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Entertainment • Television

A Very British Scandal

A Very British Scandal is a 2021 British-American historical drama miniseries about the divorce of Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, and Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A Very British Scandal is a 2021 British-American historical drama miniseries about the divorce of Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, and Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll. Starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany, it dramatizes one of the most notorious and widely publicized divorce cases in 20th-century Britain.

Premise

The miniseries dramatizes the highly publicized divorce between the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, focusing on accusations, media attention, and the social climate of 1960s Britain.

Cast and production

Claire Foy and Paul Bettany lead the cast as Margaret and Ian Campbell. The series was written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Anne Sewitsky.

Historical background

The story draws on one of the most notorious divorce cases of the 20th century, which became associated with allegations of infidelity, forgery, theft, bribery, and an infamous photograph.

Reception and themes

Coverage and promotional material emphasize the series’ focus on class, privilege, sexual shaming, and the treatment of women by the press and institutions in mid-20th-century Britain.

Key facts

  • The series was written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Anne Sewitsky.
  • It centres on the 1960s divorce of Margaret Campbell and Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll.
  • Claire Foy portrays Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, and Paul Bettany portrays Ian Campbell.
  • BBC described the story as involving sex, secrets and suspicion in a high-society divorce.
  • The miniseries premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on Prime Video in several other territories, including Canada.
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Canadian context

The series was made available on Prime Video in Canada, alongside other territories outside the United Kingdom.[2]

Frequently asked questions

What is A Very British Scandal about?
It is a dramatization of the divorce between Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, and Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll, set against intense media scrutiny in 1960s Britain.
Who stars in the series?
Claire Foy stars as Margaret Campbell and Paul Bettany stars as Ian Campbell.
How many episodes does it have?
The series consists of three episodes.
When was it released?
It premiered in 2021.
What network released it in the UK?
BBC One broadcast the series in the United Kingdom.
Is it based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on the real-life Argyll divorce case of the 1960s.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Very_British_Scandal
    Supports: Series title, format, main cast, and premise.
  2. BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/a-very-british-scandal
    Supports: Commissioning details, cast, episode count, themes, and release information.
  3. BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b568sr
    Supports: BBC programme description and cast.
  4. TIME — https://time.com/6169737/a-very-british-scandal-true-story-behind/
    Supports: Historical background and interpretation of the Argyll divorce.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_very_british_scandal/s01
    Supports: Season classification and release timing.
  6. Prime Video — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVtAn3-xK8w
    Supports: Official trailer description and premise.