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A Very British Scandal

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Not to be confused with A Very English Scandal (TV series).

A Very British Scandal
GenreHistorical drama
Written bySarah Phelps
Directed byAnne Sewitsky
Starring
ComposerNathan Barr
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
ProducerChris Ballantyne
Production locations
  • England
  • Scotland
CinematographySi Bell
EditorDominic Strevens
Running time177 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release26 December (2021-12-26) –
28 December 2021 (2021-12-28)

A Very British Scandal is a 2021 historical drama miniseries starring Claire Foy as Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll and Paul Bettany as Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll.[1] While not a direct sequel or continuation, its production company, Blueprint Pictures, previously made A Very English Scandal (2018), about the Thorpe affair.[2]

Written and created by Sarah Phelps, A Very British Scandal premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 26 December 2021, and on Amazon Prime Video on 22 April 2022.

Synopsis

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The three-episode series dramatises the marriage of Margaret Whigham Sweeny and Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll and Chief (Scottish Gaelic: MacCailein Mòr) of Clan Campbell, and the media frenzy surrounding their 1963 Argyll v Argyll divorce case.[3][4][5]

Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll, is a member of the Scottish nobility and the House of Lords in the early 1960s. He meets socialite Margaret Whigham Sweeny and falls in love with her while he is still married to his second wife, Louise.

After marrying Margaret, Ian Campbell announces that he intends to leave his estate to his oldest son. Margaret―who stands to gain nothing in the event of her new husband's death―starts rumours that Ian's children are illegitimate.

It became a notorious and scandalous legal case, featuring accusations of adultery, forgery, theft, domestic violence, drug use and bribery.[6] The series explores the social and political climate of post-war Britain and attitudes toward women in the 1960s.[7]

Cast

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Production

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In March 2021, it was announced that Claire Foy and Paul Bettany had been cast in the lead roles and that Sarah Phelps would write and executive produce, with Anne Sewitsky directing and executive producing.[2][8]

The series was filmed in Scotland and England, including at Scotland's Inveraray Castle (home of the Duke of Argyll), Glen Etive in the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh's Parliament House, the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel, Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel, Goldsmiths' Hall in London, and the Rivoli Ballroom in London.[9]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Anne SewitskySarah Phelps26 December 2021 (2021-12-26)6.96
2"Episode 2"Anne SewitskySarah Phelps27 December 2021 (2021-12-27)5.48
3"Episode 3"Anne SewitskySarah Phelps28 December 2021 (2021-12-28)5.30

Release

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The series premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC One on December 26, 2021, and released in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on Prime Video on April 22, 2022.[6]

In the United States, Amazon released A Very British Scandal as the second season of A Very English Scandal.

Critical reception

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Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the series five out of five stars, praising the writing and casting of the leads, as well as the portrayal of Margaret Campbell as an independent woman but not as a heroic figure.[10] Ed Cumming of The Independent also gave the series five out of five stars, writing that Foy and Bettany are "both exceptional."[11] Carol Midgley of The Times was less complimentary, awarding three out of five stars, but also praising Foy.[12] Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph gave it two out of five stars, criticising the shift in tone and style from A Very English Scandal, and feeling that it failed to make Margaret a sympathetic character.[13]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2022 Broadcast Press Guild Award Best Drama Mini-Series A Very British Scandal Won [14]
[15]
Best Actress Claire Foy Won
Best Writer Sarah Phelps Nominated
British Academy Television Awards Best Costume Design Ian Fulcher Nominated [16]
Best Editing: Fiction Dominic Strevens Nominated
Best Make-Up & Hair Design Catherine Scoble Nominated
Best Sound: Fiction Sound Team Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Nathan Barr (for "Episode 1") Nominated [17]
Set Decorators Society of America Awards Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Television Movie or Limited Series Philippa Hart and Christina Moore Nominated [18]

Sources

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  1. ^ "BBC One confirms Sarah Phelps' A Very British Scandal, starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany". BBC Media Centre. 11 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b Kanter, Jake (11 March 2021). "Claire Foy & Paul Bettany To Headline Second Season Of 'A Very English Scandal' For BBC/Amazon".
  3. ^ Kanter, Jake (11 March 2020). "'The ABC Murders' Writer Sarah Phelps Signs up for 'A Very English Scandal' Season 2". Deadline. Penske Business Media.
  4. ^ "A Very English Scandal series 2 will focus on the 'Dirty Duchess' divorce case". The Telegraph. 31 January 2019.
  5. ^ Williams, Zoe (17 December 2021). "'I like sex and am extremely good at it' – the real crime of the 'fellatio duchess' in A Very British Scandal". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b King, Aidan (23 March 2022). "'A Very British Scandal' Trailer Reveals Paul Bettany & Claire Foy's Historical Drama Series Coming to Prime Video". Collider. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  7. ^ Campione, Katie (22 March 2022). "'A Very British Scandal': Paul Bettany, Claire Foy Spar as Duke and Duchess of Argyll in First Trailer". The Wrap. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  8. ^ Otterson, Joe (11 March 2021). "Claire Foy, Paul Bettany to Star in 'A Very British Scandal' for Amazon, BBC One". Variety. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. ^ Medd, James (22 December 2021). "Where was 'A Very British Scandal' filmed?". Conde Nast Traveller. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ "A Very British Scandal review – Claire Foy is masterful as the 'dirty duchess' out for blood". TheGuardian.com. 26 December 2021.
  11. ^ Cumming, Ed (26 December 2021). "Claire Foy shines in the saddest and most stylish drama this year". The Independent. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  12. ^ Midgley, Carol (17 July 2023). "A Very British Scandal review — Foy reigns supreme in a story of sex, lies and unhappy aristocrats" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  13. ^ Singh, Anita (26 December 2021). "A Very British Scandal, review: a poor attempt at redeeming a truly unlikeable person". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  14. ^ Goldbart, Max (25 March 2022). "'It's A Sin' And 'A Very British Scandal' Win Two Trophies Each At Broadcasting Press Guild Awards". Deadline. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  15. ^ Goldbart, Max (23 February 2022). "Russell T Davies Drama 'It's A Sin' Picks Up Six BPG Nominations; Jeremy Clarkson, Olivia Colman, Stephen Graham Also Recognized". Deadline. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ Ritman, Alex (29 March 2022). "BAFTA TV Awards: Russell T. Davies' 'It's a Sin' Dominates Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  17. ^ "A Very British Scandal". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Set Decorators Announce Television Nominees for SDSA Awards, Where Lizzo Will Take on Harry Potter". Below the Line. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
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