Peter Morgan has done it again. His specialism in dramatised documentaries of recent events has made for a brilliant piece of television. I dont mind the creation of fictitious scenes when they are done so well and when they want to encapsulate a piece of the real story. There is a scene late on when Jeffries is in waiting room with Steve Coogan as they await their turn to give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into press regulation. This never happened. But as well as portraying Jeffries as a eccentric academic when he doesn't know who Coogan is, it makes for a fantastic conversation as the actor is so at ease and bares the faults that the press latched onto. Thereby helping to tell the story of a press out of control which is the essence of the drama. There was also a clever comment on fandom. Jeffries' awesome QC Louis Charalambous played by Paul Polycarpou (if there is an award for best supporting actor, he should get it) comes to collect Jeffries and in meeting Coogan he is for once in his life stumbling over his words. He gets "Night at the Museum" all wrong.
But I cannot go any longer without mentioning Jason Watkins. He was made for the part of Jeffries as well as looking so similar. His performance is a once in a lifetime opportunity and he grabs it with both hands. Awards await. So they do for both Peter Morgan for the superb writing and Roger Michell for direction. It just goes to show that movie director Michell has moved back to TV because of the wonderful script and cast. The drama was shown in two parts and after the first when at the end the real murderer is arrested, and I thought then that the second half might be boring when it was all about suing the papers, it actually turned out to be just as good. Fabulous television.
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