When Louis Met... - Series 1- The Hamiltons - video Dailymotion

Nit Wit

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00:00:00What's wrong with being saucy?

00:00:01Nothing, I'm just asking you, are you saucy?

00:00:03I mean, I've always...

00:00:04Are you a little bit X-rated?

00:00:06No, not at all.

00:00:07I mean, it's been a permanent source of regret to me

00:00:11that the one thing I've never been involved in is a sex scandal.

00:00:45Former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine

00:00:49have been arrested by police in connection with allegations of a serious sexual assault.

00:01:05And one more flight of stairs.

00:01:08I was in a confusing block of flats in Battersea in London

00:01:12to meet Neil and Christine Hamilton.

00:01:14At this point in history, Neil was best known for being a disgraced ex-Tory minister,

00:01:19disgraced for allegedly taking bribes in return for doing favours.

00:01:23Christine was best known for being the wife of a disgraced ex-Tory minister.

00:01:27The plan was for me to follow them as they sought to be known for something else.

00:01:35How are you, Frank?

00:01:37How do you do?

00:01:38I've got a mouth full of melon.

00:01:39Nice to meet you.

00:01:40Nice to meet you.

00:01:40You're Christine, I'm Louis.

00:01:41You're Louis, jolly good.

00:01:42Your hair looks more normal now.

00:01:46Obviously, more normal.

00:01:47No, but do you know what I mean?

00:01:48Because before, it looked quite sort of...

00:01:50When you were doing the trial, it looked sort of...

00:01:52It was like a bit more metallic.

00:01:55Metallic.

00:01:55Do you know what I mean?

00:01:56It looked harder.

00:01:57No, no, I've got it.

00:01:58I've been done over.

00:01:59I haven't met you before, so I don't know.

00:02:00I don't know.

00:02:02Maybe it's the tea...

00:02:03You know, seeing you on TV, maybe.

00:02:05But you do look.

00:02:05You look excellent.

00:02:07Am I allowed to give you a kiss?

00:02:08No.

00:02:11Why not?

00:02:14Anyone who says that to me.

00:02:15It's just a bit easier to manage.

00:02:17Who's that?

00:02:18Well, I hope it's Neil.

00:02:19Is that Neil?

00:02:20Yeah.

00:02:21I'm assuming that's you.

00:02:23What?

00:02:24Oh, they are here, poking around.

00:02:27There he is.

00:02:27Oh, God.

00:02:28Look at him.

00:02:30How are you doing?

00:02:31Good morning.

00:02:32Now, darling, this is Louie.

00:02:33Hello.

00:02:34Hello, Louie.

00:02:34Hello, Mum.

00:02:38He's incredible.

00:02:38He's really got himself into shape.

00:02:40He's lost...

00:02:40How much have you lost?

00:02:41Two and a half stones or something?

00:02:42Well, if I haven't lost it, I've converted flab to muscle.

00:02:45Can I feel your muscle?

00:02:47Come on, let's...

00:02:47Oh, that was...

00:02:48See, I wondered which muscle you were talking about.

00:02:50It's not bad, though.

00:02:51It's not bad.

00:02:5152.

00:02:52Now flex it.

00:02:53Now flex it.

00:02:54Now flex it.

00:02:56My triceps are better than my biceps.

00:02:59These are pretty solid.

00:03:00Are they?

00:03:01It's the trunks that Christine likes best.

00:03:04Come on, you get in the bar.

00:03:06So what is your job now?

00:03:07What do you do?

00:03:08Well, I describe us as professional objects of curiosity.

00:03:11People like you come and interview us.

00:03:13Is that really...

00:03:14This is your main...

00:03:15Well, it's not...

00:03:16Well, we do a lot of television.

00:03:18A lot of...

00:03:18Well, media work, generally.

00:03:20Radio, TV, writing.

00:03:21We had to decide after the general election in 1997,

00:03:25when we both lost our jobs overnight, you know,

00:03:28what are we going to do now?

00:03:29You lost in 1997 to Martin Bell.

00:03:32Yeah.

00:03:32Couldn't you have run again this year, in 2001?

00:03:35Well, I could have done if I hadn't been bankrupt.

00:03:37You can't bankrupt run for office?

00:03:40Bankrupts can't be elected to Parliament.

00:03:42I want to know why you've got pictures of the BBC here.

00:03:45Yeah, because I sued them for libel.

00:03:47Now, what was that about?

00:03:48Successfully, that was Panorama.

00:03:50So you haven't always had a run of bad luck with the courts?

00:03:53No, well, justice was done in that case.

00:03:55What was it all about?

00:03:57Well, I was accused of being a closet Nazi,

00:04:00whose aim was to take over the Tory party,

00:04:02and we were going to install a fascist dictatorship in Britain.

00:04:05Any truth?

00:04:06Well, it sounds credible, doesn't it?

00:04:08But, um, there it is.

00:04:10Any truth?

00:04:11History will relate.

00:04:13No, of course it was completely untrue.

00:04:14Margaret Thatcher.

00:04:16Friend?

00:04:16Yes.

00:04:17Friend.

00:04:17Really?

00:04:18She's been a very loyal friend and a very loyal supporter.

00:04:22No, not a dear, dear friend,

00:04:23but she's somebody we extremely fond of and admire enormously.

00:04:27And she's been very, very good to us.

00:04:29Yeah, I was in her government.

00:04:31Like her?

00:04:31They were great days.

00:04:32Oh, yes, she's wonderful.

00:04:33Respect her?

00:04:34Respect her, yeah.

00:04:35Yes, she's a great...

00:04:36Respect her enormously?

00:04:37Enormously.

00:04:37She's a great lady.

00:04:38She changed the world.

00:04:39Changed the world.

00:04:40She did.

00:04:42Can I ask about this?

00:04:43That's my battle axe.

00:04:44Do you mind being called a battle axe?

00:04:47Not in the slightest, no.

00:04:48What about you, Neil?

00:04:48Do you mind it being said that you're married to a battle axe?

00:04:51No, because, you know, that's the brand that we're selling.

00:04:54Is that the brand that you're selling?

00:04:56I like that.

00:04:57Is that your brand?

00:04:58Yes.

00:04:59If you are a battle axe in the brand, what are you in the brand?

00:05:03Uh...

00:05:03What is it?

00:05:04Uh, it's a doormouse?

00:05:05You know, what is the thing of battle axe and...

00:05:07Doormat?

00:05:08Doormat?

00:05:08What's the difference between a doormat and a doormat?

00:05:10A doormat?

00:05:10It's a joke, isn't it?

00:05:12No, it is.

00:05:12It's tongue-in-cheek.

00:05:13I don't mind remotely being called a battle axe.

00:05:14It's a load of rubbish, really.

00:05:15Everybody knows it's a load of rubbish.

00:05:16I'm a pussycat.

00:05:17But I want to know what Neil is in the brand.

00:05:20Oh, when he meant brand, he meant me being branded the battle axe.

00:05:23Yes, I'm nothing in that brand.

00:05:25There's not a...

00:05:26That's the only...

00:05:27Do you mean media brand?

00:05:29No, just...

00:05:30Do you mean like brand?

00:05:31That's your brand.

00:05:32No, well, Christine...

00:05:34I've got this idea.

00:05:35...is a battle axe for the purposes of...

00:05:38Um...

00:05:40...generating...

00:05:40Media interest.

00:05:41Media interest.

00:05:42Yes.

00:05:43And you are?

00:05:45Well, I'm not the downtrodden husband.

00:05:47Why not?

00:05:49Well, I suppose I could be.

00:05:50Because if he was downtrodden, that would mean I was treading on him, and I'm not.

00:05:54And these little rude tiles of people chasing each other round with nothing on?

