Thames Television held the weekday independent TV franchise for the London region between 1968 and 1992. During this time, they created an incredible body of quality work, encompassing comedy, drama and factual programming.
Edward and Mrs Simpson is an example of Thames drama at its very best, and I would think as close as you could get to visiting the 1930s without a time machine. Exceptional casting, production design, costumes, script and performance all come together to create a fascinating historical document, about a turbulent time in 20th century Britain.
The Duke of Windsor died in 1972, but the Duchess of Windsor was still alive when the programme was broadcast. (She died in 1986). She was not best pleased, citing invasion of privacy, and reportedly lobbied to have the production stopped.
As with many period dramas of the time, great care was taken with casting, and accuracy in speech and language. All the protagonists are treated generally sympathetically, although perhaps less so in the case of Wallis Simpson. Checking other sources reveals that historically, it all seems to be very accurate, including verbatim statements and conversations.
History has not been as kind to the Duke as the programme was, but the narrative of Edward and Mrs Simpson ends at their marriage, thus avoiding having to deal with the unpalatable aftermath; clumsy attempts to interfere with Britain's pre-war foreign policy, pro-Nazi attitudes, highly questionable behaviour during the war, and alleged subsequent financial shenanigans.
