The irony of Cyril Smith calling Thorpe a 'Jekyll & Hyde' character and full of his own self importance certainly does not go unnoticed

Interesting to see Cyril Smith interviewed. He had plenty of secrets of his own.

Cyril Smith's evil puts whatever Jeremy Thorpe did in the shade.

.. And all for the want of a National Insurance Card. Hugh Grant does a great job of Mr Thorpe in 'A Very English scandal' - an excellent miniseries.

Great episode of a great series -- I love the commercials too, a lot of cultural history in those as well.

None of these politicians regardless of party, can be trusted. How easy they stand and look you in the eye, lying and deceiving and covering each others back.

The original commercial breaks were unexpected but utterly charming. 😄

those adverts were a trip.

David Steel really is an odious man. He covered up for the likes of Cyril Smith whilst projecting this air of honesty and reasonableness.

Great Doc, the Uk adverts are a fantastic bonus.

I remember a comment by Scott " I cried and bit the pillow", he was lucky it was Thorpe giving him one, had it been Cyryl, he'd have bit the mattress

Looking back on this programme and the interview with Cryil Smith I have to laugh out loud considering what he got up to

The only creature I feel sorry for in this crazy story is the poor, innocent dog.

Private Eye, I recall, was savage in its view of the trial. The cover featured a shot of Thorpe leaving the court after acqittal, with the headline "Buggers Can't Be Losers".

Some of this reminds me of parts of Little Britain when the minister is outside his mansion reading a statement to alude to the fact that he mistakenly ended up in another mans bottom........on hampstead heath.

It’s now proved that Thorpe was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Remind me never to hire Andrew Newton if i want anyone killing. It would be more efficient to hire Laurel and Hardy.

Wow Cyril Smith is certainly not someone who should be lecturing anyone on morality!! If you know a child is at risk ALWAYS Report it.

I'm enjoying the retro ads in the middle!

Without his Establishment contacts Jeremy would have done time!! The law is so unbiased 😞

David Steele was a slimey individual. Here he’s denigrating Thorpe yet he actively covered up Cyril Smith’s criminality.

Those commercials are great! *_:D_*

It was one of those sad occasions in British politics and history, when the defending council with the full connivance of the judge; enabled the acquittal of three very guilty men.

Very interesting thanks! Also - Secret Lives with contribution from Cyril Smith and narrated by Chris Langham is a little ironic!

OMG - Cyril Smith When you look back at these old Documentaries - you realise how Fowl and Disgusting our Political system has been for decade after decade It's just so tiring and sad

Thorpe got off Scott free.

He always reminded me of a rather louche second hand car salesman, albeit Bentleys or Rolls Royces from the back streets of Mayfair.

Movie trailer for, “A Very English Scandal,”brought me here.

"Unable to carry out a simple murder plot without cocking the whole thing up"

Cyril Smith weighing (no pun) in as a color commentator is quite spectacular.

Thanks for uploading.

An establishment cover up. What a surprise !

Thanks dude, please keep 'em coming

Cyril Smith "He was a Jekyll and Hide character' is ironic in the extreme and David Steel feels HE the was the victim - politicians never fail to disappoint

Cyril Smith .... ugh

He always reminded me of a bent estate agent or posh second hand car salesman,even before his eventual downfall.Whatever his sexuality or politics.He was the first of the Rotten Row Eton Swill that is tearing the UK apart now.

Forget the shooting...There are two John le mesurier wtf

Paying off Scott with Party funds ! Reminds me of the Trump/ Stormy Daniels situation. Times never change, do they ? And here we are 40 years later.

"We didn't vote Liberal to put Ted Heath back in power." And some of us didn't vote Liberal to put Cameron in power...

Thanks for sharing this. It’s most interesting.

They were all lunatics. Worse then than now. I’ve just finished the book. Cover ups were breathtaking.

I've never understood why Thorpe had possession of Norman Scott's insurance card and why he refused to return it.

Tragedy my arse ... Thorpe was a privileged public school elite .... politics was his stage.... he played a high stakes game and lost.

