The Trial of Christine Keeler.

Marples was of course Minister for Transport when the M1 was built. The construction company was, if memory serves, Marples-Ridgway. EM always maintained it was his wife's company. So no conflict of interest there, then...

What a piece of work!

I found Tom Mangold's docu far more interesting than the bloody dramatisation, particularly as he was close to Ward himself.

I felt (and some would disagree, no doubt), that there was too much emphasis on portraying the girls, and particularly CK, as victims and in do doing lost a lost of the nuance of what actually happened.

I find it quite frightening that papers could be sealed till 2046. What on earth are they trying to hide? I have tried to watch the series with an open mind and looking back there are things I did and accepted in those days that I could never tolerate now. Times and attitudes do change and we now do have more sympathy for how these girls were manipulated. The sadness is that it still seems to be going on and those in power continue to be protected. The occasional scandal and court case pops up in the name of openness but how much is still brushed under the carpet?

Ernest Marples ? mmmmmm

Yes-Marples.

Wasn’t that Ernest Marples?

Lord Dennings report covered more than the Profumo affair. Another more prominent minister was discovered to be up to far worse that Profumo. Probably that's why papers are sealed till 2046.

...they're in Lord Astor's house....

In the documentary isn't there a wall in someones house where there are two portraits facing each other; one of CK and the other was the DoE? [I'm just about to rewatch it properly having nodded off last night.....]

Iam64, I heard the same rumours and there must be some pretty damming stuff in the papers for them to be kept for so long.

I think quoting rumours is unfair regardless of the victim of rumours

I haven't read much about Ward but the drama painted a fairly sympathetic, if dissolute and slightly creepy, picture. Christine's comment that she only ever felt safe with him seemed something the writers had researched carefully.
He was definitely a scape goat. There have been rumours that the DofE was a visitor to Ward's home. That someone representing the RF bought drawings he'd done the D ofE and Princess M.
Pity none of us will be around when the papers are finally open to the public.

According to the Mangold programme, Ward was actually trying to reel in Ivanov with Christine when Profumo kind of blundered in.

Instead, it seems, Profumo and Ivanov shared Christine, setting off the potential national security crisis.

Ward was most certainly the scapegoat.

Felt very sorry for Christine. Not really sure about Steven Ward, couldn't quite decide what he was about. I did notice at the end though it stated the records regarding Steven Ward were sealed until at least 2046 That says an awful lot!!! Makes me wonder if he was a scapegoat for government 'going ons' A cover up.!

Yes, I wondered about Profumo's wife - divorce was still quite a scandal.

More likely the Russian connection.

I must watch that on catch up.

Welshwife Valerie remained the loyal wife but it has been reported that she was so distraught she contacted her first husband and asked if they could re-marry. He advised her that she should stay, leaving would look like betrayal, staying would mean everyone thought she was loyal and wonderful.

Interesting that the papers from the Ward trial are to be kept secret until 2046. Guess most people will have forgotten about it by then but I imagine that is the plan. Wonder what they are afraid of? A royal connection??

yes indeed MerylStreep. It reminds me of the police officers involved in an investigation into a former Liberal MP. A couple of them were interviewed by the former Rochdale MP who wrote a book about it (or co authored it with someone who knew what they were doing). As a result a former cid sergeant was interviewed several times for news and tv/radio. He was clear that 'men in suits' (code for Mi5 or 6) arrived, took their files and told them never to speak of it or they'd be prosecuted as they'd signed the OSA.
So much cover up for reasons outside our knowledge.....

Iam64
abandoned by Mi6
'Allegedly' he was more than abandoned by Mi6?

I watched from the middle of the Tom Mangold programme - came across it by accident. It was most interesting - it was said at the time Ward was the fall guy.

Did anyone see the Tom Mangold documentary following the T of CK last evening? Eye opening stuff. Ward was a scapegoat for some very nasty goings on in high places.

To me the most amazing thing was that Profumo’s wife - Valerie. Hobson - stuck by him till she died. She was always very elegant and dignified.

Mandy Rice Davies seems to have been a tough cookie. She just walked away from the whole mess totally unscathed. In fact she turned it all to her advantage and made a lot of money from it all.

She didn't come across as someone who had much loyalty to others, even selling Christine up the river for her own ends. A born survivor.

The mother of a school friend of mine taught at the school where Mandy Rice-Davies was a pupil, at the time when she was there. I seem to recall her saying that she had a different colour hair every week!