Stonehouse

As soon as the music starts you know this isn't going to be a dour, miserable drama, and the proclamation about things being dramatised, means it isn't going to be historically accurate , but none of that matters a jot, this is pure entertainment! Makes such a change from the number of dark dramas on TV these days.

The character of Stonehouse is wonderfully played by Matthew McFadyen, sometimes you despair at how unaware of his own ridiculousness he is, but then the next minute, you're rooting for him!

The ever dependable Keeley Hawes is excellent as the hard done to, but ever loyal wife.

Have to say the entire thing just flew by for me, which is always a good sign , and I'll certainly rewatch in the future.

The amazing story of John Stonehouse says everything you need to know about political life in the 1970s. A labour MP starts work on his way up the ministerial ladder happily married with children, Stonehouse goes on the journey of self destruction first of all getting embroiled as a useless spy for the Czech government.

All of a sudden the money dries up labour lose the election and Stonehouse is dropped as a spy on the money dries up and he finds him self in a whole heap of trouble.

From here on in is the stuff of legend even though I was only a young boy when this took place, I remember it very clearly and this TV series, brings this remarkable story to life.

Matthew McFadden is perfect as the corrupt politician, whilst Kevin McNally as Harold Wilson and Keeley Hawes are excellent in the supporting cast.

Written by John Prescott the program strikes a nice balance between humour in fact. 8/10.

ITV is on a roll with high quality dramas after the excellent Anne ,comes this gem .

The direction has a knowing and crisp feel , the script is truthful but very witty , the musical score superb .

The acting is fabulous , every member is good but standout is Macfadyen , whose lugubrious and dishevelled charm , (his voluminous hair seemed to have a life of its own ) ,captures the essence of an old school charmer who can't see his terrible behaviour for what it really is . The politics of the time were captured really well , Harold Wilson was spot on .

ITV deserve a lot of credit for putting together great creative teams and let's hope they continue with this level of quality .

The story of disgraced former Labour MP and Minister John Stonehouse, who got involved in several criminal activities, and later vanished.

It is well worth seeing, it's such an incredible story, if it wasn't based on true events, it would be deemed far fetched, but based on actual events.

It has some nice touches of humour, there are some really amusing scenes mixed in to the more serious elements.

Matthew Macfadyen gives an excellent performance as Stonehouse, there's a scene in episode three, where he delivers a speech, it is an outstanding moment. Keeley Hawes is excellent as wife Barbara, but she is turning into Olivia Colman, who really is in everything.

Well worth looking at further material, interviews and such featuring him, he's an interesting character, it gives you an idea of how Macfadyen captured him as well.

It's well worth your time, 8/10.

A short mini-series was just the right amount of time for this particular story. Never knew or even heard of this affair before so it was fun to learn some fun facts.

I enjoyed the cast and cool vibe of the scenery. The lead is really good every time he's in a bind he bumbles around until he squirms his way out. Sheila the secretary is actually the female lead. I think they could have delved some more into her background. I needed to understand how she was so easily wrapped up in Stonehouse's capers. A bigger focus on the spying aspect would have made this a 9 perhaps a 10 for me.

It was a fun series and you learn something of this obscure bit of history.