The former Doctor Who head-honcho Russell T. Davies has once again put pen-to-paper for the corporation on A Very English Scandal. A three-part drama, it will feature as a part of the BBC’s recently announced new season of original shows.

Based on the book by journalist John Preston, A Very English Scandal will be directed by Stephen Frears – known for his work on My Beautiful Launderette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen, Philomena, and many other great movies. It will tell the story of Jeremy Thorpe, the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder. Further to this, the show’s synopsis sets the scene for the story by telling us that:

“It is the late 1960s, homosexuality has only just been decriminalised, and Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal party and the youngest leader of any British political party in a hundred years, has a secret he’s desperate to hide. As long as his ex-lover Norman Scott is around, Thorpe’s brilliant career is at risk.”

Followers of politics and history, or those who remember the scandal breaking in the late 70s – like Davies himself – will probably know what happens next. However, seeing this writer and director expertly trace out the details of the tale told by Preston in A Very English Scandal should make for engrossing viewing nevertheless. 

Davies says he “wanted to write this story for years, ever since I was 16 and saw it unfold on the news,” adding that “It’s probably the first gay story I ever heard [and] John Preston’s brilliant book illuminates a vital and fascinating piece of British history.”

For his part, Stephen Frears merely comments that “Telly’s where the good stuff is – hooray!”

Hard to argue with that lately, if we’re honest. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for this.