00:05:58They were done by William Rushton.

00:06:00Do you...

00:06:01Are you quite saucy...

00:06:02A saucy couple of people?

00:06:03Yes.

00:06:05No, I'm very staid.

00:06:06Because I think conservatives aren't supposed to...

00:06:09They're strong on family, but they're not supposed to be as sexually liberated.

00:06:12...as people on the left, are they?

00:06:15Well, that wasn't our experience during the last Tory government, was it?

00:06:18No, but that's why they got in trouble.

00:06:20Do you see what I mean?

00:06:21Yes.

00:06:21What's wrong with being saucy?

00:06:23Nothing.

00:06:24I'm just asking you, are you saucy?

00:06:25I mean, I've always...

00:06:26Are you a little bit...

00:06:27I mean, the...

00:06:27...ex-rated?

00:06:28No, not at all.

00:06:29I mean, it's been a...

00:06:30...a permanent source of regret to me that the one thing I've never been involved in is a sex scandal.

00:06:36What if Al Fyad's accused you of procuring rent boys?

00:06:38Yes, he has, hasn't he?

00:06:39That's a sex scandal, isn't it?

00:06:40Can we get one thing sorted out before we go any further?

00:06:44He is not Al Fyad.

00:06:46He's fired.

00:06:47You don't really mind me saying Al Fyad, do you, Christine?

00:06:51You mustn't take anything I say seriously.

00:06:53Yes, I do.

00:06:56You too?

00:06:59So which answer am I supposed to believe?

00:07:03Does she mind?

00:07:05Far be it from me to tell you what her mind is.

00:07:10With the name of Al Fyad, or even just Fyad, coming up so often,

00:07:13it seemed like a good time to deal with the scandal the Hamiltons were then famous for.

00:07:17Al Fyad's claim that Neil had taken cash to ask questions on his behalf in Parliament.

00:07:24I don't really follow politics that much, so I'm just sort of victim of the press to a degree,

00:07:28but from what I can understand, the world at large generally believes,

00:07:32seems to hold the opinion that you've done something pretty naughty.

00:07:37I've been monstered unmercifully in the press over the years on all these allegations.

00:07:45It is established that you did something wrong, is it not?

00:07:48No.

00:07:49You don't, you don't...

00:07:50I lost a libel action.

00:07:52You lost a libel action.

00:07:53And the Parliament, did some sort of parliamentary inquiry find against you?

00:07:57Yeah, well, a parliamentary commission...

00:07:59So just to be clear, you don't accept that you've done, you did anything wrong?

00:08:03No.

00:08:07And so, Neil, Christine and I started to spend some time together.

00:08:11First, at a party they'd been invited to, to celebrate the publication of a new book by their friend, Giles

00:08:17Brandreth.

00:08:21Oh, look, here he is.

00:08:23This is a magic moment.

00:08:25Very special people.

00:08:26Yes, Mr. Thoreau.

00:08:27You're surely lucky to have this quality here.

00:08:30Last night, funnily enough, I was reading a thing that you'd written about them where you said,

00:08:34um, Neil and Christine deny the allegations, cash for questions, etc.,

00:08:38and I'm ready to believe them,

00:08:40but the more they get slandered, the more one begins to doubt, or something like that.

00:08:45So what, I mean, is that your view?

00:08:48Do you think that maybe they did something wrong?

00:08:50The problem was that the drip, drip, drip, every day, people saying to you,

00:08:55the paper's saying and everyone's saying they're guilty, they're guilty,

00:08:58you begin to think, well, maybe there has to be something in this.

00:09:01I mean, that's what I believe.

00:09:02And lots of people do.

00:09:04And I take the view that Neil acknowledges that he may have done foolish things in the past,

00:09:10maybe greedy, self-indulgent things,

00:09:11but he absolutely categorically denies that he took cash

00:09:15in return for asking questions in the brown envelopes.

00:09:19And I have no reason not to believe him.

00:09:22No, but Dan Crum is just a bloated old fart, isn't he?

00:09:28He's hopeless, utterly hopeless.

00:09:28Yes, he doesn't mean anything.

00:09:30Utterly hopeless.

00:09:32Bloated old fart.

00:09:33They are guilty.

00:09:35That's how they are perceived.

00:09:37And, of course, the more it's said, the more mud is thrown, some of it sticks.

00:09:41Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

00:09:43From 19... When did it begin?

00:09:44This is 1993, 1994.

00:09:46Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

00:09:48You're a crook.

00:09:48Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

00:09:49Knocked over.

00:09:50You're a crook.

00:09:51And the only person, the only person in their intimacy,

00:09:53I mean, what's so marvellous about them is they have this extraordinary marriage.

00:09:57But it doesn't mean to say that actually they aren't a real vulnerable human being as well.

00:10:03No, I know.

00:10:04And there are splendid British virtues, such as the stiff upper lip.

00:10:08I mean, actually, it's something that's rather admirable.

00:10:12So, it mustn't get emotional.

00:10:14No, it mustn't get emotional.

00:10:16But people, because I always come out jolly and bouncy up front,

00:10:22people assume that that's how you are and you don't care.

00:10:24But, of course, that's not the case.

00:10:26I'm as vulnerable as an ex-person.

00:10:28You have to accept, Christine, that I don't accept your version of events.

00:10:32But I don't think that should get in the way of us getting on.

00:10:34Do you think we can get past that?

00:10:38Well, it's quite difficult if you don't accept.

00:10:40Because if you don't accept our version of events,

00:10:42then you're saying that we're a pair of liars.

00:10:44And that actually will inhibit seriously maybe even the continuation of making of this programme.

00:10:53By this point, it seemed pretty clear that the Hamiltons and I would never agree about Cash for Questions,

00:10:58and I only hoped we could get beyond that.

00:11:06A few days later, and keen to talk more about the Hamiltons' fledgling media career,

00:11:11Neil and Christine showed me Posh Nosh, a pilot for a TV series they'd made.

00:11:16Its premise was that the Hamiltons would arrive in their Bentley at a stranger's house

00:11:21and organise a luxurious meal for them.

00:11:24Christine seemed relaxed and confident in front of the cameras, Neil less so.

00:11:29Because it's new labour, you see, new labour, new alcohol.

00:11:36No offence, but your body language is very odd.

00:11:39Don't you think, Christine? Can you see that?

00:11:41He walks like a marionette somehow.

00:11:46As yet, the pilot hadn't been picked up by any TV station,

00:11:49but it was another good example of the Hamilton brand.

00:11:52Terry, one, and more girls.

00:11:54Thank you very much. Cheers to you all.

00:11:58When I joined Neil for his daily exercises later,

00:12:01we talked more about their roles as media characters.

00:12:05We have to be wary of sending ourselves up too much

00:12:09and being made to behave in too demeaning a way.

00:12:14I think you would have a sense of humour and you mustn't take yourself too serious.

00:12:16Yeah. In a way, that's your new career, though, isn't it?

00:12:19Sending yourself up, caricaturing yourself a bit.

00:12:21Yes, that's certainly true, yes.

00:12:23So it's a dangerous game, isn't it, in a way?

00:12:25It is. It requires fine judgement.

00:12:28Have you worked out what the limits are?

00:12:30Well, I'm not sure it's possible to work them out.

00:12:33I think it's something you learn by experience, isn't it?

00:12:42And so the days continued, and we followed Neil and Christine's routine.

00:12:46But with Posh Nosh not looking like being commissioned any time soon,

00:12:50and not many other offers coming in,

00:12:52the fact was that Neil and Christine didn't have a lot going on.

00:12:55To be truthful, I was starting to worry where this documentary was heading

00:12:59and how interesting it was going to be.

