Stonehouse ITV

[Cartman]

This is a three part dramatization of the faked death in 1974 of the Labour MP, John Stonehouse I've seen the first one and it's very good. I remember the case in the news at the time and it was an interesting story. Basically he was an MP who liked to live an expensive lifestyle which was beyond his salary, and got blackmail by the Czechs to spy for them, and took money from them in return for information. However, he was useless as a spy and just gave them bits of irrelevant rubbish which weren't even secret so they pulled the plug.

At the same time, his business interests were going down the pan so he got into financial trouble, and to complicate things further, was having an affair with his secretary, Sheila Buckley (she was quite fit btw!) He then faked his death by leaving his clothes on a beach in Miami and flying to Australia, under an assumed name, but was caught by detectives who thought he was Lord Lucan.

He was brought back to Britain and convicted of fraud. In the programme he comes across as a buffoon, a sort of Alan Partridge type character and the acting is good. Keeley Hawes is in it as his wife, and the guy who plays Harold Wilson is spot on, his voice and mannerisms are very well done.

[Villain]

I've just finished watching it and thought it was pretty good, although it sort of came across more as a comedy drama. Still worth watching though. There is also a one hour documentary on the case shown after the last part, it too is well worth a look with some great period news footage. It's easy to forget what dire straights the Labour government of the time were in, with just a single majority they were really struggling, then Harold Wilson quit and Jim Callaghan had to step in. I remember very well despite being a kid at the time, I recall my Dad getting quite angry at the state the government was in, shouting at the telly when the evening news came on!

It's also interesting that the Stonehouse and Lucan affairs happened at almost precisely the same time.

Villain 

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Yes I saw all 3 parts of this and the Documentary the following evening, very interesting to watch, must have been quite a sensation in the news at the time. The drama had a slight comedy drama element to it but I quite enjoyed it. Going by the some of the real story on the doco, looks like a bit of artistic licence was used in the drama, but gave you a good idea. I think he thought his plans could work but he hadn't thought of everything obviously.

[Cartman]

Labour were unhappy about this, understandably, but they didn't expel him from the party until his trial, due to their tiny majority. His secretary who he was having the affair with, stuck by him and visited him when he was in the nick. After his release, in 81, they got married.

[Villain]

I know the writers and producers often use artistic license with these dramas, but it's odd how they portrayed him dying in the TV studios dressing room rather than during the live interview in front of the cameras, which is what happened in real life.

I do enjoy these real life dramas though, previous examples being the ones we've had in recent years on the Christine Keeler / Profumo affair, the great train robbery, the Hatton Garden jewel robbery, Jeremy Thorpe, etc.

Villain 

[Nightfly]

I watched all three episodes today and was quite impressed, although I don't know how accurate the portrayal of his character was. Kevin McNally (DCS Woolf from LOM) was spot on as Harold Wilson.

I vaguely remember the story at the time, but was under the impression he evaded capture for a few years rather than a few weeks.

The look of the era seemed quite accurate and I now have a desire to get a Trimphone and lampshade like the ones in Sheila Buckley's flat.

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