A very English Scandal

What a brilliantly acted series. I felt so sorry for Norman Scott.

I didn’t realise at first that Norman’s friend from the pub was the actress Michelle Dotrice (Some Mother’s Do Have Em’. )

The Judge was so biased.

I was giving my children lunch when the account of the trial came on the radio. It was so graphic I rang and complained to the BBC. Only time I have ever done that.

Yes Lemon final episode was on on Saturday night, it's on iPlayer.

Well at least Norman’s still alive so it could vindicate him if nothing else Maryeliza
I agree shame that he ‘escaped’ I felt that about Jimmy Saville too

Better late than never I suppose but now he’s dead - not that that would have anything to do with it of course and there’s been the TV dramatisation.

I see the police are renewing the inquiry ( in real life btw)
Into this.
I haven’t seen the last episode ( has it been on yet?)

I was quite mesmerised (not in a good way) by Hugh Grant's very dark irises in the film - he must have worn coloured contacts. Did JT have very dark brown eyes?

His wife was a force to be reckoned with. What an impressive woman. Kudos to the actor.

Oh Gillybob you lucky lady as you started school I was having my eldest child ?

I was expecting No 2 at the time it went to court; I was really shocked by it all as I admired JT and always voted for him.

I wish Jamila looking at me you would be forgiven for thinking I must’ve had a hard paper round !

I was born in 1962
Just a babe!

And all in our life time!

in Scotland we had 4 out of six party leaders who were gay with only Willie Rennie of Lib Dem and Nicola Sturgeon being heterosexual.Now of cousre Kezia has left the leadership of the scottish branch of Labour and Ruth is pregnant,Who could have forseen that in the late 70's ? A pregnant gay leader of Scottish conservatives .Certainly something the DUP have issues with.

I too was amazed at the striking likeness of the real life characters seen in the BBC4 documentary at 10pm and the actors playing the parts in the drama, brilliant casting all round. This was a drama on many levels I thought; the distressing necessity of keeping one's homosexual behaviour suppressed due to anti-sodomy laws, the need to keep up a respectable appearance and the associated unhappiness, and the use and abuse of the lower classes by the ruling classes. The corruption and cover ups was mind blowing. It does make me happy to be living in times which, although not perfect, at least a public and political figure doesn't have to suppress their sexuality to succeed, being homosexual is no longer the end of one's political career, in general anyway ( not sure about the policy of the DUP on this subject). Interesting comment on Radio 4 Today programme this morning, the drama was described as a love story which I suppose it was over all, albeit a sad, unfulfilled one. Thought Thorpe's second wife was a marvellous character, stood by him, nursed him to the end, and was not apparently fazed by anything.

And we live in an open honest democracy with press freedom. Not somewhere like Russia or China. I do wonder if there’s a fat bald bloke with a fluffy white cat on his lap somewhere pulling all the strings.

Political machinations and police cover ups. So true MawBroon.
The missing paedophile dossier (mysteriously lost by Theresa May when she was at the Home Office, mentioned by paddyann), the inquiry into historical child abuse that has been delayed and delayed, Doctor David Kelly’s mysterious death amid the “Weapons of Mass destruction” debate, and probably many more shady cover ups that we don’t know about.

Resident humourist Dumpling :^I hope the world realises things have changed and our politians and judiciary are now honest and of good moral character. (They are aren’t they!)^

No apology needed BlueBelle I was born in 1962 . As I said I have heard of JT but didn’t have a clue about the “scandal” surrounding him.

Eloethan wrote:

I think it was pretty clear from the documentary that followed the dramatisation that the establishment certainly closed ranks and hid information in order to protect one of its own. Being a homosexual or engaging in any other sexual activities that at that time were considered improper, did pose security risks. This had already been demonstrated in other cases (eg Vassell being blackmailed to spy for Russia) and so people like the Home Secretary were, it appears, in dereliction of their duty.

The establishment protected one of its own because otherwise there was a danger to national security. The Profumo affair and the Philby affair were other cases in point of protection of public security. Otherwise even then it would not matter all that much if any public figure was a bugger, a murderer by proxy, a party animal, or a communist sympathiser.

I agree with Paddyann. The ethic in question is that the end does not justify the means. Public security does not justify travesty of justice. What is a country worth if it hasn't got a soul?

The ‘ruling classes’ were presumably also responsible for the absurd anti-gay laws, without which none of this would have happened. Or maybe it was all the fault of religion.

Watching Points of View yesterday afternoon I was amazed at the viewer(s) who pointed out that the episode of Fawlty Towers being shown in the background was actually aired three years later.

Some people are really good at spotting anachronisms.

Everything Maw says and more. I thought it was brilliant on all levels even though some bits of the first episode I found uncomfortable. But I don’t like any sex scenes - too voyeristic. How we survived as a nation I really don’t know. The public school ruling classes were (and I fear still are to an extent) jaw droppingly amoral.

I enjoyed the nostalgia of the cars, etc and the farce like events too. It was a farce. Just a rather serious one.

I couldn’t make out why I missed the actual trial until the date came up and I realised it coincides with the birth of DD2.

Big apologies Gillybob I didn’t realise you were so young and no of course you wouldn’t follow it in primary school and that explains it you little spring chicken you

I took a breathe in when I saw that little panda car I d actually forgotten them crystaltips of course s drama set in our past life throws up all sorts as well as the actual story

I mentioned the Panda cars as an amusing aside? sorry if you considered it to be shallow or flippant. I did not assume that was the whole point of the drama. I did say earlier that it was a complete miscarriage of justice. I agree about all the establishment coverups and the appalling biased direction of the judge.

Grandma70s Mon 04-Jun-18 09:09:22
What do you consider to be the point, MawBroon

Where to start?
Political machinations, perverting the course of justice, sexual exploitation by people who should have had more principles, the covering up of frankly appalling behaviour by those who claim to be able to run the country and consequently our lives, collusion by the authorities including the police and judiciary,
(Oh and some nostalgic references to our youth including panda cars )
Quis custodiet ipsos custodientes ?