00:13:08Two weeks later, and during dinner one night,

00:13:10Neil and Christine mentioned a mysterious event

00:13:13taking place the following Friday.

00:13:16We don't 100% know what is going to happen on Friday

00:13:19because Neil has to speak to his solicitor.

00:13:21Anyway, I don't want to go into it.

00:13:24On Friday I'll find out what it is and then that'll be an end of it.

00:13:26No.

00:13:27Well, it may be, but it may not.

00:13:28Well, no.

00:13:29I think I know what it is.

00:13:31I'll tell you.

00:13:32No, you won't.

00:13:33No, I'm not going to tell you.

00:13:34No, I'm not going to tell you.

00:13:35Sorry, when I say I'm going to tell you, I don't mean that.

00:13:37If you know what it is, or if you think you know what it is,

00:13:40then I am frankly horrified.

00:13:43If you can even countenance.

00:13:47Well, maybe I don't.

00:13:48No, I don't think you do.

00:13:49You can't know what it is because it is so...

00:13:54If you really, you know, you wouldn't be sitting here now if you knew what it was.

00:14:00Anyway, I need another glass of wine.

00:14:02Oh.

00:14:04I do, I'm afraid.

00:14:05It does sound quite serious.

00:14:06It is serious.

00:14:07You could do.

00:14:08It is.

00:14:08I mean, we're...

00:14:09You could certainly do.

00:14:10You know, we're making light of it because life has to go on,

00:14:13but it is...

00:14:16Well, it's caused a lot of heartache already, hasn't it?

00:14:25Friday arrived,

00:14:26and I was given instructions to meet Neil and Christine

00:14:29outside their solicitor's office in central London,

00:14:32where all would be revealed.

00:14:41Hello.

00:14:42Hello, Harry.

00:14:43So, can we finally put them to the mystery?

00:14:47OK.

00:14:47Right, well, you know they say that life is what happens to you

00:14:50when you're making other plans.

00:14:51Right.

00:14:51This is something that we hadn't really anticipated

00:14:53when we agreed to do this programme.

00:14:56OK.

00:14:57But this afternoon, we're going off to the Barkingside police station.

00:15:01Right.

00:15:01Well, Christine and I are going to be arrested.

00:15:03No.

00:15:05What for?

00:15:06We're going to be arrested, apparently,

00:15:08on accusations of indecent assault.

00:15:14Both of us, apparently, are going to be arrested.

00:15:17Some woman has said that we, not just Neil,

00:15:19that we indecently assaulted her.

00:15:21What does that mean, indecent assault?

00:15:23Well, we don't know.

00:15:24We don't know the details.

00:15:25Is that sexual?

00:15:28Apparently, she has alleged that...

00:15:31On the 5th of May, Christine and I were at a sex party in Ilford

00:15:38and that an indecent assault was committed.

00:15:42Well, I mean, it's absolutely preposterous,

00:15:44but we don't know any more than that.

00:15:46Michael Coleman may be able to...

00:15:48...that you attacked her together.

00:15:51We don't know the details.

00:15:52We may not find out till we get to the police station.

00:15:56Now, this is Michael Coleman.

00:15:58I'm going to say hello.

00:15:59Louis?

00:15:59Hi.

00:16:00How do you do?

00:16:01Nice to meet you, Michael.

00:16:02How about you?

00:16:02We've just explained the background.

00:16:04Do you want to step in a second?

00:16:05You've represented who else?

00:16:06Jonathan Aitken, am I right?

00:16:07I've represented Jonathan Aitken.

00:16:10Who?

00:16:11I've represented James Hewitt when we got the diner.

00:16:13You're all popular people.

00:16:15Do you specialise in...

00:16:17I...

00:16:17...in that type of client?

00:16:19I come into firefighting situations after...

00:16:22Is that what you specialise in, firefighting?

00:16:24It tends to be what I'm known for.

00:16:26What we're about to do today is go for an arranged arrest

00:16:28at Barkingside Police Station.

00:16:31The suspicion, of course, is that this is a set-up

00:16:33by either one of the newspapers

00:16:35or one of the people who are otherwise upset with the Hamiltons,

00:16:39but I'm sure we'll see that.

00:16:40But it's surf.

00:16:41I mean, OK, maybe the papers would run with it for a couple of days

00:16:45and then it would be immediately clear that it was...

00:16:47If the Hamiltons are arrested for an allegation, right,

00:16:52that will be true.

00:16:52Hamiltons arrested on sex charge.

00:16:54There's your headline.

00:16:55Then Hamilton's released on sex charge.

00:16:57Makes a small headline.

00:16:58It's an interesting story, isn't it?

00:17:00I mean, I'm interested in it immediately.

00:17:02Do you know what I mean?

00:17:03Yeah.

00:17:03I mean, in a ghoulish sense.

00:17:05Yeah.

00:17:05It's highly likely that Neil and Christine will appear

00:17:08on the front page of one of the newspapers

00:17:10in the next couple of days,

00:17:11either walking into or walking out of the police station

00:17:13with the headline allegation.

00:17:15And from their point of view, what this gives is an opportunity.

00:17:18This documentary may not be aired for some time after the news,

00:17:22but at least it gives anyone viewing it a better picture

00:17:25of what really goes on, certainly with newspapers and so on,

00:17:29in this country.

00:17:31How are we doing for time?

00:17:32I think we should probably leave about now.

00:17:33I should go in the back.

00:17:35Right.

00:17:38I could do without being marched off to police stations

00:17:41with threatens of being surged, goodness knows what.

00:17:44I mean, what a flaming cheek.

00:17:47Jumped up little Hitler's.

00:17:48Will there be any refreshments in the police station?

00:17:51Yeah, if you want it.

00:17:52They're not allowed to beat you up.

00:17:54They used to be allowed to, but not anymore.

00:17:55What, beat you up?

00:17:56Yeah, that got banned a few years ago.

00:17:58That's a point where we're at.

00:17:59That weekend, you said you came back from Greece or something.

00:18:02No, we were off to Italy on the Monday.

00:18:04Saturday the 5th of May.

00:18:05That Saturday we were in London.

00:18:07You were in London on that?

00:18:08Who were you with that day?

00:18:10We had a dinner party in the evening with four people in the flat.

00:18:14What time did they arrive?

00:18:15What time did they leave?

00:18:16They arrived about 7, I should think.

00:18:19I didn't leave till after midnight.

00:18:21We don't disclose any of that to the police

00:18:23until they say in much more precise detail what the allegation is.

00:18:27You can understand, I hope, why I tell you to speak quiet.

00:18:29Don't give the answer immediately.

00:18:31Michael, I promise you, contrary to all history and experience,

00:18:34I shall not say a word unless you instruct me to say it.

00:18:39What does that mean?

00:18:40That I shall be good.

00:18:43Does your mouth get you in trouble sometimes?

00:18:45No, it doesn't.

00:18:46No, it doesn't.

00:18:46No, no, I shall be perfectly happy to say nothing to the police.

00:18:50The police.

00:18:51As we travelled to East London,

00:18:53Michael delivered some home truths on the role of lawyers as he saw it.

00:18:57Being a lawyer is not an application of law,

00:18:59it's a manipulation of people psychologically

00:19:01in order for them to behave in a way they think they're behaving freely,

00:19:04which suits your purpose.

00:19:07So again, that's what we're doing today.

00:19:08This really hasn't got anything to do about law.

00:19:10I mean, principally what this is about is a psychology game

00:19:15where you're the victims,

00:19:18or almost you're the ball, as it were,

00:19:20and the policemen and I are the players.

00:19:23This is what I object to in lawyers,

00:19:25because our lives are interesting.

00:19:27Well, the fact that we get such pleasure in playing with them.

