‘The Trial of Christine Keeler’ recap: What happened in Episode 1?

The Trial of Christine Keeler began in the UK tonight.

Based on one of the most infamous British true life stories, the BBC’s new period drama explores the chain of events in the 1960s which became known as the Profumo affair.

The Trial of Christine Keeler follows the cover-up of an affair between a British Minister and model Christine Keeler as the scandal threatens to bring down the government.

Written by award-winning novelist and screenwriter Amanda Coe (Apple Tree Yard), the six-part series stars James Norton (Grantchester), Sophie Cookson (Kingsman), Ellie Bamber (Les Miserables), Ben Miles (The Crown) and Emilia Fox (Silent Witness).

Here’s a plot recap for the first episode, which aired at 9pm on Sunday 29th December 2019 on BBC One:

London, winter 1962. Britain is gripped by the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a series of sex and spy scandals have rocked the British government.

Short of money, working-class model Christine Keeler has returned to stage-dancing in Soho’s famous cabaret clubs.

Christine lives with her West Indian boyfriend Johnny in a racially tense Notting Hill, and confides in her best friend Mandy Rice-Davies.

It has been over a year since Christine’s secret affair with the married, middle-aged Conservative minister of war, John Profumo.

But now Christine is shaken by violent harassment by a West Indian stalker, ‘Lucky’ Gordon, and when Johnny fails to protect her, she considers refuge with her mentor, socialite Dr Stephen Ward.

However, Ward is under MI5 surveillance for entertaining a handsome Russian diplomat, and amid delusions of grandeur, he tries to use his establishment links to secure emergency nuclear talks between the US and Russia.

At the same time, Profumo tries to raise his profile to mark the end of UK conscription, and Christine recalls the beginnings of their infamous affair: the fateful weekend they met at twilight by a country manor swimming pool.