Michael Gambon ("Harry Potter," THE CASUAL VACANCY) plays the greatest statesman of the twentieth century in his most difficult hour: a debilitating stroke which he seeks to hide from the world. “Churchill’s Secret,” a beautifully acted and produced television film, premieres on MASTERPIECE on PBS Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Based on a true incident in the life of Winston Churchill and directed by three-time Emmy® nominee Charles Sturridge (SHACKLETON, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED), the film co-stars Romola Garai (THE HOUR), Lindsay Duncan (SHERLOCK), Bill Paterson ("Little Dorrit"), Matthew Macfadyen (ANY HUMAN HEART), Tara Fitzgerald (JANE EYRE), Rachel Stirling (THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE), Daisy Lewis (DOWNTON ABBEY), Alex Jennings (SILK), and a host of other brilliant actors.
The movie-length drama is an adaptation of Jonathan Smith’s acclaimed 2015 novel, “The Churchill Secret: KBO,” which was hailed as “delightful, funny, heart-warming” by The Mail on Sunday (London) and praised for its “elegance and wit” by The New Statesman (London). “KBO” in the book’s title stands for Churchill’s favorite advice in the face of adversity: “keep buggering on.”
The action opens in the summer of 1953. Churchill, age 78, is prime minister for the second time and as pugnacious as ever—until he is felled by a severe stroke while hosting a state dinner at 10 Downing Street. Lady Churchill (Duncan) manages to conceal the seriousness of her husband’s sudden incapacity, while he is evaluated by his personal physician, Lord Moran (Paterson), and later transported in worsening condition to his country home, Chartwell.
Summoned to care for the apparently dying prime minister is a remarkable young nurse, Millie Appleyard (Garai), who treats the world’s most famous man as she would any other difficult patient: with compassion, firmness, and occasional indulgence. In the weeks that follow, the two bond over the Victorian poet William Ernest Henley, whose celebrated poem, “Invictus” (Latin for “unconquered”), helps inspire Churchill to relearn to speak, stand, and walk.
He is also determined to hold onto the reins of power, and “Churchill’s Secret” tells the astonishing story of a bedridden, incapacitated leader who plots to outwit the high government officials who are maneuvering to replace him. Chief among these is Anthony Eden (Jennings), Churchill’s right-hand man and designated successor.
Then there is Churchill’s family, of whom Lord Moran observes, “There’s a price to pay for greatness, but the great seldom pay it themselves.” Those who paid were Churchill’s children, who grew up in the permanent shadow of their exuberant and ambitious father. When Diana (Fitzgerald), Randolph (Macfadyen), Sarah (Stirling), and Mary (Lewis) arrive at Chartwell to comfort their stricken parent, all except Mary fall to bickering and boozing — hardly an environment conducive to convalescence.
Through it all, Lady Churchill tries to keep the family peace and above all save some portion of her husband’s declining years for herself—far away from the demands of war and politics.
As for Winston, he is haunted by a strange vision and a hit song from the early 1920s: “I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.” What could it mean?
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CREDITS:
A Daybreak Pictures/MASTERPIECE coproduction for ITV. The director is Charles Sturridge. The producer is Timothy Bricknell. The Executive Producers are Hal Vogel and David Aukin for Daybreak Pictures and Rebecca Eaton for MASTERPIECE at WGBH Boston. Adapted for television by Stewart Harcourt.
Churchill's Secret: Coming September 11
"Michael Gambon
Churchill's Secret: Scene
"Watch Michael Gambon and Romola Garai in a scene from Churchill's Secret
Churchill's Secret: Michael Gambon on Playing Churchill
"Actor Michael Gambon talks tackling the role of Winston Churchill. Churchill's Secret airs Sunday
Churchill's Secret: Filming at Chartwell
"The cast and crew discuss filming at the real residence of Winston Churchill
MASTERPIECE: Coming Fall 2016
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