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Miniseries – A Very English Scandal

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97% Tomatometer 69 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Starring Golden Globe-nominated actor Hugh Grant and based on a true story, "A Very English Scandal" tells the story of Jeremy Thorpe, a member of Parliament who, in 1979, was tried and later acquitted of conspiring to murder his ex-lover, Norman Scott. Beginning in the 1960s, Thorpe is the leader of the Liberal Party, the youngest head of a political party in 100 years. But he is hiding an affair with a man at a time when homosexuality is still illegal. When Scott threatens to reveal the affair, Thorpe decides upon a plan of action that eventually exposes the scandal and leads to a watershed moment in British social and political life, illuminating the level of dark secrets and cover-ups in the British establishment.
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A Very English Scandal — Miniseries

A Very English Scandal — Miniseries

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Critics Consensus

Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw impress in A Very English Scandal, an equally absorbing and appalling look at British politics and society.

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Critics Reviews

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Geordie Gray The Australian Clever, confident, and deliciously cruel, with a perfect script from Queer as Folk creator Russell T. Davies and performances that cannot be bested. Apr 12, 2024 Full Review Kelly Lawler USA Today Hugh Grant is not the adorable rom-com hero you may know him as in this kicky, hilarious limited series. Nov 10, 2021 Full Review Craig Mathieson The Age (Australia) Screenwriter Russell T. Davies delights in scabrous retorts and daft schemes, but the two main characters are captured with illuminating detail and an understanding that personalities can have contradictory extremes. Rated: 4/5 Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Keith Watson Metro Newspaper (UK) Grant's Thorpe is charismatic company yet essentially deeply sad, a stranger even to himself. It's a very English kind of suffering. Rated: 5/5 Mar 8, 2019 Full Review Antonio R. Jiménez Espinof 'A Very English Scandal' chooses humor as a combat weapon: because the oppressors are won with laughter. [Full Review in Spanish] Rated: 4/5 Mar 4, 2019 Full Review James Belfield The Post NZ This masterful drama certainly resurrects the seedier, more headline-grabbing elements of the case and retells them with stunning panache and beautiful comic timing - but the effect now is... to put that version of England on trial. Feb 8, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gareth v An offbeat true story that jumps from wickedly funny to quite serious in this entertaining limited series. Grant and Whishaw are perfectly cast and the dynamic between their characters is this show's greatest strength. Worth seeing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/24/23 Full Review John S Very enjoyable. Grant is excellent, as is the rest of the cast. The trial is not really the point, although the cross-examinations are excellent. Note: there are only three episodes, not four Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/08/23 Full Review Lee C Well acted, well produced, and quite funny at times. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/05/22 Full Review Audience Member Spoiler alert - If you want a combo of fine acting, along with "elites trample the vulnerable poor" be sure to watch this depressing episode. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review tom m I'm not much of a fan of Hugh Grant. This rather affirms that. The storytelling was entertaining enough. Reasonably well done. 3 1 hour long episodes. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Wonderful. Compelling. A Very English Scandal is a miniseries about British politician Jeremy Thorpe trying to erase all traces of his relationship with Norman Scott, which jeopardizes his political career. The series is exciting from the start: the storyline is very smooth and there are no empty moments. The interpretations of Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw are excellent and both, in particular Whishaw, manage to fit perfectly into the characters. The direction is very good as well as the script and the cinematography. A truly entertaining miniseries to watch lasting only three hours. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Very English Scandal — Miniseries

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Cast & Crew

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Hugh Grant

Jeremy Thorpe

Ben Whishaw

Norman Scott

Alex Jennings

Peter Bessell

David Bamber

Lord Arran

Jason Watkins

Emlyn Hooson

Patricia Hodge

Ursula Thorpe

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 20, 2018 Episode 1 In England in the early 1960s, politician Jeremy Thorpe begins a whirlwind affair with a young stablehand, Norman Scott; when the relationship turns sour, Norman becomes a secret Jeremy is desperate to hide. Details Episode 2 Aired May 27, 2018 Episode 2 As Jeremy gets one step closer to becoming prime minister, Norman demands that old promises should be honored; with Jeremy's old affair with Norman threatening to derail his political career, he may stop at nothing to silence Norman. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 3, 2018 Episode 3 Having survived a bungled attempt on his life, Norman publicly accuses Jeremy of being behind a plot to kill him; after years of acrimony between them, Norman and Jeremy finally go head-to-head in court with the world watching. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 28, 2019 Starring Golden Globe-nominated actor Hugh Grant and based on a true story, "A Very English Scandal" tells the story of Jeremy Thorpe, a member of Parliament who, in 1979, was tried and later acquitted of conspiring to murder his ex-lover, Norman Scott. Beginning in the 1960s, Thorpe is the leader of the Liberal Party, the youngest head of a political party in 100 years. But he is hiding an affair with a man at a time when homosexuality is still illegal. When Scott threatens to reveal the affair, Thorpe decides upon a plan of action that eventually exposes the scandal and leads to a watershed moment in British social and political life, illuminating the level of dark secrets and cover-ups in the British establishment. Details

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A Very English Scandal — Miniseries

A Very English Scandal View more photos

Season Info

Director
Stephen Frears
Executive Producer
Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin, Diarmuid McKeown, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Lucy Richer, Russell T. Davies, Stephen Frears
Screenwriter
John Preston, Russell T. Davies
Network
BBC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama, Crime
Original Language
British English
Release Date
May 20, 2018