HomeTVMatthew Macfadyen to lead ITV real-life drama 'Stonehouse'

Matthew Macfadyen to lead ITV real-life drama ‘Stonehouse’

ITV has commissioned a three-part drama focusing on the life and times of disgraced Labour minister John Stonehouse.

Matthew Macfadyen (‘Succession’, ‘Quiz’) will star in the leading role with Keeley Hawes (‘Honour’) as Stonehouse’s wife Barbara.

Directed by BAFTA-nominated Jon S. Baird (‘Stan & Ollie’, ‘Vinyl’, ‘Filth’) with BritBox International as co-production partners, the series relates how Stonehouse, a high-flying member of Harold Wilsonā€™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, intent on faking his own death.Ā 

Commented Matthew Macfadyen: ā€œWhat happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend.Ā  Iā€™ve always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the familyĀ he loved and doted upon and a promising political career. John Prestonā€™s script truly captures the man and his colourful life and Iā€™m looking forward to taking on his character.ā€

The MP for Walsall North left behind his loving wife Barbara and three young children as a shocked public and media presumed he had drowned or been eaten by sharks.

Charismatic, oozing with charm and brimming with confidence, Stonehouse had impressed Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Labour stalwarts from an early stage in his parliamentary career. From a working-class background, heā€™d graduated from the London School of Economics, was in the RAF during the War and seemed the ideal candidate for a life in politics.

As the drama unfolds, it becomes apparent his reputation as a devoted family man masked the truth, as heā€™d embarked on an extra marital affair with his secretary, Sheila Buckley, and acted as a spy for the Czech Secret Service in the 1960s.

His complex financial status and relationships eventually took their toll, with Stonehouse deliberately stealing the identity of a recently deceased constituent. Stonehouse applied for a passport in the dead manā€™s name and began to weave an elaborate conspiracy, seeking a new life in Australia. But his plans soon turned sour as Stonehouse was arrested by Australian police who had been under the mistaken impression that he was the fugitive peer Lord Lucan.

Brought back to the UK by Scotland Yard detectives, Stonehouse found that he was crucial to keeping the Labour government in power with its wafer-thin majority.

The drama will also star Emer Heatley (‘Showtrial’) as Stonehouseā€™s mistress Sheila Buckley, Kevin R McNally (‘The Crown’, ‘Unforgotten’) as Harold Wilson, Dorothy Atkinson (‘All Creatures Great and Small’,Ā ‘Mum’) as Betty Boothroyd and Igor Grabuzov (‘Voskresenskiy’, ‘No Looking Back’).

Commented writer John Preston: ā€œIā€™ve always been fascinated by John Stonehouse. The story of how he faked his own death and tried to start a new life in Australia under an assumed name is one of the most bizarre true-life tales Iā€™ve ever come across. Iā€™m absolutely thrilled that itā€™s being brought to the screen with such an outstanding cast.ā€

‘Stonehouse’Ā has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, who will oversee the production from the channelā€™s perspective.

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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