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The Trial of Christine Keeler

I remember a little about this from when I was young because there was such a fuss about it in the press.  I remember Stephen Ward's suicide.  I didn't realise the connection with the notorious Peter Rachman after whom the term Rachmanism was created.Some great acting in the series, with some lovely reminders and some not so lovely of the fashion and life in the 60s.The story of the closing of ranks...  and the downfall of an MP who lied to Parliament and resigned...  A scandal that everyone was whispering about.

Philippa Bond ● 2478d16 Comments

Interesting how times change. We now have bonking Boris, presidential pay-offs of porn stars, Putin calendars, ...

Michael Ixer ● 2478d

@PhilippaApart from Wimbledon I rarely watch the Beeb but downloaded this series  after reading the excellent reviews.  I was quite young when the Profumo scandal rocked politics but can remember the furore and how it dominated the news for months.  The actors were fantastic, especially Sophie Cookson (Keeler) and James Norton (Ward) and the 60's era was recreated superbly. Watching this drama clarified the events for me and I ended up feeling really sorry for Stephen Ward who was used as a scapegoat by the 'high and mighty' in politics. The police were certainly not beyond reproach either. 

Sue Hammond ● 2478d

"Interesting how times change. We now have bonking Boris, presidential pay-offs of porn stars, Putin calendars, …""It's all rather confusing, really."The World turned upside down march:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudxXs85R_w

David Ainsworth ● 2478d

I agree with all the above, it was an excellent series, great acting, great production values and finally explained to me what happened, as I too remember it as a kid and all the scandal.Just shows how the establishment used to close ranks and pull together and were very happy to close off one of their circle when it didn't suit any more.  I THINK times have changed but I wonder how much?

Bunny Payne ● 2478d

I thoroughly enjoyed the series, though it seemed (to me) slow in parts.  I was a young child when all of this happened, but after the last episode I watched the documentary with Tom Mangold and that brought back to me two things: first, I remember reading the term 'call girl' in the paper and not knowing what it meant (and, unsuprisingly, my parents wouldn't say!) and secondly, I remember the warning (was this Robin Day?) that Blue Peter would be starting late.  What a very proper child I was!

Helen Passey ● 2477d

Bunny's right about the Establishment closing ranks, illustrated for me by the attitude of the judge, similar to that of the judge in another excellent series, A Very British Scandal.I wonder if things have changed. Somehow I doubt it.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2477d

It's always gone on, and always will.

Sue Hammond ● 2477d

To me the point of this excellent series was to show how human all the protagonists were.  Ms Keeler was painted as a prostitute but I don't think she was at all, a "good time girl" maybe, whatever that means.  She came from a poor and miserable background and enjoyed the attention, presents and liked sexAnd Ward was not a pimp, it was a complicated setup which I believe the series showed up.  Now we know how said protagonists felt, I guess there will never be a programme about how all the titled people and politicians operated or thought, or felt ….

Bunny Payne ● 2477d

I don't see how Keeler can realistically be painted as anything other than a prostitute. She didn't seem to have any visible means of support other than taking money from men.

Frances Clarke ● 2476d

She was a dancer at Murray's Cabaret Club.  She may well have had other jobs but that is where she met Profumo.  So judgemental ...

Sue Hammond ● 2476d

It all depends how you define a prostitute.She did not go out on the street looking for work.  I am not too sure how much money she took from the men in question.What I do question very strongly, as did Profumo's wife in the film, everybody castigates the women and the men walk away smelling of roses.Would we call her a saint? Not by any stretch of the imagination.  Was she vicious and calculating? I do not think so.All of this happened in the 60s, so totally different to today!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2476d

"the men walk away smelling of roses."Not Stephen Ward.

David Ainsworth ● 2476d

Apparently Keeler worked in shops, offices and cafes before her job at Murray's Cabaret Club, although her aspiration was to be a model, and she may have done some photo modelling work. It seems wealthy men were willing to entertain her and support a good lifestyle for her but she seems to have made her own decisions about who she was going to have affairs with. I don't think she was a prostitute, just someone taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the situation and having fun. It was the 60s so most men would have had more money than women, and many women didn't work and were kept by men in those days; they were called wives 🙂 Interestingly, as a successful actor, Profumos's wife could have supported a good lifestyle on her own 🙂

Michael Ixer ● 2476d

Great post Michael.

Sue Hammond ● 2476d

All makes me wonder if we will ever watch a documentary in the same style about Boris and his amatory activities

Sean Hodges ● 2476d

Nor Profumo. At least he spent the rest of his life doing something useful - volunteering at Toynbee Hall. The scene where his wife comes there to take him to lunch suggests that she was supporting him? I think the series showed up the hypocrisy of the time - CK's ghastly mother, brilliantly acted, condemns her as a prostitute but only too happy to accept the house CK buys for her. Stephen Ward was also a victim of hypocrisy by the rich and powerful.

Jane Carter ● 2476d