00:19:31It may be an intellectual game, sir.

00:19:32It is an intellectual game.

00:19:33It's not very flattering, is it?

00:19:35What did he say? Football?

00:19:36You're a ball.

00:19:37You're a ball.

00:19:38You're kicked about.

00:19:39And it doesn't matter if you're innocent or guilty.

00:19:41Well, we are.

00:19:42That is how we do.

00:19:43That is exactly.

00:19:44The newspapers don't care whether you're innocent or guilty,

00:19:46as long as it's a good story.

00:19:47Or they're interested in a shifting newspaper.

00:19:50I think it's possible.

00:19:52I hope it's more than possible.

00:19:54There won't be anybody there.

00:19:57We headed towards the police station,

00:19:59keeping a lookout for any photographers as we walked.

00:20:02The coast seemed clear.

00:20:04Michael Coleman felt that the police

00:20:06should not be aware of our filming Neil and Christine,

00:20:09so we broke away as they neared the building.

00:20:11It was about three in the afternoon at this stage,

00:20:14and we began to wait.

00:20:33About 45 minutes later,

00:20:35a few journalists and photographers started to arrive,

00:20:38and over the next four hours, more and more followed.

00:20:41Who tipped them off, we'll never know.

00:20:43For the record, it wasn't me.

00:20:45But by 8 o'clock, it was a genuine press pack

00:20:48with TV cameras with live satellite links.

00:20:51Christine was not going to be pleased.

00:21:10This afternoon, Mr and Mrs Hamilton,

00:21:13by arrangement with the police,

00:21:15police were arrested.

00:21:16This arrangement was made two weeks ago.

00:21:18An accusation has been made against them

00:21:20that they took part in a rape and indecent assault

00:21:23of a woman in Ilford on Saturday, the 5th of May.

00:21:28The details of that allegation are quite horrific,

00:21:30and I think it's appropriate

00:21:31that you know of the allegation,

00:21:33in order that if there's any one of you interested in there,

00:21:36you should detail it.

00:21:38It's said that Mr and Mrs Hamilton were in a flat in Ilford

00:21:43when a young woman was raped.

00:21:45Whilst she was raped, it's also said that Mr Hamilton

00:21:49was masturbating onto her,

00:21:51whilst another man, as yet unidentified by the police,

00:21:55was also masturbating onto her,

00:21:57and Mrs Hamilton was squatting on her face.

00:22:00One point which came out during the course of their interviews,

00:22:03which is properly appropriate for you to know,

00:22:05is that the police raised the name Max Clifford.

00:22:07No charges have been made against any person,

00:22:09and certainly no charges have been made

00:22:11against either Mr or Mrs Hamilton.

00:22:12I take it, Mr Hamilton, you deny this.

00:22:14We deny this fabrication absolutely categorically.

00:22:18Mrs Hamilton, what are your thoughts here

00:22:19on these very serious allegations?

00:22:27The whole thing is an absolute monstrous fabrication and a lie,

00:22:32and the fact that Max Clifford's name

00:22:34has been put to us by the police

00:22:35is of absolutely no surprise whatsoever.

00:22:38You can all get your phone calls.

00:22:41The whole thing is a monstrous lie and a fabrication,

00:22:45and it ought to be perfectly obvious to you that it is.

00:22:47It was much more serious than I could have possibly imagined.

00:22:51With hindsight, maybe I should have been pleased I had such a scoop,

00:22:55but nothing had prepared me for this,

00:22:57and I wasn't sure what my role would now be.

00:23:00I'm going to get my frame here.

00:23:02Louis, are you going with me?

00:23:04Yeah.

00:23:08I'm going to get there, he's going to fly from here.

00:23:17Mr Hamilton, please.

00:23:19Could I just have both of you?

00:23:21Put your bag down.

00:23:26OK.

00:23:28You've got your camera running?

00:23:29Just have a smile, please.

00:23:30Amazing, isn't it?

00:23:31I'm sorry, you're sure you don't mind me, wouldn't I?

00:23:32All right, are we ready?

00:23:33Good luck, by the way.

00:23:35Can you both do this right, please?

00:23:37OK, thanks very much.

00:23:40Hello, Mr Hamilton.

00:23:52So, what happened?

00:23:53Oh, God.

00:23:55The whole thing, it's an absolute nightmare.

00:23:59As we thought, Max Clifford.

00:24:00Why would the police ask us about Max Clifford then?

00:24:03Of course he's behind it.

00:24:04He's got what he wanted.

00:24:06Whatever happens now, if we never hear another thing about it,

00:24:08we'll be all over the front pages.

00:24:10And I had to phone my mother and tell her what was happening.

00:24:12Can you imagine?

00:24:13Granny, I'm in Barkingside Police Station.

00:24:15I've been accused of raping.

00:24:17We had a friend who went to pick her up,

00:24:20and she went round to the house to let the policemen in.

00:24:23They've been there for about two hours.

00:24:26You know, six policemen are combing our house.

00:24:29Yes, who's calling?

00:24:29Opening every drawer, every cupboard.

00:24:31They've taken away some papers.

00:24:33They're searching in all my clothes for a blue dress.

00:24:36I'm not saying any more than we said.

00:24:37For a blue dress?

00:24:38This woman said that I was wearing a blue dress,

00:24:40so they're going through all my clothes looking for a blue dress.

00:24:42I mean, it's absolutely monstrous.

00:24:44On the steps of the police station.

00:24:46Oh, dear.

00:24:46The police station made a statement outlining what the allegation was.

00:24:49I just can't believe this is happening.

00:24:50That we've, uh, denied it.

00:24:52And, well, it's, uh, an allegation of indecent assault.

00:24:56Rapes of indecent assault?

00:24:57Against, um, a woman whom we'd never heard of.

00:24:59Have you spoken to another journalist?

00:25:00I've no idea.

00:25:01But anyway, I'm not going to say any more now,

00:25:03so, um, it'll all be on the tapes,

00:25:06and, uh, I'm sure there was somebody from the Guardian there anyway.

00:25:10If that's the Guardian, they can just put it down, darling.

00:25:14Don't even talk to them.

00:25:15Yeah, I'm not...

00:25:16Sorry, I can't talk any more now with...

00:25:19Guardian?

00:25:20Don't even give them battery space.

00:25:22That's true.

00:25:23Are you talking to the Guardian, Neil?

00:25:24Well, I'm helpful by nature, aren't I?

00:25:28Michael, why did you choose to be so graphic

00:25:30about describing the, uh, alleged offence?

00:25:34We discussed that inside.

00:25:35I chose to be so graphic,

00:25:37because otherwise, bit by bit,

00:25:38the details are going to come out.

00:25:40And I think it's appropriate for us to,

00:25:42one of these situations, face it head on.

00:25:45Here are all the details.

00:25:47They're all completely untrue.

00:25:48You won't get an exclusive,

00:25:50this is a great expose, some, you know, here or there.

00:25:52Whether it's right or wrong, I suppose,

00:25:54as a time will tell.

00:25:55The only identifying characteristic

00:25:56she could come up with was a blue dress.

00:25:58Yeah, she doesn't even know

00:26:00whether I'm circumcised or not.

00:26:02Oh, for Christ's sake.

00:26:03No, no, we asked that question of the police.

00:26:05They don't know, needless to say that.

00:26:06They haven't thought to ask it.

00:26:08I asked the policeman,

00:26:09does she say circumcised or not?

00:26:11And they said, well, is he?

00:26:12And I said, no, you ask her whether he is.

00:26:17What happened?

00:26:18Did you get, did you, well,

00:26:19we quite understand, or did you start crying?

00:26:21Of course I got upset.

00:26:22I got immensely distressed.

