How a Liberal Party leader’s secret life triggered a national political catastrophe
In short: In 1960s Britain, a clandestine affair between a rising politician and an unstable ex-lover spiraled into a bizarre murder plot. The resulting scandal destroyed a career, exposed the dark underbelly of the establishment, and became the subject of a critically acclaimed television drama that remains a modern cultural touchstone.
A Very English Scandal, a 2018 three-part drama by Russell T Davies, chronicles the downfall of Jeremy Thorpe, the youngest Liberal Party leader of the 20th century. Based on John Preston’s 2016 book, the series dramatizes the events surrounding the 1976–1979 Thorpe affair. The narrative begins in 1961, when Thorpe met Norman Josiffe, later known as Norman Scott. Their tumultuous relationship eventually soured, leading Scott to threaten to expose their homosexual affair after Thorpe refused to assist him with administrative issues regarding his National Insurance card.
As Thorpe’s political star rose, his desperation to keep his secret grew. By 1973, the situation escalated into a failed assassination attempt when Andrew Newton was hired to kill Scott, though he ended up killing Scott’s dog instead. The subsequent investigation and trial for attempted murder, which ended in an acquittal, effectively ended Thorpe’s political life. He never held public office again, living until 2014, while Scott remained a persistent, if marginalized, figure in the saga.
The production, directed by Stephen Frears and starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, earned widespread critical praise, including a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a spot on The Guardian’s ranking of the century's top 100 television programs. Despite the acclaim, the real-life Scott criticized the show’s portrayal of his character, arguing that the series leaned too heavily into artistic license and misrepresented his personal strength and experiences.
The series is notable for its authentic recreation of 1970s Britain, utilizing locations across London, Manchester, and Wales to stand in for historical settings. It even secured rare access to the Old Bailey, though filming constraints ultimately forced the production to move court scenes to Kingston upon Thames. This production marked the beginning of a broader anthology series, followed by explorations of other high-profile British scandals.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: A Very English Scandal (TV series)
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