"I fell on top of him and a part of me........entered him"

It's a fascinating piece of history about another fascinating piece of history but my g-d it's rough going trying to get through the Cyril Smith excerpts. Foul man.

Has Norman got his Ni card yet?

Cyril Smith has the audacity to criticise Jeremy Thorpe after his debacle.

Funny how, with these gay “relationships”, the boyfriend is always half the predator’s age, or even younger.

I even enjoy the commercials.. thanks

the hairdos in the commercials are hilarious :)

He looked like someone from whom I would be wary about buying a used car.

Chris Langham's voice is good for voice overs......sadly he was the absolute architect of his own downfall. Astonishing what he did and disregarded all warnings many times about his conduct, almost daring fate to go after him.

Thorpe always reminded me of the character, Arthur Daley, played by George Cole in the TV series ' Minder ' co-starring Dennis Waterman. A dodgy used car salesman always on the wrong side of the law and the local gangsters. Interesting that now this tawdry and damaging affair between him and Scott is now airing on BBC 1, with Hugh Grant as Thorpe and Ben Wishaw as Scott.

This is a case of politicians doing something they should have campaigned to change. The hypocrisy of society s attitudes to gay life.

I think that perhaps Jeremy Thorpe was a narcissist. The signs of ruthlessness and dropping people and discarding them at the drop of a hat. His ambition and need for recognition also are signs. Hmmm.

Hello David , thanks for the upload. I have watched this particular video for three times but at the end I still couldn't fully understand maybe it is about politics . Any way I enjoyed watching it.

I remember even in Primary 4 or 5 boys asking each other, "Are you a Jeremy(Thorpe) or a Norman (Scott)? Of course it was all above our heads. I think some older boys in Primary 7 (11 and 12 year olds) probably started this.

{ity Cyril Smith was involved in the programme. He was the lowest of the low!

It's a real shame Thorpe was like this, as he did do good for the people of North Devon. Politics and politician's...... don't think you can trust any of them.

I'm not sure about Hugh Grant playing Thorpe in the forthcoming drama. He will be able to to do affable public side of Thorpe but I think he is too lightweight an actor to portray Thorpe's Machiavellian side. Ben Wishaw as Scott is perfect casting. I wonder who will play Bessel and Justice Cantley? I hope R T Davies and S Frears do a good job here, the story has much potential as a script. I will look forward to seeing it.

Secret lives...Cyril Smith...

And Thorpe was protected...like the Cambridge spies--.

"There's a CAMP bed in the wardrobe - get it out and sleep on it" -

I think they should have taken out the Cyril Smith contributions, now we all know about HIM !!!

Rumour has it that the pillowcase which contained the pillow that Norman tremulously bit into on the night of their consummation is now living under a witness protection programme as a novelty tea-towel in North Wales.

I'm watching this from Melbourne, Australia and it's fascinating, almost a comedy of errors!! I was born in England, in 1968, in Richmond on Thames, but my parents and I came out here to Oz in 1974, which was before the scandal broke I think. What year did Jeremy Thorpe have to resign from the Liberal Party? And do you believe that the Liberal Party in Britain failed because of the scandal? It certainly couldn't have helped matters! My father remembers it, as it was all over the news here. The whole Jeremy Thorpe/Norman Scott affair (and by affair I mean the whole thing, not their sexual relationship) happened during a rather curious period in recent history - on the one hand, the world was, or seemed to be, a very modern place, but on the other, as the affair demonstrated, the upper classes still seemed to believe that they had certain inalienable rights, and that one of these was the right to do, and say, pretty much what they wanted, without any repercussions. And it also seems that they DID have such rights.I can hear dissension as I write, and I would love to hear another view on this, as I am no expert!

I'm sorry, tried to pay him off with 5 and 7 pound payments? I get that this was in the 70s, but we're still talking about ridiculously paltry amounts.

Your asking this horrible man if he is bitter?

A very English scandal brought me here.

Good grief - Jeremy Thorpe and Cyril Smith in one documentary!

