A National Scandal

Helped by his aristocratic lover Edwina Mountbatten, cabaret singer “Hutch” has become Britain’s first black superstar – but a gossip columnist hints at their affair in the Sunday People. In the libel case which follows, Edwina is ordered to appear in court to deny ever having met Hutch. But despite her public denial, Hutch’s records are no longer on the airwaves. Edwina encourages him to go and see the BBC’s Director of Variety – a budding songwriter called Eric Maschwitz. Hutch takes Eric’s as-yet-unknown song These Foolish Things and turns it into a massive hit. The BBC embargo ends – but so too does Hutch’s hope of achieving national recognition.