00:26:24When the sergeant,

00:26:25do you know what he actually said

00:26:26at one stage,

00:26:27that we're going to put us in a cell,

00:26:29each lock us in a cell?

00:26:31Can you believe it?

00:26:33Just because Max Clifford

00:26:34and some tart have invented this allegation?

00:26:38Why the hell don't I?

00:26:39Of course I get upset about it.

00:26:41The whole thing is just,

00:26:42you know,

00:26:44had enough to put up with in our lives

00:26:46without all these sort of lies

00:26:47being told about it.

00:26:49So what happens next, then?

00:26:51We may just hear that the investigation

00:26:52has been dropped

00:26:53and the police are returning their property.

00:26:58But the damage has been done now.

00:27:01It's a bit...

00:27:02The damage has been done

00:27:04by virtue of the fact

00:27:05that you've got so distressed

00:27:06we're still...

00:27:06Oh, Michael, for God's sake!

00:27:08Stop being so clinical about it!

00:27:11No, it isn't quite like that.

00:27:12I mean, the fact is

00:27:13that you get in distress

00:27:14and that, by its nature,

00:27:16is harm to you

00:27:17irrespective of all else.

00:27:20What am I supposed to do?

00:27:23Take it in your stride, Michael.

00:27:24Oh, Michael, for God's sake!

00:27:26It's only a game to you

00:27:27and a job.

00:27:27It's my life!

00:27:28It's my reputation

00:27:29and I've had enough of me!

00:27:33It's just a ridiculous thing to say.

00:27:35Take it in our stride.

00:27:40I've had to take so much in our stride.

00:27:43Enough!

00:27:51My relationship with Neil and Christine

00:27:53had taken a strange turn.

00:27:55With the Hamilton brand

00:27:56now nowhere to be seen,

00:27:58I was sitting in the backseat

00:27:59of a car with them,

00:28:00wondering whether they were guilty

00:28:01of a serious sexual assault.

00:28:04It was around this time

00:28:05that I started to bite my nails again.

00:28:07There was no way of knowing

00:28:08how all this would turn out,

00:28:09but we were a long way from Posh Nosh.

00:28:17That's right.

00:28:18Yeah, you've got a real exclusive.

00:28:26I need some more wine.

00:28:29I kept asking the police for wine

00:28:32and they wouldn't give it to me.

00:28:33Back at Michael Coleman's house,

00:28:35Christine fortified herself

00:28:37with white wine.

00:28:38But it's outrageous.

00:28:40Anyway.

00:28:41They haven't found a blue dress.

00:28:43The surreal events of the day

00:28:45were almost becoming normal

00:28:46and in spite of the allegations

00:28:48against Neil and Christine,

00:28:50I decided to travel on with them.

00:28:52No, but what makes me so annoyed

00:28:54is...

00:28:55I've forgotten.

00:28:57I've forgotten.

00:28:58Christine, I think you should wait

00:28:59till you've had something to eat at least.

00:29:01Yeah, quite right.

00:29:02Honestly, I just feel as though I'm in a...

00:29:04Yeah, well, I think you've said enough.

00:29:06All right, I've said enough.

00:29:07I know, I've had three or four glasses of wine.

00:29:10You have.

00:29:10And I think we need to have something to eat.

00:29:13We do, well...

00:29:14I hesitate to say

00:29:14you need to get something inside you.

00:29:16Oh, darling.

00:29:17You've got to see.

00:29:18Well, if you broadcast that,

00:29:20I shall come round personally

00:29:21and stab you.

00:29:24As we continued on to Battersea,

00:29:26Neil and Christine revealed

00:29:27that they were thinking of selling

00:29:29exclusive rights to their story

00:29:30to the Mail on Sunday.

00:29:32Some newspapers are interested in the truth

00:29:35and they're interested in listening

00:29:36to our side of the story

00:29:37and the Mail on Sunday is one of those.

00:29:39The Mail on Sunday would be a very good newspaper

00:29:40for us to get our side of the story.

00:29:43And some newspapers...

00:29:43It's got two and a quarter million sales on Sunday.

00:29:46It's the biggest selling Sunday newspaper

00:29:49apart from tabloid crap

00:29:50like News of the Work,

00:29:52which apparently is going to do

00:29:53all the Tart story.

00:29:55Will they...

00:29:56Will they...

00:29:56You should get some...

00:29:57I mean, if nothing else,

00:29:58you should get some money out of this,

00:29:59shouldn't you?

00:30:00Oh, for...

00:30:00Don't be...

00:30:01Honestly, Lily, for God's sake...

00:30:03Are you going to pay us some money?

00:30:05Do you know, the amount...

00:30:06That's a great idea, Lily.

00:30:07The amount you're paying us per minute

00:30:09of all this business

00:30:10is an absolute nonsense.

00:30:11But there we are, never mind.

00:30:13Imagine...

00:30:13Don't you think, Neil...

00:30:14What an exclusive like this

00:30:16would be worth

00:30:17in the outside world?

00:30:18Will you stop...

00:30:19And we're giving it to you for nothing.

00:30:21Will you stop being...

00:30:25Can you imagine?

00:30:27Well, I never mind.

00:30:27It's very saleable, though.

00:30:28It's very saleable, isn't it?

00:30:29It's very saleable, but there we are.

00:30:31If we wanted to,

00:30:32I could have said,

00:30:32oh, we're far too tired

00:30:34to do any more filming with you today.

00:30:35And then we could have gone off

00:30:36and done something

00:30:39with somebody else

00:30:40and charged them a huge amount of money.

00:30:41Back at Neil and Christine's flat,

00:30:43the press were waiting.

00:30:44The policeman's got the keys, hasn't he?

00:30:46Well, I don't know.

00:30:47I thought, well, of course you know.

00:30:48That's the point.

00:30:49OK, well, I'll go and find the police.

00:30:50No, I'll go and find...

00:30:51No, I...

00:30:51You sit...

00:30:53You just sit...

00:30:54No, I...

00:30:54Sit, play...

00:30:55Look.

00:30:56I don't think you should, honestly.

00:30:57No, look.

00:30:57I don't think...

00:30:58I don't think you should...

00:30:59Stand outside the hall.

00:31:01Silly...

00:31:07I've got the keys.

00:31:07How are you doing?

00:31:09I'm there.

00:31:10Do you feel that there's a publicity stunt?

00:31:34Do you feel it?

00:31:39Do you feel it?

00:31:40Do you feel it?

00:31:44More comments.

00:31:44No, we're not.

00:31:45Come on.

00:31:46Well, how do we get out of this?

00:31:47We're stuck.

00:31:47Well, we'll get the car and get out of it and unpack it.

00:31:55I think it was a bit of a technical error for her to get pissed before she faced the

00:32:02price.

00:32:02Absolutely right.

00:32:04Well, she's not pissed, but she is tired and emotional.

00:32:09Christine, you mustn't keep talking to the press, really.

00:32:16We're going upstairs for pizza.

00:32:19How are you feeling tonight, Christine?

00:32:22How would you be feeling?

00:32:25You're feeling hungry, that's why there's lots of things in there.

00:32:30I'll tell you what I'm feeling.

00:32:31That's innocent.

00:32:32Completely innocent, as always.

00:32:45Bye.

00:32:46Good day.

00:32:46Bye.

00:32:47Good day.

00:32:51Bye.

00:32:53Just put that camera down and open the wine and do something useful.

00:32:59...against Harris' owner, Mohamed Fyad, did not.

00:33:01It left him with huge debts, and earlier this year, he was declared bankrupt.

00:33:05Tonight, the Hamiltons were released without charge.

00:33:08Their lawyers say they'll cooperate with any further police inquiries.

00:33:11Into this, their most bizarre brush with the law.

