Watching A Very English Scandal felt like stepping into a sharply written political thriller wrapped in biting British wit. I came for Ben Whishaw—an actor I’ve followed through countless layered queer roles—and Hugh Grant, returning to television with a character as charming as he is morally compromised.
I stayed because the series refuses to treat this real-life scandal as dry history; instead, it’s an intimate, often absurdly funny portrait of power, fear, and the dangerous game of hiding who you are in a time that demanded silence.
A Very English Scandal Official Trailer
A Very English Scandal Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title: | A Very English Scandal |
| Series Info: | UK (2018) |
| Length: | 60 minutes |
| Total Episodes: | 3 Episodes |
| Genre: | Drama, Crime, Boy's love |
Plot
Based on a true story, the three-part BBC One miniseries follows Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant), leader of the UK’s Liberal Party in the late 1960s—a time when homosexuality had only just been decriminalized in England and Wales. Thorpe harbors a dangerous secret: a past romantic relationship with Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw).
When Norman reappears in Thorpe’s life, unafraid to live openly and unwilling to stay quiet, Thorpe sees him as a threat to both his political career and personal safety. What begins as a tangle of charm, affection, and manipulation spirals into a plot to have Norman killed. The attempt fails spectacularly, leading to one of the most sensational trials in British political history.
Thorpe becomes the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy to murder. Though he is acquitted, the trial destroys his career and exposes the hypocrisy of a political system that publicly denies, yet privately indulges, queer relationships.
A Very English Scandal Cast
Charactor
A former stable hand and model whose past relationship with Jeremy Thorpe sets off a political scandal. Vulnerable yet shrewd, Norman’s refusal to disappear turns him into an unlikely public figure.
Ben Whishaw
Ben Whishaw (London Spy, This Is Going to Hurt, The Hour) brings extraordinary nuance, capturing Norman’s charm, unpredictability, and survival instinct.
Charismatic Liberal Party leader, torn between his public ambition and private truth. His fear of exposure drives him toward an increasingly desperate cover-up.
Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant (Maurice, The Undoing) reinvents himself here, layering charm and menace in a performance that earned him BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.
Supporting Cast
Sergeant at Arms
Andrew French
Peter Bessell
Alex Jennings
Director
Stephen Frears
Directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) and written by Russell T Davies (It’s a Sin, Queer as Folk), A Very English Scandal blends meticulous period detail with sharp political and social commentary. Frears’ restrained yet incisive style lets the absurdity and cruelty of the true events speak for themselves, while Davies’ script balances biting humor with empathy for complex, flawed characters.
A Very English Scandal Review
Review
Story – 4.8/5
What makes A Very English Scandal gripping is its refusal to flatten history into a simple morality tale. It captures the absurdity and danger of being queer in late-60s Britain, even for the political elite. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, weaving satire into scandal while never losing sight of the very real human cost.
Norman isn’t painted as a heroic activist; he’s an accidental disruptor whose survival instincts and refusal to disappear become his greatest weapons. Thorpe, on the other hand, embodies the tragic irony of a progressive politician terrified of his own truth. The show’s political critique sits alongside a deeply human story about fear, class, and the messy survival strategies of queer men in hostile times.
Acting – 5/5
Hugh Grant delivers a career-redefining performance as Jeremy Thorpe—suave, calculating, and always one smile away from menace. His Thorpe is a man who weaponizes charm while teetering on the edge of exposure.
Ben Whishaw is magnetic as Norman Scott, layering vulnerability, self-preservation, and cheeky unpredictability into every scene. He captures Norman’s contradictions: naive yet shrewd, endearing yet exasperating. In the courtroom, Whishaw shifts between grandiose performance and private collapse with heartbreaking precision.
The supporting cast, including Monica Dolan as Marion Thorpe, adds richness and grounding to a story steeped in political theater.
Chemistry – 4.7/5
Grant and Whishaw spark in every shared scene, from early flirtations to bitter confrontations. Their dynamic is charged with attraction, resentment, and the lingering intimacy of shared secrets. Even as the plot turns murderous, there’s a strange tenderness in how they navigate each other—a reminder that this scandal began as a love affair.
Production – 4.8/5
Directed with elegance by Stephen Frears and written by Russell T Davies, the series is taut and cinematic. The period detail—from tailored suits to smoky committee rooms—immerses you in the era’s social codes and political theater. The tonal balance between dark comedy and high-stakes drama is pure British craft.
Ending – 4.6/5
The trial’s verdict—“not guilty”—is less a victory than a bitter commentary on class and credibility. Thorpe walks free, but the scandal ends his career. Norman, too, gains no tidy justice, only survival and a strange form of public recognition. It’s an ending that resists moral closure, leaving you with the same uneasy mix of amusement and outrage that defines the whole series.
💬 My Take
I didn’t expect to fall so hard for a show that starts with guns blazing and ends with genuine emotional depth. What “KinnPorsche” does best is blur the line between desire and danger. I was especially taken by the moral grayness of both characters — neither truly good or evil, but constantly shaped by their trauma and choices.
Also, VegasPete? Completely stole my heart. I was watching for Kinn and Porsche, but ended up staying for the raw tenderness buried inside Vegas’s madness.
This isn’t just a sexy mafia BL. It’s a ride — and one worth taking.
Best Scenes of A Very English Scandal
First Meeting in the Stables – Norman’s awe, nervousness, and budding attraction play across Whishaw’s face in seconds.
Courtroom Performance – Norman’s theatrical testimony captivates the public, followed by a private breakdown in the bathroom.
Jeremy’s Balcony Moment – Freshly acquitted, Thorpe smiles for the cameras while his mother whispers the truth of his political ruin.
The Bus Ride Home – Norman hears the verdict, swallows his reaction, and rides away with a small, knowing smile.
“Bunny” – Jeremy’s pet name for Norman encapsulates both intimacy and condescension.
A Very English Scandal Information
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