The Trial of Christine Keeler

About The Trial of Christine Keeler (Plot and Summary)

The Trial of Christine Keeler is a British television series, which aired in 2019. This six-part drama takes a fresh look at one of the most infamous British scandal, the Profumo Affair of 1961. Following the chain of events that happened in the 1960s, the series charts the story of 19-year-old Christine Keeler, a model and showgirl who had relationships with British War Secretary John Profumo and a Russian diplomat at the same time, dramatically showcasing sex, lies, and a scandal that shook the British government.

Making / Production

Written by Amanda Coe and directed by Andrea Harkin and Leanne Welham, The Trial of Christine Keeler is a BBC production offering a new perspective of the infamous story. Filming took place in Bristol, where famous scenes were recreated, and at Bottle Yard Studios, resulting in high production quality and great attention to detail in terms of historical accuracy.

Actors

• Sophie Cookson: She plays Christine Keeler, delivering a nuanced performance that showcases Keeler's vulnerability and strength.
• James Norton: He plays Stephen Ward, Keeler's manipulative friend, with depth and complexity.
• Ellie Bamber: She portrays Mandy Rice-Davies, Keeler's best friend, effectively capturing her spirit and charm.
• Ben Miles: He portrays John Profumo, the War Secretary involved in the scandal, with poise and discipline.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was originally meant to be titled "The Trial of Christine Keeler", however, this was dropped as the creators felt it was too misleading as there was never a trial of Christine Keeler in reality.
• Sophie Cookson was not even born when the scandal took place in 1961.
• The real-life Christine Keeler passed away in 2017, two years before the series was released.

Quotes

• "It's not only about who you know but also what you know."
• "In the war of the sexes, Christine Keeler just lost the first battle."
• "Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality."

Music, Soundtrack

• The series features a captivating score by British composer, H. Scott Salinas.
• Songs from the 1960s, some of which are by iconic British artists, add to the authenticity of the show's setting.