Real-Life Drama Ignites 'A Very English Scandal'

58 JEN “I’m in love with some incredible female-helmed content: Amazon’s ‘One Mississippi,’ ‘Fleabag,’ ‘ Haters, Back Off!,’ PONTON: ‘The OA’ and Maria Bamford’s brilliant ‘Lady Dynamite.’ They’re all incredibly nuanced, moving stories.Not gonna lie, WHAT I’M WATCHING I’m also re-watching ‘Family Matters’ for the first time since TGIF.” — Ponton plays Rubi on AMC’s “Dietland.” nypost.com TV Monday Real-life drama Monday, June 25, 2018 ignites ‘A Very English New York Post, Scandal’ TWO ByMICHAEL STARR EN WHISHAW says he entered “a grey zone” when he met Norman Scott, the man he portrays in “A Very English B Scandal.” The three-part Amazon series, TRUE premiering June 29, recounts Scott’s destructive relationship with British politician Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant), which ultimately destroyed Thorpe’s career when he was tried for (and acquitted of) conspiring to Ben Whishaw as murder Scott. Norman Scott in “A “We had lunch together so I was Very English Scandal,” able to get a little sense, a flavor, of co-starring Hugh BRITS him,” Whishaw, 37, says of Scott, Grant (far right) as who he and series director Steven Jeremy Thorpe. Frears met in London before shoot- ing began. “It’s been really quite complicated talking about it because Norman Scott is still alive and … taking on that role, to a certain extent, I feel like I know Norman follows both men after the breakup: for me is that you can SERIES it’s much more about that have some sympathy, messy tangle that human because I played him. But I have to Scott embarks on a short-lived mod- PREMIERE keep reminding myself that this man eling career and descends into drug to a certain extent, for beings can find themselves is still very alive and has had a life use and vagrancy; Thorpe’s political Jeremy Thorpe, though “A Very in in their relationships. defined in some ways by this whole career flourishes (he leads Britain’s he goes much further English “I really feel that the story story … it’s not just a drama — this is Liberal Party) as he weathers the than most of us would Scandal” as told by [series writer] someone’s life.” death of his first wife (they have a dream going. To have that Russell T. Davies is about The series begins with Thorpe son) and subsequently remarries. sort of relationship [with Friday on Amazon these two men who tried meeting the much-younger Scott Through it all, the spectre of his Scott] you think is over to love each other the best (known then as Norman Josiffe) in past relationship with Scott contin- and then it keeps rearing its head they could,” he says. “It went wrong 1962 at a friend’s country home. The ues to haunt Thorpe as their paths and you seem to be forever attached and they spent the next 20 years and pair embark on an illicit relationship continue to cross — threatening to to one another, even though you’ve all that energy that might have gone — homosexuality was still illegal in destroy his hard-fought career. finished … I think there’s something into a relationship into something England — before Thorpe breaks up “They were two quite compli- most people can relate to about that. much more destructive, warped, with Scott, who’s self-destructive, cated men,” says Whishaw. “I don’t “Norman’s situation is very relat- strange and obsessive. emotionally fragile and manipula- think it’s simply a story about ... it able, too,” he says. “He finds himself “There was a love there that went tive. Over the course of its three being illegal to be gay when they in a really extraordinary and appall- wrong that neither man can quite episodes, “A Very English Scandal” met. I think the interesting thing ing situation. I suppose, for me, let go of.” ANIMAL KINGDOM BIG BROTHER MASTERS OF WHAT’S Tuesday, 9 p.m., TNT Wednesday, 8 p.m., CBS ILLUSION Deran (Jake Weary) gets Host Julie Chen returns Friday, 8 p.m., The CW to know his father Billy for the show’s 20th Dean Cain hosts this ON THE (Dennis Leary) and helps anniversary edition in look at amazing magic J (Finn Cole) with a this two-hour episode, performed by cutting-edge WATCH dilemma. Craig (Ben which will introduce illusionists, escape artists Robson) uncovers a the new houseguests and performers (including LIST secret that sends and get the summer- some comedy) in him to Smurf (Ellen long competition front of a studio « Barkin). underway. audience..

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