Had identical thought as that of Fozzy Bear and also would suspect that given the practical changes brought about by the revision of right to silence and the Defendants would probably be advised to give evidence the result would likely be different today

Quite a sad story

Very interesting but a pity you couldn't edit out the advertisements.

...very refreshing figure on the political scene....very charismatic ....quote unquote

His crimes seem quite tame these days particularly when compared to some of his compatriots. Politics is a dirty business

And.... The vicar held a service of thanksgiving. 'This is the day that the Lord have gave.'

I don't understand this whole insurance card business. Thorpe held onto Norman Scott's insurance card and would not return it. As a result, Scott could not work. Why did Thorpe do this? Why didn't Scott just apply for a replacement card?

LOL, he goes out to murder another "human being" with no remorse & reflecting back his only regret is....27:57 !

I came here after watching an episode of A Very English Scandal. When politicians become desperate, they tend to lose any redeeming qualities.

Wow, 04.19 Thorpe and Jimmy Hendrix!

So who did shoot the dog...?

Anyone know what year this doc was first broadcast. Mad to see the changes in advertising, we certainly have it thrust down our throats these days, no pun intended.

I think Peter Cook put it best!

Would much of the trouble have been avoided if Thorpe had simply returned Scott's National Insurance card?

How strange that Gary Rhodes should appear in the Tate & Lyle commercial when he only passed away last week.

So weird to see Cyrill Smith.

Quite Ironic Having Chris Langham On Narration Duties Turns Out he Had His Own Dark Secrets Too Didn't He

When was this aired?

Sad, he was just gay and all crap fell upon him and friends

there is just one thing I cannot understand... why didn't JT give NS his N.I. card? Isn't that what NS wanted?

Not cool enough to be a musician, not talented enough to be a footballer, ladies and gentlemen I give you the politician. Fame hounds the lot of them.

A certain irony lies with the person narrating.

Knew nothing about is until I watch it on BBC lol xx

A nasty piece of work 🤥

Two question which need answering - Why did Thorpe hang on to Scott's National Insurance card ? Why did Thorpe wear headgear obviously purchased from a 'Joke Shop '?

Old school chums looking after one another in court......den of vipers....probably all very nervous of what Thorpe may say if asked into the whiteness box...

Norman Scott was the victim in this sordid affair and he still has not received justice.

and this features Smith!

Andrew Newton: James Bond.

FIrstly, it is a horrific narrative against a backdrop of potential criminal recourse and social ruination if you were out as gay and that is a situation that has only changed very recently. This of itself became a tragedy for all concerned including the women in the lives of both men. Thorpe’s qualities when expressed positively were those of an alpha male with the stoicism of an upper-class background. He was gregarious, flamboyant, had a lust for life and was a tremendous politician who would take on issues that many wouldn’t. Scott’s qualities when expressed positively, are more gentle, creative and with a caring affinity with animals and all with a sparkling sprinkling of party boy for good measure. He does have however a strong quiet presence. He is a steel magnolia if you will. Matters turn toxic when anyone’s strengths are taken too far and to a pathological level. Thorpe’s qualities could easily morph into arrogance, preying on vulnerable young men for sexual gratification “going for the jugular”, stepping on toes/heads, making and dumping friends, hiring a hitman to solve a problem and treating people whichever way he saw fit as long as it fitted in with Project Jeremy. Scott’s qualities could morph into stubborn self-destructiveness, lack of self-respect, fecklessness, an unclear view of who he was, drifting and clinging on to any dinghy in a storm and expecting others to carry or save him and using his allure to elicit sympathy (and money). Their union was a catastrophe waiting to happen. Scott discovered to his cost that youth, beauty and allure are visas that run out fast when nothing else is on the table and that Thorpe had simply become tired of carrying him. Scott had also become frustrated with being a kept man. He did not have the self-esteem to let go and give Jeremy and the past the proverbial two fingers they probably deserved. That said, I am suspicious of the fact that Thorpe would not give him his National Insurance card. Surely, it would have been easier than what actually took place. Did he simply want a final vestige of control over him even if he didn’t want him in his life or if the affiliation was to end, was it to end on his terms?