Written and created by Abi Morgan, the second series of BBC Two’s 1950s newsroom drama The Hour sees the return of Bel (Romola Garai), Hector (Dominic West) and Freddie (Ben Whishaw) alongside beloved Lix (Anna Chancellor), scheming McCain (Julian Rhind-Tutt) and newly assertive Marnie Madden (Oona Chaplin).
> Buy Series 1 on DVD on Amazon.
> Order Series 2 on DVD on Amazon.
The six new episodes see the team still striving to broadcast the stories they believe in as they grapple with the looming spectre of the Cold War and changing social mores.
Episode 1
Wednesday 14 November 2012, 9pm
November 1957. A year has passed since The Hour was unceremoniously taken off air for their controversial interview with Lord Elms and much has changed.
Freddie has been fired and gone travelling, while Bel fought to stay. She has tried to improve the ratings and keep Hector in line, although he has now become a national celebrity and is drawn into the seductive glamour of Soho nightclub El Paradis; Bel’s whole life is her work and she’s becoming increasingly preoccupied with Britain’s growing criminal underworld, chasing a story but without the manpower to tell it. All eyes are on the new Head of News, Randall Brown, as a force for change.
El Paradis is run by Raphael Cilenti, charming but ruthless. His most prized possession is lead showgirl, Kiki Delaine. Beautiful, talented and utterly beguiling, Kiki knows exactly how to charm a man and Hector finds her hard to resist.
In the newsroom, nuclear hysteria is growing around the Soviet launch of Sputnik 2. In the midst of a heated team meeting Freddie appears, fresh from his travels. He’s Randall’s new addition, designed to stir up the team – and it works. Bel wrestles with conflicted feelings of disempowerment at not being told of his return, but also joy at getting back the friend she has missed. Hector too is angry when told that Freddie will be a joint frontman. It is also clear that Lix and Randall seem to have a shared past…
Despite the friction, the old team are reunited. Bel harnesses Freddie’s maverick enthusiasm to cover the crime story and, when Hector brings them an unexpected tip off, the trio find themselves with a potential scoop which could outdo new ITV rival programme, Uncovered.
Episode 2
Wednesday 21 November 2012, 9pm
Hector and Marnie host a gathering of friends at their apartment. Racial tension is on the rise across London, a response to the influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth who bring new culture to Britain’s streets, but also division. It’s a subject close to Freddie’s heart and provokes much discussion at the party, but is interrupted when two policemen arrive at the door to arrest Hector on suspicion of beating up Kiki. Hector denies the allegations but is taken away.
The next day Hector’s absence has not gone unnoticed by Randall, and Bel has a tough job to try and keep Hector’s arrest secret from him. Freddie complicates matters further when he decides to hold a controversial interview with a fascist named Trevor on the same day as a visit from members of the board.
As Hector continues to languish in jail he comes to question whether he’s strayed too far from his career and marriage. Can he claw the situation back or is this one allegation, which he can’t charm his way out of?
Episode 3
Wednesday 28 November 2012, 9pm
It’s Christmas at Lime Grove and whilst Hector may be trying to put the arrest behind him, Kiki goes missing. Hector’s self-destructive behaviour spirals as Bel and Freddie search for the truth about what happened and try to find her.
Meanwhile, Lix is uncharacteristically preoccupied with the likely spread of nuclear armament across Europe, a sense of fear bubbling under her work. Randall tells her the real reason for his return, but having built a wall around her past regrets, can she now bring herself to open up such a painful past?
Freddie, Bel, Hector, Marnie, Bill and Laurie all attend a special Christmas charity function. Bel and Bill’s continued flirtation is interrupted as Freddie shows Bel a photo he’s found of Kiki – Laurie cautiously wades into the conversation, warning the team to steer clear of this story.
Across the room, Hector takes to the drink once more, frustration growing as he and Marnie hide their division for the crowds. Late that night, in a liquored haze, a memory stirs for Hector, which starts to throw Laurie’s dependable character into question.
Episode 4
Wednesday 5 December 2012, 9pm
Bel and Freddie argue fervently to expose Cilenti’s vice network and the police collusion over the anti-nuclear policy story planned for tomorrow’s show.
Randall sees the scoop’s potential, but challenges them to find sources to prove their story’s ready. Heeding this, Bel arranges a meeting with showgirl Rosa Maria who puts herself in mortal danger by revealing the way Cilenti exerts a hold over London’s most influential men.
Bel’s relationship with Bill deepens, much to the chagrin of Freddie, whose home life with Camille suffers as a result of his dedication to the story. Meanwhile, Hector’s marriage is given new hope by a surprising moment of honesty and Randall and Lix’s bond reignites over new information regarding their long-lost secret…
Episode 5
Wednesday 12 December 2012, 9pm
When a source’s body is found in a Soho backstreet, a shaken Bel wants the team to halt their pursuit of the dangerous Cilenti. But as she begs Freddie not to risk his life for a story, he’s more determined than ever due to a new lead. A mystery company, Castlecore, are investing in Cilenti’s company, to make money from the nuclear bases. Freddie’s determined to find out more about them.
Randall challenges McCain about his part in Cilenti’s manipulation of the previous week’s show. Meanwhile, Hector wows executives in a meeting with ITV and is tempted by the prospect of being lauded, alongside Marnie, as ITV’s golden couple. Will he leave The Hour for their rivals?
Randall and Lix are further drawn together as they search for their daughter, and Hector offers Bel insight into her and Freddie’s fall out. When Freddie finally confronts Bel about his letter from America, she’s left reeling by his new-found boldness.
Episode 6
Thursday 13 December 2012, 9pm
Scandal hits The Hour on the day of the show as Hector’s face hits the tabloids, along with leaked stories of Kiki’s accusations.
The team may have uncovered a major conspiracy story – Howard Satchell, Minister of Defence profiteering from the nuclear base contracts he himself awarded to organised criminal Cilenti – but how will they reveal this when one of their own is in the spotlight? It looks like the corruption ring is shutting down the exposé at all costs and Hector is the fall guy. As Freddie and Hector chase potential sources Laurie and Kiki, it’s clear that all the powerful men involved are closing ranks, and Freddie’s brave determination puts him at acute risk.
Marnie’s faced with a dilemma at ITV – will she forsake Hector so as not to tarnish her image? Meanwhile, Bill challenges whether Bel’s real affections lie elsewhere, and Lix and Randall finally get some answers in the search for their daughter.
> Buy Series 1 on DVD on Amazon.
> Order Series 2 on DVD on Amazon.
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