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Husband and wife duo Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes are to play a real-life married couple in the upcoming political miniseries Stonehouse.
Macfadyen will star as disgraced British politician John Stonehouse in the three-part miniseries announced today (February 23) by ITV, while Hawes will portray his wife Barbara Stonehouse.
Stonehouse, which will air in the U.S. on BritBox, is being written by John Preston, the author of a non-fiction book about another disgraced British politician, Jeremy Thorpe, that Russell T Davies adapted into the acclaimed miniseries A Very English Scandal. 
In a statement, Preston described John Stonehouse's story as "one of the most bizarre true-life tales I've ever come across," and it's easy to see what he means. Stonehouse was a British Member of Parliament (MP) who served in Prime Minister Harold Wilson's cabinet from 1969-1970. However, he is now best remembered for his unsuccessful attempt to fake his own death in November 1974 by leaving a pile of clothes on a beach in Miami. At first, the authorities presumed he had drowned or been killed by a shark.
In fact, having acquired a fake identity, he was planning a new life for himself in Australia with his mistress Sheila Buckley. This scheme was rumbled a few weeks later and Stonehouse was subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud. Emer Heatley (Showtrial) will co-star in the miniseries as his mistress, with Kevin R. McNally (The Crown) portraying Harold Wilson and Dorothy Atkinson (All Creatures Great and Small) playing fellow MP Betty Boothroyd.
"What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend," Macfadyen said in a statement. "I've always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career. John Preston’s script truly captures the man and his colorful life and I’m looking forward to taking on his character."
Oh, and in case you were struggling to remember, Macfadyen and Hawes previously starred together in the BBC spy drama series Spooks. They have been married since 2004.
Are you looking forward to seeing Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes on-screen together?