British television series
The Politician's Wife is a British television political drama broadcast on Channel 4 in 1995, written by Paula Milne, and starring Trevor Eve and Juliet Stevenson. Milne returned to the same themes in her BBC 2 drama miniseries, "The Politician's Husband" (2013).
Plot.
Duncan Matlock (Trevor Eve) is a high-flying politician and Families Minister for the British government, who becomes embroiled in a tabloid scandal as it is discovered that he has been having a 10-month affair with a former escort turned parliamentary researcher (Minnie Driver). Duncan's wife, Flora (Juliet Stevenson), becomes the focus of media attention as her reactions to the revelations are played out. Initially she plays the part of the loyal wife, but as an aide of her husband's, Mark Hollister (Anton Lesser), feeds her details about the affair and various other political scandals that could be made to happen, she begins to sabotage her husband's integrity and reputation through a campaign of leaks and misinformation to the press and Conservative Party stalwarts. After a series of increasingly sensational and damaging stories in the press, her husband is forced to resign in humiliation. The last episode closes with the results of the by-election being announced on TV. Flora Matlock wins with the support of her party, whilst her husband is exiled to a minor post in Belgium.
Reception.
The show won Best Serial Drama at the 1996 British Academy Film Awards, and Best International Drama at the 1995 Emmy Awards. It received a positive review in the "New York Times", which praised Stevenson and Eve's performances.
Home media.
"The Politician's Wife" was released on DVD by Acorn Media UK in August 2011.
"The Politician's Husband".
A companion series by Milne, "The Politician's Husband", is a three-episode British television miniseries, first shown on BBC Two between 25 April and 9 May 2013.
References.
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