The most important thing to realize about David Eldridge's adaptation of the book by Hallie Rubenhold was the lack of power given to any wife in the eighteenth century. They were simply regarded as a husband's property, denied any possibility for self- determination. This film explored the ways in which the eponymous central character (Natalie Dormer) tried to circumnavigate the law.

Told through flashbacks, we learned how Lady Worsley had a sexless marriage to Sir Richard (Shaun Evans). Rather he forced his spouse to make love to a succession of titled nobles, while he watched them in the act through a keyhole - the supreme act of voyeurism. Unfortunately things go terribly wrong when Lady Worsley falls in love with Captain George Bisset (Aneurin Barnard). There follows a protracted court battle, where Sir Richard tries to obtain £20K in compensation from Captain George for hurt feelings, while steadfastly refusing to allow his wife a divorce.

Natalie Dormer portrays Lady Worsley as a woman trying to make the best of an impossible situation. Forced into a series of unwanted relationships to satisfy her husband's vicarious lust, she has cultivated an inscrutable outward shell as a means of self- protection. During the act of love-making her face remains impassive as she looks to her right at her husband staring through the keyhole. In public she maintains a similar expression, especially when confronting her husband over the possibility of divorce. In one sequence she is shown walking away from his stately home, her face staring impassively at the camera. No one, it seems, can penetrate her tough exterior.

Yet perhaps she needs to cultivate that facade in order to survive. Captain George comes across as something of a hypocrite who professes his undying love for Lady Worsley yet cannot accept the sexual humiliations she has undergone. He still believes in that patriarchal construction of female purity, especially in someone he hopes to marry. Eventually he decides to leave Lady Worsley as he proclaims in uncertain tones that he no longer loves her. Whether this is true or not is immaterial; we realize at this moment that he lacks any real moral or intellectual fiber, preferring instead to embrace the majority view that women should be servile to all males.

Although set in the eighteenth century, THE SCANDALOUS LADY W makes some important points about the necessity for female self- determination. Even in our so-called enlightened world, there are millions of women worldwide who are faced with similar dilemmas as experienced by Lady Worsley, and have to find the best means to negotiate them.

After watching it, I have no real idea of what to say about it, I think the word I'll use is unusual, it was a particularly unusual drama, I gather though that large chunks of this story were actually true. There was indeed a Lady Worseley, and her husband was indeed a voyeur. I think people find it unimaginable that such deviancy occurred back in 1782, but clearly they did. I knew nothing of the story beforehand, I put it on expecting the usual high quality, serious BBC drama, I really wasn't expecting it to be like this. I liked some of the costumes, but some of them, and some of the make up and hair styles looked very much out of place. All in all I think it worked fairly well, it will need a re watch in a few months.

Natalie Dormer takes the title role of Lady W who on marriage was considered as chattel to her husband as wives tended to be at the time. Her Lord and Master was Sir Richard, a pompous politician as well as a voyeur and pervert to boot.

In order to please him Lady W slept with 26 men while he watched through the keyhole. Lady W eventually fell in love with Captain George Bisset who she became pregnant with and eventually ran off with.

Sir Richard felt aggrieved as he felt he was robbed of his property and sued Captain George for £20,000, a princely sum in those days. In the ensuing court case, Lady W turned the tables on her husband as she unveiled his fetishes to the world at large.

This was a fun filled drama, slightly naughty here and there but brought out the hypocrisy and perversion of the ruling elite. Although the language sounded modern we are told that the actual court case is based on the court transcripts.

Dormer was strong, stubborn and sexy all in red. Shaun Evans had the difficult role as the cuckolded husband but he endeavoured to bring out his character's repression and perversion at the same time.

Aneurin Barnard who appeared in Cilla last year as Cilla Black's husband looked unrecognisable without the grey/blond hairdo he was saddled with in that drama and was more gorgeous George here who eventually was also embarrassed of Lady W's bedroom antics.

The BBC cuts that the corporation have had to endure for the last 5 years are now beginning to show. This was a low budget drama for BBC2, quickly shot and you can tell the director was doing their best with a meagre budget and whatever Georgian setting they could get access to.