--- title: "A Very British Sex Scandal: The Love Child and The Secretary" description: politicians and journalists sharing personal memories of Cecil Parkinson and the scandal that ended his political ambitions image: https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/sex%20scandal/parkinson-02-715x474.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/a-very-british-sex-scandal-the-love-child-and-the-secretary#main-content) [![Rogan Productions Limited Logo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/RP-white-with-padding.svg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/) - [UNSCRIPTED](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/unscripted) - [DIGITAL](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/digital) - [IN CINEMAS](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/in-cinemas) - [SCOTLAND](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/rogan-scotland) - [SOUTH AFRICA](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/rogan-south-africa) - COMPANY - [ABOUT](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/about-rogan) - [TEAM](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/meet-the-team) - [IMPACT](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/social-impact) - [TIMELINE](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-story) - OFFICES - [LONDON](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-offices/london) - [GLASGOW](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-offices/glasgow) - [JOHANNESBURG](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-offices/johannesburg) - [AWARDS](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/awards) - [NEWS](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films) - [CONTACT](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/contact) # A Very British Sex Scandal: The Love Child and The Secretary Release Date: May 1 2024 on Channel 5 Length: 60' Edwina Currie, Matthew Parris and Ian Hislop lead a cast of politicians and journalists sharing personal memories of Cecil Parkinson and the scandal that ended his political ambitions – a secret affair with his secretary Sara Keays that lasted 12 years and would threaten the stability of the Conservative government. A story of power, politics and personal consequences.  On the eve of the 1983 General Election, millionaire politician Cecil Parkinson had it all. He was charming, popular and handsome – Margaret Thatcher’s suave lieutenant. Under Parkinson’s Chairmanship, the Conservative party was heading towards another electoral success, and Cecil was tipped to take up a cabinet top job. But in Fleet Street, rumours were rife that Cecil had a secret lover, his secretary Sara Keays, who was now pregnant. Their 12-year affair would be revealed in a sensational media storm which overshadowed the 1983 Conservative Party Conference and forced Parkinson to resign in disgrace. He was consigned to the political wilderness with no prospect of return, whilst his former mistress Sara Keays was relentlessly pursued by the media. Thatcher never gave up on her golden boy and four years later, Parkinson’s political career was resurrected. But behind the smooth façade, he spent decades locked in a legal battle with his former mistress Sara Keays, trying to stop any public mention of their daughter, the child he had never met ## Videos ![A Very British Sex Scandal: The Love Child and The Secretary](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/posters/unscripted/cecil-parkinson-documentary.jpg) Release Date: May 1 2024 on Channel 5 Length: 60' Crew: **Director** Jonathan Stiasny **Executive Producer** Nancy Bornat **Head of Production** Nicholas Franklin **Online Editor** Dominic McMahon **Commisioning Editor for Channel 5** Denise Seneviratne ## Similar films [![Free Nelson Mandela](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/Mandela_KEYART-lores.jpg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/free-nelson-mandela) [Free Nelson Mandela](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/free-nelson-mandela) [Read more](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/free-nelson-mandela) [![The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/covers/mone-key-art-v1-with-title-lo.jpg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/the-rise-and-fall-of-michelle-mone) [The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/the-rise-and-fall-of-michelle-mone) [Read more](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/the-rise-and-fall-of-michelle-mone) [![Grenfell: Uncovered](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/covers/grenfell-resize.jpg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/grenfell-uncovered) [Grenfell: Uncovered](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/grenfell-uncovered) [Read more](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/grenfell-uncovered) [![Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/covers/backlash-texless.jpg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/backlash-the-murder-of-george-floyd) [Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/backlash-the-murder-of-george-floyd) [Read more](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/backlash-the-murder-of-george-floyd) [![Putin: A Russian Spy Story](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/covers/Putin%20A%20russian%20spy%20story.webp)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/putin-a-russian-spy-story) [Putin: A Russian Spy Story](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/putin-a-russian-spy-story) [Read more](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/putin-a-russian-spy-story) ###### SEARCH ###### FOLLOW [![x](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/x.svg)](https://x.com/RoganProduction) [![facebook](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/RoganProductions/) [![instagram](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/instagram.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/roganproduction) [![vimeo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/vimeo.svg)](https://vimeo.com/roganproductions) [![in](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/in.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/rogan-productions) [![youtube](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClOwgTv7NpU1wJh9gmIyv5w) [![tiktok](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/tiktok.svg)](https://www.tiktok.com/@roganproductions) ###### SUBSCRIBE ### New films, screenings and stories straight to your inbox. © 2026 Rogan Productions Limited | [Privacy Policy](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/privacy) | Company Registration No. 08385838