing but praise for A Very English Scandal. Congratulations all around.
Groovy Mutant 