A BBC spy thriller depicting the 1960s Profumo affair has arrived on Netflix, drawing praise as 'the best series about a true story in a long time'. The six-part programme, titled The Trial of Christine Keeler, originally aired on BBC One in 2019 and has now been added to the streaming platform.
The series stars Sophie Cookson as Christine Keeler, whose sexual relationships with Tory minister John Profumo and a Russian military attaché sparked one of the biggest political scandals of modern times. The drama holds a 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been lauded by viewers for its gripping portrayal of events.
One fan wrote on Google: 'Excellent depiction of a true life drama... one of the best series of a true story I have seen in a long time that I literally binge watched over two days! Brilliant.' Another added: 'It was to me more realistic of the event and the people involved and less of a showcase drama.'
The Profumo affair unfolded at the height of the Cold War, involving sex, lies and espionage. Keeler met Profumo in July 1961 at a party at Cliveden, and the affair lasted only weeks. Simultaneously, she was involved with Commander Eugene Ivanov, a Soviet naval attaché. The scandal led to Profumo's resignation and the downfall of the Conservative government.
The series also features actor Graham Norton, who was praised by viewers for his performance. The show's arrival on Netflix follows the addition of other acclaimed dramas to streaming services, including the period piece The English on BBC iPlayer.
