“His best performance yet”: The Trial of Christine Keeler is James Norton’s “10/10” drama to binge tonight

If you think James Norton’s best performance is in the Yorkshire crime drama we all know and adore – yes, we’re talking about Happy Valley – we’re about to throw a spanner in the works. There’s another outstanding drama that might have passed you by and it goes by the name of The Trial of Christine Keeler. The story of the Profumo Affair stars James as a society osteopath – and scapegoat of sorts - and luckily for his fans, it’s available to binge on Prime Video tonight.

The hit drama tells the story of Christine Keeler, who found herself at the heart of a political sex scandal that rocked British government in the 1960s – and, what makes the series so compelling is that we see the story play out from her perspective. With James playing the man who introduced Christine to John Profumo and Ben Miles as the former British Secretary of State for War himself, it’s a brilliantly gripping dramatisation that will stay with you long after you've watched it.

Like the sound of it? Before you tune in, here’s everything you need to know about The Trial of Christine Keeler, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is The Trial of Christine Keeler about?

The six-part series, which first aired on BBC One in 2019, takes a fresh look at the chain of events in the 1960s that came to be known as the Profumo Affair. The scandal involved 19-year-old Christine Keeler (Sophie Cookson) who had an affair with politician John Profumo (Ben Miles).

Interestingly, the story is told from Christine’s perspective and goes behind the headlines to give a staggering account of the treatment she endured following the affair. The powerful, male-dominated establishment sought to silence and exploit her, and she ended up spending time behind bars over the affair.

James Norton plays the well-connected osteopath Stephen Ward, who introduced Christine to Profumo, and was later charged with prostitution offences. We also meet former model Mandy Rice-Davies (Ellie Bamber), John’s wife Valerie Profumo (Emilia Fox) and Johnny Edgecombe (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), a jazz promoter whose involvement with Christine inadvertently alerted authorities to the Profumo affair. and Anthony Welsh plays Aloysius 'Lucky' Gordon.

Explaining what attracted him to the role, James Norton told the BBC: “Playing Stephen and having the opportunity to delve into this man’s mind was the key draw for me for this project. There are extraordinary people involved in this story and I think if you were to meet Stephen Ward now you would be entirely seduced by him and want more of his company.

“Being in Stephen’s presence was a treat, and something his friends really hankered after once they’d had a taste of it. But, more than just being a warm, affable, effusive and generous man, Stephen was also peculiar, and those are the most interesting people to play. Stephen was eccentric but he also had a sinister and sad side to him and that again makes for an interesting character to play, with all his vulnerability and layers.”

Who’s in the cast of The Trial of Christine Keeler?

The cast of The Trial of Christine Keeler includes:

• Sophie Cookson (Gypsy, Red Joan) as Christine Keeler
• James Norton (Happy Valley) as Stephen Ward
• Ellie Bamber (Les Miserables) as Mandy Rice-Davies
• Ben Miles (The Crown, The Last Post) as John Profumo
• Emilia Fox (Silent Witness) as Valerie Profumo
• Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Angels in America, Mope) as Johnny Edgecombe
• Anthony Welsh (Black Mirror) as Aloysius “Lucky” Gordon.

Is The Trial of Christine Keeler any good?

Yes – it gives a genuinely fresh perspective on the Profumo affair and both Sophie Cookson and James Norton’s performances are absolutely superb, the latter of which we think is his best yet. While it does start a little slow, it quickly evolves into a series that’s both fascinating and eye-opening. If you like the idea of a real-life drama told through female eyes, we’d highly recommend it.

How can I watch The Trial of Christine Keeler?

You can watch The Trial of Christine Keeler now on Prime Video and YouTube.

What other James Norton dramas can I watch now?

If you’re a fan of crime dramas, we’d recommend McMafia. The series sees James’s character, Alex Godman, an English-raised son of Russian exiles with a mafia history, pulled into a criminal world he’s spent his entire life trying to avoid. McMafia is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. If you prefer a period drama, we’d suggest Life in Squares. The 2015 series stars James as a member of the renowned Bloomsbury group, a collection of friends and lovers who were pioneers of artistic and sexual freedom - over 40 years. You can watch Life in Squares on Prime Video.