What time is Against The Law on BBC Two, who is in the cast with Daniel Mays and what was the Montagu trial?
AGAINST The law is a true-life drama from the BBC as part of the corporation's Gay Britannia season.
So what is the drama about? What happened during the Montagu Trial and who does Daniel Mays play? Here's the lowdown...
When is Against The Law on TV?
Against The Law is due to be aired on BBC Two on Wednesday July 26 at 9pm.
The 90 minute drama is up against A Prescription For Murder on BBC One, Long Lost Family on ITV, 24 Hours in A&E on Channel 4 and The Dirty Dancing Story on Channel 5.
The one-off show is written by Brian Fillis, who was nominated for a BAFTA in 2007 for his drama Fear of Fanny.
If you miss it, the show will be available for catch up on BBC iPlayer.
What is Against The Law about and what were the Montague Trial?
Against The Law is about the famous Montagu trial in 1954 which changed the course of history.
Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu was arrested and charged in 1954 for performing “gross offences” with an RAF orderly in 1954 – with Lord Montagu again insisting that he was innocent.
Major Michael Pitt Rivers and Peter Wildeblood were also put on trial, charged with “conspiracy to incite certain male persons to commit serious offences with male persons” .
Two RAF servicemen had come forward to authorities, claiming that there had been dancing and “abandoned behaviour” in an encounter with the three men while Montagu argued they had only been drinking, dancing and kissing.
Montagu was ultimately sentenced to 12 months behind bars, while Wildeblood and Pitt-Rivers were sentenced to 18 months in prison as a result of these and other charges.
The trial brought the issues around homosexuality and the law to public attention.
An inquiry was launched after the trial, with the ensuing report, the Wolfenden Report, recommending the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.
The trial had a ripple effect on the British legal system, with the report’s recommendations taking 10 years to be made law.
Who is in the cast with Daniel Mays?
Daniel Mays plays Peter Wildeblood, the journalist jailed for 18 months under the old law in the 1950s.
He stars with Scottish comedian Richard Gadd as his on-screen lover - and they were both extremely nervous in the lead up to shooting the sex scene.
Daniel says: “You have to be brave and trust the other actor.
“It was one of Richard’s first TV acting roles but he’s a wonderful, talented guy to work with.
“Even if you do a straight sex scene it’s all deeply embarrassing and awkward. It was really nerve- wracking for both of us.
“Luckily it was filmed at the end of shoot so we were pretty warmed up, so to speak.
“This sex scene was a vital element of the story because it was deemed a criminal act.
“It’s a really beautiful, heartfelt and, hopefully, touching scene to watch. I surprised myself.”
Also in the drama is Mark Gattiss from the comedy team, The League of Gentlemen. Edward Montagu is played by Mark Edel-Hunt who appeared in Brideshead Revisited.
