Anyone watching / watched “A very British scandal”?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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 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.

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 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.

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 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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

#CLAIRE FOY!!!!

I feel sorry for the kids of these overpriviledged monsters for the lack of love and affection, other than that? No pity here, interested in this as entertainment only, lovely scenery and Claire Toy one of our most talented and accomplished actors, very underrated and shoved aside for the mediocre Helen mirren ( who was famous in 60/70s for showing her boobs! Not her acting!!!) ....oh and I surely'would' with the gorgeous Paul Bettany..mmmmm!

Well, there were worse things than divorce!

I had an aunt (by marriage) who committed suicide in the bath in 1961 or thereabouts.

Only very close family friends knew the truth, anyone else was just informed that Daddy's SIL had died unexpectedly.

To this day, I have no idea why she did it - I believe her suicide note just said, "Sorry, I can't go on."

There was no history of any nervous complaint or of marital abuse or infidelity.

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 ??

It happened more often than we today realise basically down to the fact that the law at the time made it very difficult to obtain a divorce.
I think it happened a fair bit in the aristocracy - many were marriages of convenience involving money or breeding and they either put up and shut up or turned a blind eye to the other person's affairs.

Very good acting and an interesting vignette by the real Margaret at the end. Both main characters had a very selfish sense of over entitlement even taking I to account the upper social circle to which they belonged. However Margaret made so many errors of judgment in the way she conducted herself when it was clear the Duke had married mainly for her money, and she him for the title. The double standards of the day were always going to be used against a woman like Margaret.

I could hardly bear to watch the last episode. Yes, she was far from faultless, but she was crushed by the closing of ranks and outright misogyny. And why were the public so outraged and horrified. Who was she to them after all. You’d think they’d have better things to do than wait outside court to rage and spit at her.

Lady Colin Campbell, who is a TV celebrity in the UK now in her later days, was assigned as male at birth in the Caribbean. She met and married Lord Colin Campbell in New York. He was the Duke of Argyll’s second, younger, son who appears in this drama as a child. She divorced him and claimed he was a monster and cruel to her. So perhaps disfunction ran in the family.