Anyone watching / watched “A very British scandal”?

In days pre-noughties at very least NOBODY but NOBODY told a soul about abuse in the home! So saying "there was no history of abuse" is laughingly naïve

I thought the programme very good and am appalled at the treatment of the Duchess by the court and the press.

Being interested in history and family history I looked up the ancestors of the 11th Duke. With the exception of the 11th, they were interesting in a variety of ways. eg the 8th Duke was a Liberal statesman and also a polymath.

The great grandfather of the 11th was the 8th Duke and he had 5 sons (and even more daughters)

The 9th Duke married Princess Louise, 4th daughter of Queen Victoria. It seems that it was an unhappy marriage and they did not spend a lot of time together. No children. He had homosexual male friends that he was close to but apparently no evidence that he was gay.

The 10th Duke, nephew of the 9th never married and no children. Apparently he was referred to as "Scotland's most picturesque duke" and he indulged in eccentric behaviour.

I find it interesting how often the direct line ends and some distant relation inherits a title.

Which is how Ian Campbell came to be the 11th Duke.

We thoroughly enjoyed this and watched episode 3 straight after the second episode. It was stated that some of the facts were altered for 'dramatic effect' or words similar - I can't remember the exact wording. She was treated appallingly in that courtroom. That wouldn't happen today I hope. The scene about the 'headless man' in the photographs was so hypocritical in that the snotty legal teams and the priggish judge looking down on her for the 'gross sexual act' ( judge's words?) while probably gagging for the same thing to be done to them! Hypocracy at it's worst. The acting was superb.

We loved it (binge watched) - it was superb acting but a very sorry tale. I've enjoyed reading around the subject and finding out more about Margaret's life. Interestingly I read that very many of her male friends were homosexual, which was illegal in those days, so none could not testify or come forward to say their friendship was purely for company & fun, including Peter who was in court during the trial.

Margaret was treated very badly. Her husband only wanted her for her money. She tried to be a good wife but he wasn't interested. The way she was treated in court was dreadful. Made to stand for 3 hours while the Duke sat down. Very much a man's world.

I wonder why her maid couldn't come forward to say she witnessed the Duke trying to strangle Margaret.

I stopped watching half way through episode 2. While beautifully made, the negative vibe put me off! Chock full of damaged, self-centred people leading lives of huge privilege yet bereft of any real humanity - what a downer!

Susieq62

I think I may binge watch !
My mum left my dad in 1964 for another man. She couldn’t afford to take us with her. It was unheard of for women to leave their children in the 60s. I was 14 and my brother was 12 and nobody knew how to cope! My mum never stopped feeling guilty even though we told her time after time it wasn’t her fault. She was so bullied ! She was brave as well. The 2nd marriage was a nigh5mare as well ??

I left my husband and 2DS aged 12&14 in 1994 after suffering 11 years of his infidelity and obnoxious behaviour, foolishly thinking he'd find doing it all alone so difficult he'd ask me to get back and HE would leave Me go to his bit on side who lived with mother at the time- big mistake I've never recovered from, he didn't, he just carried on really badly with kids suffering her moving in 3 weeks later and calling the shots! I returned home 4months later and we had a war of the roses arrangement in small house that didn't work either, so having got financially independent I bought a house and#2 son only moved with me, #1son didn't want to leave his room that he'd just got sorted to his liking(boys!!) I struggled for4years and did my best but the guilt never goes and now #2 son spouts dreadful lies about me being cruel and mean to him(he was spoiled rotten in my guilt) everything from being constantly drunk to force feeding him?!? Utter crap) and no longer has any contact nor do his 3 little ones, he used me for help when they had 3# under 5 and couldn't cope, took all my expensive gifts offered then dumped me.i believe in my heart of hearts that I deserve it for being so bad as to leave them albeit In a comfortable home with father. Women feel guilt- men feel liberated........

I don’t think Claire Foy is underrated as an actress, or pushed aside by Helen Mirren. They are different generations. Helen Mirren wouldn’t have been suitable to play this part, too old.

I remember, aged 11, the headlines of the headless man and being thoroughly disgusted. Not about the sex, just the idea of a man going about without a head.

