BBC’s ‘The Trial of Christine Keeler’ Reexamines Profumo Affair Through a Modern, Female Lens

By Elena Harper, Television Critic The Guardian Arts & Entertainment December 17, 2025

More than six decades after the Profumo Affair rocked British politics, the BBC’s acclaimed 2019 drama The Trial of Christine Keeler continues to resonate, especially as it gains new audiences on streaming platforms like Netflix. This six-part series offers a fresh, female-driven perspective on one of the 20th century’s most notorious scandals, reframing Christine Keeler not as a villainous temptress but as a young woman exploited by powerful men in a patriarchal society.

vamaf.org

Photograph by Lewis Morley, 1963 – V&A Americas Foundation

The Profumo Affair unfolded in 1963, exposing the sexual hypocrisies of the British establishment during the height of Swinging London. At its center was 19-year-old Christine Keeler, a showgirl and model who became involved with John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War in Harold Macmillan’s Conservative government. Introduced by society osteopath Stephen Ward at a party at Cliveden House, Keeler’s brief affair with Profumo coincided with her relationship to Yevgeny Ivanov, a Soviet naval attaché suspected of espionage. When the connections surfaced, fears of national security breaches amplified the scandal.

Profumo initially denied any impropriety in Parliament, but evidence forced his resignation in June 1963. The fallout contributed to Macmillan’s retirement and the Conservatives’ defeat in the 1964 election. Ward faced trial for living off immoral earnings and died by suicide before the verdict. Keeler was later imprisoned for perjury in a related case.

historyextra.com

The Real History Of The Profumo Affair: What Happened? | HistoryExtra

Previous adaptations, like the 1989 film Scandal, often viewed events through a male gaze, portraying Keeler as a seductive figure. The Trial of Christine Keeler, written by Amanda Coe and directed by Andrea Harkin, shifts the focus emphatically to the women involved. Executive producer Rebecca Ferguson emphasized the project’s female-led creative team, noting the “clear difference between the male and female gaze.” The series highlights Keeler’s vulnerability, her traumatic background, and the systemic misogyny that vilified her while protecting the powerful men.

Sophie Cookson delivers a standout performance as Keeler, capturing her beauty, resilience, and complexity. Cookson has spoken of portraying Keeler as a “wonderful heroine with flaws,” drawing parallels to the #MeToo era where women’s voices are finally heard. James Norton plays the manipulative yet charismatic Stephen Ward, while Ellie Bamber shines as Mandy Rice-Davies, Keeler’s friend and fellow showgirl famous for her courtroom quip “Well, he would, wouldn’t he?” Ben Miles portrays Profumo with steely restraint, and Emilia Fox plays his wife, Valerie Hobson.

theguardian.com

The Trial of Christine Keeler review – a furiously fast, fun ride | Television | The Guardian

Premiering on BBC One in December 2019 to critical acclaim, the series was praised for its timely relevance. Critics noted its exploration of class, gender, and power dynamics, with The Guardian calling it a “furiously fast, fun ride” that doesn’t shy from darker issues. Rotten Tomatoes reflects strong approval, lauding Cookson’s “sensational” portrayal.

Keeler herself, who died in 2017, lived much of her life overshadowed by the scandal, often labeled the “whore of the nation.” This drama seeks to redress that imbalance, presenting her as a survivor in a world that punished women for men’s indiscretions.

deadline.com

James Norton & Sophie Cookson On ‘The Trial Of Christine Keeler’

In an era of renewed scrutiny on historical injustices, The Trial of Christine Keeler remains essential viewing. It reminds us how scandals expose not just individual failings but societal faults—and how retelling stories from marginalized perspectives can reveal uncomfortable truths about power.

The series is available on Netflix and BBC iPlayer, inviting new generations to reconsider a pivotal moment in British history.

independent.co.uk

The Trial of Christine Keeler episode 6, review: Sophie Cookson has shone in this richly drawn portrait of a woman in a world of wicked men | The Independent | The Independent