The Trial of Christine Keeler

James Norton and Sophie Cookson are a revelation in this series. Powerful and relevant tale for our times. I'm loving this series.

Some of these reviews bewilder me. The story is well,and accurately told and beautifully acted. It really catches the spirit of the time, a time I remember.

I don't know how a audience can give assessment to a series by just one or two episodes. But some of the low score comments really irritates me. People may get wrong impression basing on such rash verdict.To avoid this, I feel obligated to give my assessment earlier than my usual way. It makes a good beginning in my eyes.I got at least 2 concerns about the story. The first of them is the mysterious identity of Stiffen, Why he cumulated the secrets of the politicians?for personal interest or for a national one. The second one is whether the story will end up as Jeffrey Epstein. By the way,I'm a audience from China.

The Profumo affair of the 1960s makes for excellent drama - no surprises there, as it is a fascinating story with interesting 'side details' as well. The acting is superb - Norton as Stephen Ward is particularly brilliant, but Sophie Cookson as Keeler and Ben Miles (aka Patrick from Coupling) as Profumo delight as well. The only thing that lets it down is the way they have chosen to tell it. First of all flipping back between the years seems unnecessary and makes it all a bit itty-bitty. Second, although there's nothing wrong with the feminist framing on Keeler's perspective as it keeps the story fresh, the choice to have Keeler narrate the events (saying rather obvious things) makes the whole thing a bit fisted (a shame, as the writing and script the rest of the time is fine). They should have trusted the audience to be able to take in the message without spoon feeding it to them.

This 'based on true events' drama is a creative imagining of the 'sleezy' world of sex and power in the British government in the early nineteen sixties. It is well written, cast and acted with stellar performances from well known British actors such as James Norton, Ben Miles, Michael Maloney, Anton Lesser and Tim McInnerny.

"They decided to punish us and then decided on the crime" just about sums up the message of this powerful drama. It left me with a strong sense that, though we can blame individuals or institutions, in the end it's we, the public, who decide the fate of those we love to hate.

On reflection this drama does something rather clever. It puts us in the shoes of the teenage Christine Keeler and shows us how she saw Stephen as a trustworthy friend - in many ways, just as vulnerable as she was.

In fact this drama should have been called 'The Trial of Stephen Ward' - as this is by far the most dramatic part of the story. James Norton is fabulous as the bohemian doctor who is presented as an artistic innocent who 'could not hate anyone'. At first I found him creepy and annoying (please don't say 'little baby' again!) - but he grew on me as a free spirit who is authentic in his friendships - helping me understand how the young Christine could fall for him and trust him.

We like clear cut lines on who we should be rooting for. But in this historical social drama the boundaries are blurred - just like in real life. However - we have to remind ourselves that all Stephen's friends are either young girls or powerful men... and we can't ignore that he was - whether he (or she) knew it or not - grooming them...

It's a great thought provoking and disturbing production and I thoroughly recommend it.