MODERN LOVE
JAMES NORTON, SOPHIE COOKSON AND ELLIE BAMBER STAR IN A FRESH TAKE ON A 60S SCANDAL…
THE TRIAL OF CHRISTINE KEELER | BBC1 SUN 29 & MON 30 DECEMBER
When, in 1963, it was revealed that Secretary of State for War John Profumo had had an affair with Christine Keeler, the mistress of a Soviet attaché, fears of a security breach led to his resignation (effectively ending Conservative Government in the 1960s). And while you may think you know all this, this new six-part drama tells us the tale from the viewpoint of the women involved in the scandal. Inside TV spoke to Sophie Cookson (Christine), Ellie Bamber (who plays fellow showgirl Mandy Rice-davies) and James Norton (who stars as socialite Stephen Ward) to find out what makes this version of events different…
What can you tell us about your characters?
Sophie Christine had great tenacity and courage to face what she did. And she was put in an adult setting before she had mentally fully formed. She needed a figure in her life to show her a way, and that ended up being Stephen. They had a deep, platonic love that maybe wasn’t understood back then.
James Stephen’s a fascinating character: particularly so in those days, because he was so subversive and progressive. But being that forward-thinking came at a great cost.
Ellie Mandy is a powerful young lady who has this idea that if she can barge through with her head held high, no one will notice. She’s a funny, brazen, outgoing character who rolls through it all with a smile.
Sophie Mandy was the brains of the operation. Christine was very trusting, and just wanted to believe the best in people.
Is there an added pressure as these are real people?
James There’s lots written about Stephen, but at some point you have to start to speculate. We began with the idea that he was fascinated by femininity and female power.
Sophie Everyone has an opinion about Christine, which I find interesting because the majority probably know very little. Our story goes behind the headlines, so we get a real sense of what made her the person she became.
Why do you think people find this story so fascinating?
James I guess it’s still the biggest scandal of its type in our country: it’s our Watergate. I think it’s also the primal power of sex and how it can bring down governments.
Sophie Christine was truly done over by the male establishment. She was hauled in to the police, time and again, to list the men she’d slept with, which had nothing to do with the scandal: they just wanted to pin her for something.
Ellie If this was all happening now, there would be a very different
IT’S THE BIGGEST SCANDAL OF ITS TYPE IN OUR COUNTRY” JAMES
outcome. I think it’s very relevant to tell this story now.
Are you enjoying the 60s look?
Ellie I love it! It’s so iconic. Mandy likes her pastel colours and long lashes! Everything was beautifully put together. Even if you were just wearing a simple dress, there was an elegance to it.
James It’s a sexy period, the 60s – there was so much care taken over appearance. It makes me a bit self-conscious every time I throw on a tracksuit in the morning now! I really should make more of an effort!