Hugh Grant will star in BBC’s 1960s true story political drama ‘A Very English Scandal’

The BBC has announced that Bridget Jones star Hugh Grant will lead the cast of A Very English Scandal.

From the makers of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the director of Florence Foster Jenkins, the three-part mini-series will tell the shocking true story of the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder.

Written by Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, The Grand), A Very English Scandal is based on journalist John Preston’s book, A Very English Scandal: Sex, Lies And A Murder Plot At The Heart Of The Establishment.

The official synopsis reads: “It is the late 1960s, homosexuality has only just been decriminalised, and Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal party and the youngest leader of any British political party in a hundred years, has a secret he’s desperate to hide.

“As long as his ex-lover Norman Scott is around, Thorpe’s brilliant career is at risk. With the help of friends, Thorpe schemes and deceives – until he can see only one way to silence Scott for good.

“The trial of Jeremy Thorpe changed society forever, illuminating the darkest secrets of the Establishment.

“The Thorpe affair revealed such breath-taking deceit and corruption that, at the time, hardly anyone dared believe it could be true.”

Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral) will play disgraced MP Jeremy Thorpe alongside Ben Whishaw (Spectre) as Norman Scott.

Russell T Davies commented: “It’s a dream come true, to work with Ben [Whishaw]. One of Britain’s finest actors playing one of history’s most fascinating men.”

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, added: “Ben Whishaw is an extraordinary actor and we are thrilled to announce he will star opposite Hugh Grant in this scandalous real-life story for BBC One. I cannot wait to see this first-class British duo bring Russell’s powerful scripts to life.”

A Very English Scandal will air on BBC One in the UK in 2018.