The Politician's Wife is a British television political drama broadcast onChannel 4 in 1995, written byPaula Milne, and starringTrevor Eve andJuliet Stevenson. Milne returned to the same themes in herBBC 2 drama miniseries,The Politician's Husband (2013).

Duncan Matlock (Trevor Eve) is a high-flying politician and Families Minister for the British government, who becomes embroiled in atabloid scandal as it is discovered that he has been having a 10-month affair with a formerescort turned parliamentary researcher (Minnie Driver). Duncan's wife, Flora (Juliet Stevenson), becomes the focus of media attention as her reactions to the revelations are played out. Initially she plays the part of the loyal wife, but as an aide of her husband's, Mark Hollister (Anton Lesser), feeds her details about the affair and various other political scandals that could be made to happen, she begins to sabotage her husband's integrity and reputation through a campaign of leaks and misinformation to the press andConservative Party stalwarts. After a series of increasingly sensational and damaging stories in the press, her husband is forced to resign in humiliation. The last episode closes with the results of theby-election being announced on TV. Flora Matlock wins with the support of her party, whilst her husband is exiled to a minor post inBelgium.

• Juliet Stevenson as Flora Matlock, Duncan's loyal wife and mother to his children, Paul and Joanna. After the revelation of his affair, Flora begins to plan her revenge.
• Trevor Eve as Duncan Matlock,Tory MP, Minister for the Family and Flora's husband.
• Ian Bannen as Sir Donald Frazier
• Anton Lesser as Mark Hollister, Ministerial Advisor to Duncan Matlock, who hides hissexuality for fear of stereotypical comments from Duncan.
• Frederick Treves as Clive Woodley, Flora's father. He hides the true facts of Duncan's affair from his daughter, but not to spare the emotional impact, only to ensure Flora's relationship with Duncan continues to benefit his political career.
• Minnie Driver as Jennifer Caird, a Parliament Researcher, who has a degree and used to be an escort, who has an affair with Duncan Matlock.
• Veronica Clifford as Veronica Weston, a member of the Conservative Christian Wives Association
• Diana Fairfax as Rosalind Clegg, Vice Chairman of the Carlingham Conservative Association

The show wonBest Serial Drama at the 1996British Academy Film Awards,^[1] andBest International Drama at the 1995Emmy Awards.^[2] It received a positive review in theNew York Times, which praised Stevenson and Eve's performances.^[3]

The Politician's Wife was released on DVD byAcorn Media UK in August 2011.

A companion series by Milne,The Politician's Husband, is a three-episode British television miniseries, first shown onBBC Two between 25 April and 9 May 2013.^[4]

• The Politician's Wife atIMDb