A Very British Scandal: Real-Life Duchess Of Argyll Speaks In Unearthed Clip

An interview with the real-life Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll has been unearthed as the BBC airs the final episode of three-part series A Very British Scandal.

The series, starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany, depicts the true story of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll's dramatic divorce case.

After their 12-year marriage came to a messy end, the Duchess was thrust into the limelight, vilified by the press, and made out to be an unfaithful and promiscuous woman.

BBC)

Since the first episode of the three-part series aired on Boxing Day, viewers have been engrossed in the shocking story.

Giving the fans even more to the story, the BBC have pulled some clips of the real Duchess from their archives.

In one clip from 1977, Margaret speaks to Melvyn Bragg about her horrific treatment by the press and the salacious coverage her divorce had received.

Watch the clip here:

In the interview, she tells Melvyn: "I've had the most ghastly publicity in the world. But in the early days - the 30s, the 40s, the 50s, and even the 60s, I think - the publicity, the ordinary little diary column was very pleasant.

"You looked pretty in pink at a party, there's no harm in it. We all enjoyed our little paragraph with absolutely no malice and we were all great friends of the writers."

She went on to say: "We used to have them at our parties and dine with them and we trusted them completely. And they wore two hats, really. They were either there as your friend or they were there to interview you or ask you questions for a newspaper, and you were two different people with them, of course. You could absolutely trust them.

"But I must say, lately, I think the diarists... have been very unkind, to put it quite mildly. And I haven't liked it at all."

BBC)

In another interview from 1988 - just five years before her passing - the Duchess was asked by Terry Wogan whether she could see her story be turned into a television "saga".

Margaret lightheartedly answers: "Let's pray not. Let's not even think about that. I mean, I have written a book, and I'm going to write another book and that's enough."

Terry replies: "Still, it is the stuff of which these dreams are made of, isn't it?"

Laughing, the Duchess answers: "Dreams is not the right word."

All three episodes of A Very British Scandal are now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Topics: TV And Film, BBC

Ali Condon

Ali is a journalist for LADbible Group, writing on all things film, music, and entertainment across Tyla, LADbible and UNILAD. You can contact Ali at [email protected].

@alicondon