Ben Whishaw is set to play Hugh Grant’s ex-lover in a new BBC One drama.
The 36-year-old actor – who came out as gay in 2013 – will star as Norman Scott in the forthcoming show titled ‘A Very English Scandal’ – based on the book of the same name written by John Preston last year – as it depicts the story of the then-leader of the Liberal party Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh) as he’s accused of conspiring to murder his former flame.
Writer Russell T. Davies confirmed the news at the Edinburgh Intl. Television Festival on Friday (25.08.17) and revealed he’s already started penning the script for the show.
Ben is no stranger to a BBC drama as he most recently appeared in the channel’s ‘Queers’ – a series of one-off monologue directed by Mark Gatiss – this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the UK’s landmark Sexual Offences Act.
He also won an International Emmy and was BAFTA-nominated for his role in ‘Criminal Justice’ in 2008, nabbed a gong for his role as Richard III in the ‘Hollow Crown in 2013 and was nominated last year for a BAFTA for his lead part in the drama ‘London Spy.’
Hugh, 56, on the other hand hasn’t been seen on British television for nearly 25 years when he starred in ‘The Changeling’ opposite Elizabeth McGovern and Bob Hoskins.
‘A Very English Scandal’ is a three-part drama and will be produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin for Blueprint.
Ben Whishaw to play Hugh Grant’s ex-lover in BBC One drama
