Peter and the verdict

Tonight on BBC1 see the start of A Very English Scandal a drama written by Russell T Davies about the illicit relationship between Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thrope and Norman Scott. Thrope is played by Hugh Grant continuing his break from the Rom Com roles that seemed to dominate his career since the mid 1990s and Scott is played by Ben Wishaw best known for being the current Q in the James Bond films and the voice of Paddington Bear. The affair ended with a murder attempt on Scott's life. Thrope and 3 others were put on trial However the Judge hearing the case made great play of Thrope's previous good behaviour and all 4 defendants were cleared of charges. This did not go down well in some circles. Famed satirist Peter Cook did a routine at the 1979 Sercert Policeman's Ball. The routine mocked the one sided nature of the summing up case. Cook even used such phases as player of the pink oboe (suggested by none other than Billy Connolly) to illustrate the judge's out of touch attitude.

You can see the routine on Youtube.