Hugh Grant to play Jeremy Thorpe as BBC revisits scandal

The three-part series, scripted by Russell T Davies, whose previous works include Doctor Who and the Channel Four drama Queer As Folk, will chronicle Mr Thorpe’s trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder his former lover, the former male model, Norman Scott.

Best known for film roles such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Notting Hill, the production will mark one of Grant’s first major TV roles in more than two decades.

He is following in the footsteps of other movie stars moving to the small screen, including House of Cards’ Kevin Spacey, Westworld’s Anthony Hopkins and The People v OJ Simpson’s John Travolta.

Mr Thorpe had been Liberal leader before he was charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Scott, with whom he had been in a relationship in the early 1960s, a time when homosexuality was illegal.

Concerned about his political career suffering for having been involved in a relationship with another man, he allegedly ordered Mr Scott’s murder.

He was the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder.

After a 31-day trial at the Old Bailey in 1979, he was acquitted. But his political career never recovered and he receded from public life. He died in December 2014, at 85.

The BBC production, A Very English Scandal, will be directed by Stephen Frears, whose films include the 1988 adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons.

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, said: “Hugh Grant is an extraordinary actor and a worldwide star. I can’t wait to see how he applies his unique talent bringing to life this mercurial role.”