Lessons in love

Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall star in a steamy campus romance

- WORDS: IAN MACEWAN, GRACE MORRIS. PHOTOS: BBC, ITV, NETFLIX

NEW COMEDY DRAMA

Vladimir

From Thursday 5 March, Netflix

English professor 'M' used to feel like one half of the 'golden couple on campus' at the Upstate New York college where she works with her husband John, a poetry lecturer with whom she has an open marriage.

"They have been the king and queen of the English literary department, explains Rachel Weisz, who stars as M in steamy eight-part comedy drama Vladimir. And they're a beloved teaching couple.

STALE REALITY

However, when historical affairs John (Mad Men's John Slattery) has had with students come to light and are the subject of an internal investigation, the marriage comes under strain.

'John has been suspended from teaching, and their professional world is beginning to fall apart,' says Weisz. 'They are both under a lot of stress, and the woman you meet at the beginning of the series is trying to hold on for dear life as, by association, her reputation is tainted and she is losing her throne.'

The fallout from John's past indiscretions soon threatens the couple's previously stable marriage.