Genre: Drama, History
Directed by Jon S. Baird
Written by John Preston
Based on Dramatising the life and times of disgraced British government minister John Stonehouse,
Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Emer Heatley, Kevin McNally, Dorothy Atkinson & Keeley Hawes.
Executive producers: Jon S Baird, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, Matthew Macfadyen, John Preston, Ellie Wood
Cinematography: Mark Wolf
Editors: Steven Worsley
Producers: Ruth Kenley-Letts; Ellie Wood
Production companies: Snowed-In Productions; Clearwood Films
Distributor: ITV1
Network: Brit Box
Plot: The life and times of disgraced Labour minister John Stonehouse are dramatised in this series starring Matthew Macfadyen and co-starring Keeley Hawes. The series relates how Stonehouse, a high-flying member of Harold Wilson’s government, vanished from the beach of a large luxury hotel in Florida in November 1974, leaving a neatly folded pile of clothes as he swam into the sea with the intent of faking his own death. However, it became apparent that his reputation masked some very dark secrets.
Stonehouse miniseries was very good.
Pros: Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes respectively work well in their separate roles. I enjoyed the drama of this entire saga of John Stonehouse’s life. The costume design and the sets did represent the period when all of this takes place and the ending was not what I was expecting at all.
Cons: It missed a huge chunk of his backstory including his upbringing. His kids didn’t get a chance to give their side of the story.
Casts & Characters:
- Matthew Macfadyen as John Stonehouse
- Keeley Hawes as Barbara Smith/Stonehouse
- Emer Heatley as Sheila Buckley
- Kevin McNally as Harold Wilson
- Dorothy Atkinson as Betty Boothroyd
- Orla Hill as Jane Stonehouse
- Aoife Checkland as Julia Stonehouse
- Archie Barnes as Matthew Stonehouse
- Will Adamsdale as Harry Evans
- Igor Grabuzov as Alexander Marek
- Devon Black as Margaret Thatcher
- Ieva Andrejevaite as Irena Bala
- Timothy Walker as Charles Elwell
I recommend watching this miniseries on ITVX.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,