Fall from grace

Paul Bettany and Claire Foy star as the Duke and Duchess of Argyll in a 1960s high-society scandal

- TESS LAMACRAFT, ELAINE REILLY

NEW DRAMA

A Very British Scandal Boxing Day-Holiday Tuesday 28 December, BBC1 HD, 9pm

Their explosive and acrimonious divorce made front-page news in the 1960s when accusations of forgery, bribery, adultery and drug-taking were lapped up by the public. Now, a new three-part drama tells the story of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll’s marriage breakdown – and the ensuing court case that became one of the most extraordinary legal battles in modern times.

The Crown’s Claire Foy stars as Margaret Campbell, who wed the Duke in 1951. WandaVision’s Paul Bettany plays Ian Campbell, the 11th Duke of Argyll, who set up home with third wife Margaret at Inveraray Castle in Scotland.

As the daughter of a millionaire, famed for her style and charisma, Margaret appeared regularly in the newspapers as she attended an array of glittering social events.

HATE FIGURE

However, that all changed during the bitter divorce case as the Duke’s accusations against her came thick and fast, including a list of 88 men he alleged she had slept with during their marriage, and the release of some sexually explicit photographs.

‘The tide turned very quickly,’ says Foy, 37. ‘Suddenly, the public attitude went from, “Look at her in her beautiful lace and silk,” to, “She’s a fallen woman and we all hate her.”’