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Married couple Keeley Hawes and Matthew Macfadyen to star together in must-see ITV drama

Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images

Succession star Matthew Macfadyen and Bodyguard actress Keeley Hawes have landed themselves a new ITV drama, Stonehouse.

Based on the real-life story of disgraced Labour minister John Stonehouse, the Quiz and It's a Sin duo will play Stonehouse and his wife Barbara, respectively.

Stonehouse was a rising star in the Labour party, having fought in the RAF in the war. But it turns out that not only was he having an affair with his secretary Sheila Buckley, he was also a spy for the Czech Secret Service.

Photo credit: Joss Barratt - ITV
Photo credit: Joss Barratt - ITV

As things piled up, he faked his own death and started a new life in Australia using the name of a recently deceased constituent, before the Australian authorities arrested him – although that was under the impression that he was a completely different fugitive.

If that wasn't all bizarre enough, upon being brought back to the UK, Stonehouse might have expected to be ostracised but discovered the exact opposite: that the Labour party needed him to maintain a hold on their majority.

You might know that Macfadyen and Hawes are a married couple in real life, so they definitely bring a lot of authenticity to the series.

"What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend," Macfadyen said. "I've always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career.

Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images

"John Preston's script truly captures the man and his colourful life and I'm looking forward to taking on his character."

The three-part drama has been written by John Preston (the A Very English Scandal novel), and is being directed by Filth's Jon S Baird. Pirates of the Caribbean's Kevin McNally will be playing Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Showtrial's Emer Heatley will star as Sheila.


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