I didn't realise that the judge who presided over the divorce was John Wheatley who went on to become Lord Wheatley. His son, also John and also a high court judge was my neighbour for 17 years. It was his father at the time of the trial who really condemned Margaret but Iain Campbell was definitely mad, bad and dangerous to know, perhaps that was the attraction for her. He knew about her from way back.

Watched almost all in one go. Love Claire Foy. I never knew about this scandal. Looking at all those rich 'types' left me feeling what a worthless, objectionable bunch they were. The husband (Ian) was a total b*****d. The duchess had plenty of faults too (like lying), but there was injustice towards her too.

I thought it was brilliant
Remember my Dad being disgusted with it !!
Mixed feelings for her

I recorded all 3 but only got through 1 episode so far, think it was a bit slow burning at first, but seemed to more interesting at end.ill watch other 2 today.They always do have much prettier or more handsome actors to play some quite plain real life characters- 'victoria' was one such that comes to mind?

Margaret Campbell nee Whigham, was seen by a psychiatrist at the age of 6, and supposedly diagnosed with melancholy or a lack of humour.
It seems she was cause for concern back then. Which begs the question why?
With today's knowledge of child abuse and how it presents in the victim, I wonder if her 'promiscuity' (as the sexist judge put it) was rooted in this?
She wasnt 'of' the class she bought into, and the artistos were/are(?) renowned for throwing outsiders under the bus. The only loyalty is shown to the title holder, who is invariably a male.

We watched the last episode last night. I thought the acting was superb and Clare Foy was a lot prettier than the actual Duchess when we saw her at the end! Interesting how men and women perceive the story. DH's comment was 'they deserved each other' whereas I felt very sorry for her and how the Duke treated her. I suppose really no one will ever know what went on in the marriage.

Hearing the speech by “Maureen” in last episode after funeral I couldn’t help thinking how little some attitudes have changed in half a decade.

I enjoyed it, best tv over this holiday period. Claire Foy was interviewed by Emma Barnett on Woman’s Hour. CF said she recognised the character flaws but was shocked by the double standards, the acceptance of the Duke’s awful behaviour, with the Duchess treated with contempt.
Great clothes, scenery and Scotland looked wonderful

Was it ever proved that she did have affairs while married to the Duke? Surely the headless man was her husband- we saw him take the picture , and she then removed the photos. s someone else said, she had gay male friends who couldn’t be witnesses as they’d have been prosecuted.

Iam64

I enjoyed it, best tv over this holiday period. Claire Foy was interviewed by Emma Barnett on Woman’s Hour. CF said she recognised the character flaws but was shocked by the double standards, the acceptance of the Duke’s awful behaviour, with the Duchess treated with contempt.
Great clothes, scenery and Scotland looked wonderful

Thanks. I’ll listen to that on catchup. I thought it was the best programme over Christmas, having been disappointed with Around the World in 80 Days.

This article tells her story, both as a child and later after the divorce.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10352223/What-happened-Duke-Duchess-Argyll-British-Scandal.html

Watched the first episode on BBC and couldn’t wait for the other two so had a late night watching them on Iplayer. The best thing on over Christmas

Great series, but Clare Foy looking nothing like the Duchess, or Queen Victoria for that matter. Casting directors seem to get stuck on one actress and they crop up in everything, suitable for the role or not. She’s a good actress to watch thinking though, very expressive face.
The head injury might have affected Margaret who it appears was already troubled as a child.

I remember the court case, I was 21 at the time. It really was all over the newspapers and very shocking at a time when sex wasn’t really discussed by “ordinary” people. How quickly that changed. It really was a man’s world and I don’t remember there being an awful lot of sympathy for Margaret. The photos at the time didn’t flatter her and I remember thinking how hard she looked and of course they were in black and white which didn’t help. I do feel sorry for her and feel she and her father were treated with contempt by the duke who swindled them out of a lot of money.

I am not sure if I feel ready to judge. I woke up this morning thinking that it is likely that the class and sex she came from were educated to be wives and mothers not academics or have an interest in culture. It seems for a while - even after the debutantes were got rid of in 1958 the young didn't know what to do with themselves except to drink and dance the nights away along with lots of bonking. The only thing I didn't like in the analysis above is the word amoral. The standard set for each sex is a social construct, Personally I wouldn't have enjoyed that young women's life and her attempts to cope seem reasonable to me.