The Yorkshireman who saved Churchill's life

New TV drama tells the secret story of Sir Winston's brush with death, and the Yorkshire doctor who saved him. Grant Woodward reports.
Bill Paterson who plays Lord Moran in new drama Churchill's Secret. The physician, from Skipton, treated the Prime Minister in secret.Bill Paterson who plays Lord Moran in new drama Churchill's Secret. The physician, from Skipton, treated the Prime Minister in secret.
Bill Paterson who plays Lord Moran in new drama Churchill's Secret. The physician, from Skipton, treated the Prime Minister in secret.

IT WAS a secret that was kept from the British public which could have changed the course of history. Sir Winston Churchill suffered a devastating stroke but remained in Downing Street, effectively leaving the country without a Prime Minister.

The astonishing story of the premier’s treatment behind closed doors will be told this week in a riveting television drama. And at its heart is a Yorkshireman who ensured the country’s most celebrated leader could continue in the job.

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Lord Moran, was Churchill’s friend, confidant and physician during both his spells as Prime Minister.

Lord Moran attended Pocklington School before going to medical school. His book, published after Churchill's death, lifted the lid on this hidden chapter in British history.Lord Moran attended Pocklington School before going to medical school. His book, published after Churchill's death, lifted the lid on this hidden chapter in British history.
Lord Moran attended Pocklington School before going to medical school. His book, published after Churchill's death, lifted the lid on this hidden chapter in British history.

He administered the secret treatment after the 78-year-old suffered a serious stroke in 1953 during his second stint at Number 10.

Churchill’s Secret, which will be shown on ITV this Sunday, shows how the bluff Lord Moran – Charles McMoran Wilson – nursed his friend back to health, despite fearing he would not survive.

He is played by TV and screen veteran Bill Paterson, while the task of portraying Churchill fell to Sir Michael Gambon, who admits he was “frightened” by the role.

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Based on Jonathan Smith’s book, KBO: The Churchill Secret, the adaptation follows his battle to recover as his long suffering wife Clemmie (Lindsay Duncan) desperately hopes the stroke will force him to retire, while his political friends and foes scheme to plot who will succeed him.

Sir Michael Gambon says he was "frightened" to take on the role of Britain's most iconic leader in the ITV drama.Sir Michael Gambon says he was "frightened" to take on the role of Britain's most iconic leader in the ITV drama.
Sir Michael Gambon says he was "frightened" to take on the role of Britain's most iconic leader in the ITV drama.

It’s often said that, above all else, preparation is the key to success – unless you’re a seasoned performer like Gambon, it seems.

“I’m terrible,” admits the Dublin-born star. “I never do any research, although I did read a book on Churchill. You look at him and see what shape he was, how he walked and all the sorts of things that actors do. Then you try and copy that as much as you can.”

Churchill had been on sparkling form as he entertained an Italian delegation at Downing Street on the night of June 23, 1953.

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But within minutes of finishing a typically entertaining speech, Britain’s heroic wartime leader slumped sideways in his chair, felled by a devastating and potentially fatal stroke.

Lord Moran attended Pocklington School before going to medical school. His book, published after Churchill's death, lifted the lid on this hidden chapter in British history.Lord Moran attended Pocklington School before going to medical school. His book, published after Churchill's death, lifted the lid on this hidden chapter in British history.
Lord Moran attended Pocklington School before going to medical school. His book, published after Churchill's death, lifted the lid on this hidden chapter in British history.

It couldn’t have come at worse time. The Cold War had begun, a major peace summit in Bermuda to barter peace with Russia was just weeks away and Churchill’s right-hand man, Anthony Eden, was undergoing major abdominal surgery in the United States.

With the nation virtually rudderless, it was imperative that the gravity of the premier’s illness was kept secret... would the press barons agree to stay quiet, and would Churchill survive?

Speaking of the cover up, Gambon, who was 24 when Churchill died, says: “His illness was kept secret and it left the country without a leader. We couldn’t do that now. Luckily he recovered, and the public never knew about it until after his death. Many people watching this film won’t know about this section of his life.”

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Smith’s novel – which references Churchill’s motto ‘Keep Buggering On’ – was inspired by Lord Moran’s own book, Churchill: The Struggle for Survival 1945-60.

Sir Michael Gambon says he was "frightened" to take on the role of Britain's most iconic leader in the ITV drama.Sir Michael Gambon says he was "frightened" to take on the role of Britain's most iconic leader in the ITV drama.
Sir Michael Gambon says he was "frightened" to take on the role of Britain's most iconic leader in the ITV drama.

It caused a storm when it was published shortly after Churchill’s death because it lifted a lid on this hidden chapter in British history.

The physician was a pupil at Pocklington School in the East Riding from 1894 to 1899 before going on to study at St Mary’s Medical School in London.

As for any physical likeness to the iconic figure he plays, Sir Michael isn’t sold. “People have said, ‘You look like Churchill’, and I thought, ‘Bloody cheek’.

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“I’ve looked in the mirror and there is a sort of likeness there. I’ve also tried to find a bit of his bloody-mindedness, by making my voice bigger and not moving my top lip much.

“You just hope and pray you’re doing it properly.”

Churchill’s Secret will be shown on ITV1 this Sunday at 8pm.