The Politician's Wife (1995)
The Politician's Wife is a British television political drama written by Paula Milne, broadcast on Channel 4 in 1995 and starring Trevor Eve and Juliet Stevenson. The story centres around high-flying politician Duncan Matlock, Families Minister for the UK Government, who becomes embroiled in tabloid scandal as it is discovered that he has been having an affair with a former escort turned parliamentary researcher. Duncan's wife Flora becomes the focus of media attention as her reactions to the revelations are played out. Initially she plays out the part of the loyal wife, but as an aide of her husband feeds her details about the affair and various other political scandals that could be made to happen. She begins to sabotage her husband's integrity and reputation through a campaign of leaks and misinformation to the press and British Conservative Party stalwarts. After a series of increasingly sensational and damaging stories in the press, her husband is forced to resign in humiliation. The last episode closes with the results of the by-election being announced on TV. Flora Matlock wins with the support of her party whilst her husband is exiled to a minor post in Belgium.
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Episode 1 - Stand by Him
Release Date: 1995-05-16After her husband Duncan Matlock, a senior Government Minister responsible for promoting family values, is revealed in the tabloid press to have had a fling with a pretty political aide, Flora Matlock is clearly expected by everyone around her to stand by her man. For his part, he assures her it was a onetime fling and that it was just an aberration on his part. For Flora, the betrayal goes deep and affects her self-image in a serious way. She complies however, smiling at photo ops, attending a review meeting with the constituency association and otherwise playing the dutiful wife while her husband continues to scramble to save his political career.
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Episode 2 - Echo Chamber
Release Date: 1995-05-23Flora Matlock performs brilliantly on a television interview and the crisis over her husband's career seems to have passed. From all appearances, she is the dutiful wife standing by her husband. Appearances can be deceiving however. She subtly and very intelligently begins to plant the seeds of her husband's downfall. She provide the Party Whip, Sir Donald Frazier, with information that puts in doubt his character. She then feeds the press the story of her husband's inaction on saving a local children's nursery. Her coup de grace however is to have her father buy a property at a cut rate price from someone who will benefit from recently introduced legislation.
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Episode 3 - Body Politic
Release Date: 1995-05-30Duncan Matlock appears to have survived another political crisis but Flora is fast learning how to manipulate the reins of power to her own hidden agenda.