00:33:14John Ray, ITN.

00:33:16And John joins us now from outside of the Hamiltons' home in South London.

00:33:20John, I gather the Hamiltons have just arrived home?

00:33:24Yes, Julie.

00:33:25Well, within the last sort of ten minutes, they arrived back, looking very tired, as

00:33:28you can see from the pictures here.

00:33:30No sign, though, that they're at all trying to lie low with this.

00:33:34A couple have courted the media for so much of their lives in the past seven years.

00:33:39Hortage.

00:33:39In the company of a documentary TV crew tonight.

00:33:42Christine Hamilton told me when I asked her how she felt, she said,

00:33:45I feel innocent, as I always feel innocent.

00:33:48And also, Christine Hamilton, again, standing by her man, as she has throughout all their trials

00:33:53and tribulations through the past few years, they will protest their innocence long and

00:33:57hard throughout the inquiry.

00:33:59John Ray, thank you very much.

00:34:02A woman who flew abroad on holiday, leaving her four young children in the care of her 16-year-old

00:34:08sister.

00:34:08Well, there you are.

00:34:10Fame at last.

00:34:10Do you believe this?

00:34:11It's too bizarre.

00:34:13It can't be real, can it?

00:34:15Shall we turn the sound down now?

00:34:17The judge called her selfish and said she escaped jail only because the youngsters hadn't been harmed.

00:34:22Tom Bradley...

00:34:23It's hard to believe.

00:34:24I cannot believe that I've just...

00:34:25I've just come up from the garage and I turn on the television and there I am.

00:34:29I mean...

00:34:32You started running off at the mouth outside.

00:34:34Yes, because I am not prepared to be told by Michael Coleman you're not to say anything.

00:34:38I am not going to be accused of all these things and go out in front of goodness knows how

00:34:42many press people

00:34:43and say nothing.

00:34:45Okay, I won't get into the details because he doesn't want me to and I understand that and all this,

00:34:49but I am not prepared not to come out and say this is an absolute load of cobblers on stilts.

00:34:56You know, I, we are innocent.

00:34:58And for Michael to think that I'm just going to stand there on the steps quietly and say nothing

00:35:04is to underestimate or misjudge or whatever.

00:35:07And, of course, the killer point in all this is I'm going to produce medical evidence to show that I'm

00:35:13impotent.

00:35:14Oh, for good darling, will you stop quipping?

00:35:18Honestly.

00:35:18It's so hard to tell when Neil's joking, isn't it?

00:35:21Is that a joke, Neil?

00:35:22It is such a preposterous allegation.

00:35:26Yeah, but it is so unpleasant.

00:35:28Of course it doesn't.

00:35:29Of course it's unpleasant.

00:35:30It is so un... I mean, listen.

00:35:34I know I might have said this before, but I'm going...

00:35:36It's incredible.

00:35:37Shut up.

00:35:38It's unbelievable.

00:35:40I talk...

00:35:40I have had...

00:35:42Just, just think.

00:35:43I don't know whether you even have a mother, but I presume you do.

00:35:46I have had to ring my mother.

00:35:51And he accuses me.

00:35:54Hello?

00:35:55In a strange way, because the accusations are so bizarre, they may end up helping this weird brand that you've

00:36:04involved.

00:36:04Oh, Louis.

00:36:06Brand.

00:36:07You talk to us about a weird brand.

00:36:10You're the weird brand.

00:36:11Do you know what I mean, though?

00:36:12Well, you've made weirdness into an art form.

00:36:14No, because the bankruptcy and the fire thing, that's a bit sort of...

00:36:18It's old hat now.

00:36:20Even I, when we were doing this, was like, well, they are interesting.

00:36:23They've got an interesting relationship, but all the scandal's a bit passe.

00:36:27And this... this does...

00:36:29I mean, I don't think most people will believe it, but they will think, ooh, there's something a bit interesting

00:36:34about them.

00:36:34They're an intriguing couple.

00:36:36Do you think, Louis, that you have invested in... what's the word... invented all this for the purposes of your

00:36:44documentary?

00:36:44Oh, that's a point, isn't it? I never thought of that. This is the real conspiracy.

00:36:47You're just saying, basically...

00:36:48You're behind this.

00:36:49In shorthand, you were saying the Hamiltons were getting a bit boring, because all the allegations are old hat.

00:36:54And suddenly we've got this, and here you are.

00:36:58There must be lots of people...

00:36:59Do you think I've invented it? Is that what you're asking?

00:37:01No, I'm not sure.

00:37:02A case of... a mistake of case and identity.

00:37:05A mistake of case and identity.

00:37:07Ha, ha, ha, ha.

00:37:08Actually, Louis did it.

00:37:10Neil did it.

00:37:11Isn't that a quick one?

00:37:13That's an amazing, extraordinary thing.

00:37:16I rang at my bank...

00:37:18Not again.

00:37:18No.

00:37:19I rang at my bank the other day.

00:37:20And I said...

00:37:21Michael's pretty solid up there.

00:37:22He's pretty solid.

00:37:23Well, if he thinks...

00:37:23Well, I'm sorry, but I've really had enough of this.

00:37:26I am an upfront, open, honest person.

00:37:28And I am fed up of being...

00:37:31Turn that Willy thing off.

00:37:42We didn't film Neil and Christine on the Saturday, since the day was taken up doing their interview for the

00:37:46Mail on Sunday.

00:37:47And I've been grateful for a day of peace and reflection.

00:37:50Having read all the papers that weekend, I found it hard to believe any of the allegations.

00:37:55On Sunday, I returned.

00:37:57With the press still camped on their doorstep, Neil and Christine were planning to travel up to their house in

00:38:02Cheshire that afternoon.

00:38:03You've just left a message on the afternoon.

00:38:05I'm not... I'm afraid that...

00:38:07Well, I'm not ringing with anything very exciting.

00:38:08I'm really willing to say that we're not making any individual comments.

00:38:11I've got Anne on the phone.

00:38:12She's gone to get Robert, so why don't you pick it up in the other room and sort it out.

00:38:15Turn the bar off first.

00:38:18I saw there was a story in the Mail that you'd co-operated with and a photo in the Mail

00:38:24as well.

00:38:25Of you and Neil sitting on your bed.

00:38:28Can I ask whether they paid for that?

00:38:31You can ask.

00:38:32And did they?

00:38:33Mind your own business.

00:38:37How much?

00:38:38Mind your own business.

00:38:39Ten thousand.

00:38:40Mind your own business.

00:38:43Why are you so obsessed with money, Lily?

00:38:45I'm just curious.

00:38:46I'm just curious how the mechanics work.

00:38:48I don't think it...

00:38:49I mean, crikey, might as well make a few shillings out of it.

00:38:53Hey.

00:38:54Don't you think?

00:38:55I'm not correct.

00:38:58This is me, Christina.

00:38:59I'm not a journalist.

00:39:00I'm a friend.

00:39:03Clifford's also been giving interviews where he's sort of said,

00:39:05Oh, the Hamiltons.

00:39:06Did you read this?

00:39:07They're like a pantomime couple.

00:39:08Did you read that one?

00:39:09Um, he said, you're like Widow Twanky and Neil's like Buttons.

00:39:13As if to say, well, even if it turns out to be bogus, who cares?

00:39:17It's only the Hamiltons.

00:39:18Well, that's his view, isn't it?

00:39:20Well, I thought that was quite shocking.

00:39:22Who cares what Max Clifford says?

00:39:24Hello?

00:39:25Oh, Max.

00:39:25Hello.

00:39:27Hello, Ed.

00:39:28No, I'm joking.

00:39:29Look at this dodgy character.

00:39:31I knew he was involved.

00:39:32I must say, I've roared with glasses.

