A Very British Scandal is a 2021 BBC historical drama miniseries, starring Claire Foy as Margaret, Duchess of Argyll and Paul Bettany as Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll. The series follows the meet-cute, Ian falling in love with Margaret, both sides manipulating each other and the impeding downfall of the marriage – and Margaret's reputation in particular, as the 1963 Argyll v Argyll divorce case unfolds.
The series features many historical figures and characters.
This show provides examples of:
- '50s Hair: The Duchess of Argyll sports an Elizabeth Taylor hairstyle and a '60s Hair beehive.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Margaret herself, as she sports dark brown hair. She is also very self-assured and entitled. Could be also decribed as Raven Hair, Ivory Skin.
- Daddy's Girl: Margaret enjoys a close relationship with her father, George Whigham, who adores her and is ready to believe in anything she says, including that his new wife is cheating on him with Duke of Argyll, a lie made to deface her estranged husband that eventually backfires by bringing George to his early grave.
- Eternal Sexual Freedom: Margaret enjoys casual hookups, which were legal at the time period depicted, but definitely taboo in the general society to the point of almost being law of the land.
- Establishing Character Moment: When Margaret first meets Ian Campbell, he reminisces about the first time he ever laid eyes on her, and that (allegedly) he told the woman next to him that he was going to marry Margaret. The woman next to him? His wife. If this is true and not a lie he made up, it hints at the casual cruelty with which he treats his wives.
- The Fashionista: Margaret is exceptionally well dressed, as was her real life counterpart.
- Forged Message: Worried about her future at Inveraray Castle, Margaret forges a letter from Louise, Ian's previous wife, in order to make him suspicious about his own sons' parentage. Her goal was to have the boys disowned and to have her own future child annointed as the heir. It ultimately backfires spectacularly.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: Margaret arguably suffers from this. According to Lady Colin Campbell, Margaret's daughter-in-law and someone who was close to her, the forged letter plot calling into question the legitimacy of Ian's two sons was actually Ian's idea. When his ex-wife and mother of his sons Louise found out about the claims, she jumped on a plane and went to confront him. Ian begged Margaret to take the fall for him, promising that he will give up drugs and drinking in exchange. Margaret agreed, only to discover that Ian never intended to hold his part of the bargain.
- Meal Ticket: All of Ian Campbell's wives are this for him, with Margaret being a particularly painful example. In the series we see how Ian marries Margaret for her money, and quickly grows bored of her. She invests a huge sum of money in restoring Inveraray Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, only to find herself in an increasingly abusive marriage. In the end, she walks away with nothing from her marriage.
- The Mistress: Margaret begins her liaison with Ian while he is still very much married to his wife Louise.
- Pretty in Mink: Ian buys a ruinously expensive fur coat for his wife Louise. Margaret ends up paying the bill, something which she rather bitterly remarks when she sees Louise wearing the coat at the gathering for the reopening of the Inveraray Castle.
- Oh, Crap!: Margaret when she finds out that Ian's ex-wife Louise will end up living at the castle after Ian's death, as she is the mother of his heir. In a single stroke, she also realizes that Ian's heir can throw her out of the castle if he feels like it.
- Running Gag: Margaret mispronouncing Oui Oui as Wee Wee and getting repeatedly corrected.
- 0% Approval Rating: Duchess of Argyll at the end of the series. People scream expletives at her at the street, calling her a slut.
