trial trauma
The Trial of Christine Keeler’s writer reveals why new BBC drama focuses on ‘chaotic’ life of Profumo Affair teen
THE Trial of Christine Keeler's writer has revealed why the new BBC drama focuses on the 'chaotic' life of the Profumo Affair teen 'vilified as a s**t'.
The new six-part series looks at the biggest political scandal of the 1960s - but from the perspective of the women involved.
6
The titular Christine and Mandy Rice-Davies were branded 'harlots', 'call-girls' and worse, but writer Amanda Coe wanted to readdress the balance for two young women who found themselves in a man's world and out of their depth.
She told : "Once you start researching the story, the thing that really strikes you is what it must have felt like to be Christine Keeler.
"To be that young and to come from such a difficult, embattled background and then go through the things she went through – moving to London, having a new life and then finding herself in the public eye to this extraordinary and unprecedented degree.
“She and Mandy became famous for being famous, and then added to this was the political espionage scandal and the fact that she was absolutely vilified as this s**t who had brought down the government.
6
6
6
6
"There was a very real ambivalence about her and also a fascination with her sexuality as it was portrayed in the media, and the very big gap between that and her genuine emotional life.
"It was chaotic to be Christine and I wanted the series to show both how that might feel and why it might be.”
The Prufumo Affair refers to John Profumo's affair with 19-year-old Christine while serving as Secretary of State for War in Harold Macmillan's government in March 1963.
Things were complicated further by reports that Christine was also sleeping with a Soviet naval attaché and spy called Captain Yevgeny Ivanov, which created a potential security risk in Great Britain.
Most Read in TV & Showbiz
6
The repercussions of the scandal severely damaged the Conservative government and saw Harold Macmillan resign as Prime Minister - on health grounds - in October 1963.
The series sees Sophie Cookson as Christine, while Ellie Bamber plays Mandy.
The Crown's Ben Miles plays John Profumo and Grantchester's James Norton portrays Stephen Ward, the man who first introduced him to Christine.
The Trial of Christine Keeler begins tonight, Sunday, December 29 at 9pm on BBC One.
Topics