00:39:33How did he get involved?

00:39:34Yeah, my glasses are gone.

00:39:35Seriously, I mean...

00:39:36Where did they get that picture from?

00:39:38Don't drag me into this, please.

00:39:40You're in it.

00:39:41Don't be silly.

00:39:42I'm clean.

00:39:43Don't be silly.

00:39:44I went to one swingers party.

00:39:46And you mentioned me during the police...

00:39:48Don't drag me into it.

00:39:49You mentioned me in the police interview as well.

00:39:52You're here.

00:39:52Saying I showed you what swingers were.

00:39:53Hello.

00:39:54You did.

00:39:54Hello.

00:39:55Yes.

00:39:56Neil and Christine were front page news,

00:39:59but some papers were more sympathetic than others.

00:40:01Neil mentioned he was considering suing some of them for libel.

00:40:05Despite that, they both prepared themselves to make another statement to the press.

00:40:10Is he dressed properly for this occasion?

00:40:12Or do you think he should look...

00:40:13I think he should look a little bit...

00:40:14Do I look...

00:40:15It's a very...

00:40:16It's just a...

00:40:17Put a better shirt.

00:40:18Do I look too much like a wacky TV presenter?

00:40:20Well, I would just like you.

00:40:22Don, these photographs are going to be all over the place.

00:40:24I would like to be proud of them.

00:40:25Do you think...

00:40:26One thing is...

00:40:26Christine wants to be proud of them.

00:40:27If you bring libel actions, as you say you might,

00:40:30it could end up actually making you a bit of money, couldn't it?

00:40:33Listen, let's just get through today.

00:40:36Thank you very much, Louis, but I'd rather not have had all the...

00:40:39Anybody who goes into libel cases...

00:40:41Thinking they're going to make money.

00:40:42Thinking they're going to make money out of them.

00:40:43Obviously, it doesn't know much about the English law of libel.

00:40:46Really?

00:40:48Because...

00:40:48We'll just say no.

00:40:49We don't have to do a big explanation.

00:40:50But, erm, we're...

00:40:53And anyway, libel awards are all about compensation for damage.

00:40:57Actually done.

00:40:58Should we be doing this in front of the camera?

00:41:01We've done it.

00:41:04Oh, for God's sake.

00:41:06Could you make some money out of it?

00:41:08I've no idea.

00:41:09Probably not at the end of the day.

00:41:10Possibly.

00:41:11Nothing...

00:41:11I said probably not.

00:41:12I went into my...

00:41:13Why is that something to...

00:41:14That's not something to worry too much about, I don't think.

00:41:16Well, it depends how it's presented.

00:41:18Because if it's presented as some greed and lust for money and so on...

00:41:22No-one's going to suggest that you...

00:41:23So nobody...

00:41:24Trumped up a rape charge against you so that you could make money in an ensuing libel action.

00:41:29I'm just saying, in one of life's ironies, the whole thing may work out to your financial advantage.

00:41:35It may be a blessing in disguise, you say.

00:41:37No, I wouldn't go that far.

00:41:38Do you see what I'm saying?

00:41:39Hmm.

00:41:40But, er...

00:41:41Which seems to me an obvious point.

00:41:42And not controversial.

00:41:44No.

00:41:45Not at all.

00:41:47I wouldn't tuck your...

00:41:48I would pull that out a little bit.

00:41:50Thank you, darling.

00:41:51Don't you think?

00:41:52Just a bit, yes.

00:41:53He sort of tuckers himself up so much.

00:41:55You don't want...

00:41:55You just want to look a bit more unlapped.

00:41:57No, no, wait a moment.

00:41:57No, not too much.

00:41:58Not too...

00:41:59And pull them down a teeny bit.

00:42:01Just so they're a bit more...

00:42:02Under here.

00:42:05I wouldn't have put the jeans on.

00:42:06They'd look better with a belt.

00:42:07Yes, it would.

00:42:08Shall I go back and get a belt?

00:42:10Come on, let's just...

00:42:11Well, they're not going to be interested in my name, are they?

00:42:13No, they're not.

00:42:14Aren't they?

00:42:19Oh, dear.

00:42:20Something like, erm...

00:42:22What did you just say?

00:42:23Would you like to come upstairs for a quick orgy?

00:42:26Look, Louie.

00:42:28Because...

00:42:28Stop it!

00:42:29Stop it!

00:42:30Stop it!

00:42:31Because this is what Louie is really interested in.

00:42:34Shh!

00:42:34We're so disgusted by here.

00:42:35No, darling, will you stop it?

00:42:37Or I won't come out.

00:42:39Look at that, there's messes on me.

00:42:40Is it?

00:42:41Oh, my God.

00:42:42Oh, my God.

00:42:51The person who's made these false allegations shelters behind anonymity, whereas we, the victims,

00:43:00have our names and faces plastered all over the newspapers, all over this country, with

00:43:07the most grotesque and disgusting allegations made about things that we are supposed to have

00:43:13done.

00:43:13I don't want to be in there.

00:43:14I thought we were going in.

00:43:16I don't want to be in there.

00:43:17We're taking going to Cheshire for the weekend.

00:43:30Former Conservative Minister Neil Hamilton has said publicly that sex allegations against

00:43:34him and his wife, Christine, are a complete tissue of lies.

00:43:48We're going to stop and say hello to the one the way down.

00:43:50There's this guy.

00:43:52We're going to have to stop to say it.

00:43:54It's me.

00:43:55No, I don't think it's better.

00:43:57All right.

00:43:57It must be.

00:43:58Good evening.

00:43:59Good evening.

00:44:00How are you?

00:44:01All right.

00:44:02Just come down.

00:44:05Watch your toes.

00:44:08Hello.

00:44:09Hello.

00:44:12These are your filmers.

00:44:14Can we do a little kiss?

00:44:15I'm going to check it out.

00:44:16Yeah, it's all right.

00:44:18Bye.

00:44:26Outside, some of the press were camped at the end of the drive all night.

00:44:30Inside, after supper, I speculated how this whole story might have come about.

00:44:34For some reason, you have a hold over the public imagination and there's a sexual dimension

00:44:39to it.

00:44:39Is there?

00:44:40Whether you like it or not, whether you agree or disagree.

00:44:42Why do you think that?

00:44:43Why is it the case or why do I think it?

00:44:46Well, did you think that?

00:44:46I mean, I think so.

00:44:48When I mention the Hamiltons, people go, oh, yes.

00:44:51Oh, you know, there's something funny about that couple.

00:44:54No, they don't.

00:44:54They do.

00:44:55Do they?

00:44:55I simply don't believe you.

00:44:56Funny in what way?

00:44:57Tell me anybody who's said that and give me the time.

00:44:59What are their names?

00:45:00Nobody's said that to you.

00:45:01You're inventing that.

00:45:02I absolutely insist.

00:45:04Well, you can insist as much as you like.

00:45:05I do not believe you.

00:45:06And I certainly don't believe you that anything is said to you of that nature before Friday.

00:45:11People might be saying that now.

00:45:12No, I swear.

00:45:13And to a degree, I've thought it myself.

00:45:15Oh, right.

00:45:15I thought they're intriguing, you know.

00:45:17I think a lot of what's going on at the moment hinges on this.

00:45:20Oh.

00:45:20This perception.

00:45:21I think there's a desire, a belief in the public that there's a sort of, there's a secret,

00:45:26maybe a...

00:45:27I can't believe all that.

00:45:28No, seriously.

00:45:29There's a secret at the heart of your relationship that no one knows.

00:45:33Called love.

00:45:34Oh, wink it.

00:45:35Omnia.

00:45:35Do you not know what I'm talking about?

00:45:36I think you play with that perception a little bit.

00:45:40Do you really?

00:45:41You honestly...

00:45:42Hang on.

00:45:42Let me get my glass for that.

00:45:43Yeah, have another drink.

00:45:44I'm going to sit down.

00:45:45I can't...

00:45:45Really?

00:45:46You don't know.

00:45:46That's not what we're talking about, really.

00:45:48Really?

00:45:48But I've never had this put to me before that people actually think that there's some sort

00:45:52of hidden something.

00:45:53But therefore people might think in the light of the last 48 hours, oh, yes, of course.

00:45:57Well, we...

00:45:58Now we know.

00:45:58Now it's explained.

00:46:00We live in...

00:46:00The people that it plays into a perception that, oh, yeah, I always thought there was

00:46:04something funny about them.

00:46:05I think that's horrible.

00:46:06Do you really think people think that?

00:46:08Well, they may well do.

00:46:09Yeah, do.

00:46:10Up to a point, I think they do, yeah.

00:46:12But have people said this to you?

00:46:13I mean, to most people, we're celluloid characters, aren't we?

00:46:16Yes, we're not real.

00:46:17We're just like a soap opera.

00:46:19We are a perfectly ordinary, normal couple.

00:46:21We're just happily married.

00:46:22Well, can I also...

00:46:23Can I ask a...

00:46:23Can I ask a sensitive question bearing on that?

00:46:26Yes.

00:46:28I mean, are you sexually pretty normal?

00:46:31Yes, completely 100% normal.

00:46:34We're just a perfectly normal...

00:46:36Yes.

00:46:39Absolutely normal.

00:46:40We have no deviations, absolutely nothing.

00:46:43We're just very happily...

00:46:45Very happy with each other.

00:46:46Too boring, have you guys.

00:46:48We have no...

00:46:49No problems.

00:46:50We've never had any problems.

00:46:51We've had a...

00:46:52You know, we've had a great life.

00:46:53Thank you very much.

00:46:54And we're in here.

00:46:57So if you get desperate in the night, this is where we are.

00:47:01This is where we probably will.

00:47:03Yeah.

00:47:04Alright.

00:47:08Who's this picture of?

00:47:10That's Edward.

00:47:10That's our nephew.

00:47:12Okay.

00:47:14Alright, that's beautiful.

00:47:15So now you know.

00:47:15Would you like a sleeping tablet?

00:47:17No, I'm alright.

00:47:19Thank you, though.

00:47:19Come from round the corner.

00:47:19This is the Margaret Helgert Thatcher Memorial Suite.

00:47:21The loo's there.

00:47:23And this is your loo.

00:47:25Louie.

00:47:28Wow, look at this.

00:47:29This is excellent.

00:47:30Upon which the Thatcher in your bottom repose.

00:47:32Neil, stop it.

00:47:35Is it true that Margaret Thatcher...

00:47:36Did Margaret Thatcher really stay here once?

00:47:39I'm backing out of it.

00:47:41Neil?

00:47:42Well, she came for tea.

00:47:44And she went to loo.

00:47:45And she occupied this suite.

00:47:47So, but just to clarify, Margaret Thatcher did go to the loo in there.

00:47:51Stop it.

00:47:52Stop it.

00:47:53Neil?

00:47:54That's really very vulgar.

00:47:56And like the Queen, she doesn't have to.

00:47:58Oh, for goodness sake.

00:47:59Come along.

00:48:02Do you know where we are if you need anything?

00:48:06Within reason.

00:48:21Monday morning.

00:48:23And as I slept, Neil was up early, searching for evidence to back up their alibi for the 5th of

00:48:27May.

00:48:29Very good.

00:48:30I found that Christine was in the King's Road in Chelsea on the day in question at 3 o'clock

00:48:36in Marks & Spencer's.

00:48:37So now we'll get the CCTV footage of her going into the store.

00:48:42Bye.

00:48:43John Pearson.

00:48:45Now, I found some bills.

00:48:46You were at Marks & Spencer's at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

00:48:48That's exactly what I said to her.

00:48:51That's exactly what I said to the policeman.

00:48:53I said...

00:48:54Snap, snappy, snaps before.

00:48:56Hello.

00:48:59Hello.

00:49:03Andy, it's Neil.

00:49:04Hello.

00:49:05We'll do a photo call at quarter past twelve.

00:49:08And it should be quite a good photograph.

00:49:10I'll organise something which is very photographable for you.

00:49:15I said we'll do a photo call with a banner for the website.

00:49:18It was still early in the morning, but I could see Neil had big plans for today's press conference.

00:49:24He'd told me about his own website before, all about the cash for questions affair,

00:49:28and seemed convinced that holding a big banner advertising it was a good idea.

00:49:34I'm not in favour of the banner.

00:49:35No, I think you've got to be careful, haven't you, because...

00:49:39We have to play it carefully.

00:49:41I'll just make an absolute...

00:49:41This isn't the first time that false allegations have been made against us.

00:49:45And read about the others on this website.

00:49:50Well, I...

00:49:51I don't think that's a good idea.

00:49:52I'm not getting involved.

00:49:54I mean, I should do as I'm told.

00:49:58You're going to go ahead?

00:49:59I don't think that's a good idea, Neil.

00:50:00I think you should make a separation between this and your other woes.

00:50:05No, I want to bring them together.

00:50:07Why?

00:50:08Because we need to get people reading the website.

00:50:14Well, we need to get people thinking along the lines,

00:50:16look, if this has all been said and it's all a load of rubbish,

00:50:20what about the other things?

00:50:23The banner arrived, brought over by Jonathan,

00:50:26a local journalist and supporter of the Hamiltons.

00:50:28Neil had told me that Jonathan had devoted the last four and a half years of his life

00:50:33trying to clear Neil's name.

00:50:34We're making a documentary about Neil and Christine.

00:50:37Yes.

00:50:38Yes, well...

00:50:39You're the investigator and the local journalist who basically published a book.

00:50:43Got to the truth of it, yeah.

00:50:44Got to the truth.

00:50:45The truth that the press wants to see buried.

00:50:48That's right.

00:50:49But they're not going to succeed.

00:50:51They're not going to succeed.

00:50:52It will come out.

00:50:53It will come out, though.

00:50:54Yeah.

00:50:55Yeah.

00:50:55Oh, these things always do.

00:50:58Are you on your own?

00:51:00I thought David and Jane were coming.

00:51:02Um, David's coming.

00:51:03Right, jolly good.

00:51:04Excellent.

00:51:04We're going to do it at half past 12.

00:51:06Right.

00:51:06Not 12.15.

00:51:07Okay.

00:51:08So, um, and Skye are going to broadcast it live.

00:51:13Are they?

00:51:13Yeah.

00:51:14Brilliant.

00:51:15Shall we look at the banner?

00:51:17This, this, I mean, I don't know if this is going to be broadcast,

00:51:19but this could have been the best thing that could have happened to Neil and Christine.

00:51:23Because if it allows, um, the story of what happened to Neil,

00:51:29uh, over the cast of questions of her, to be revisited.

00:51:32Mm.

00:51:32And if it attracts, uh, interest in my website,

00:51:36and the evidence that myself and Malcolm Keith Hill uncovered,

00:51:39then this man will be back in society and back where he belongs in Parliament.

00:51:45This is a, it, what's happened to Neil since the 20th of October, 1994,

00:51:50is a disgrace to this nation and to the press.

00:51:54So print that.

00:51:57Would you like to, where are you going to print that?

00:51:59Would you like that to be, would you, would you like to be back in Parliament, Neil?

00:52:02Uh, well, it would, uh, in some ways, yes.

00:52:06Yeah, I just need a quick word with, with Neil about how we're going to do the banner,

00:52:10because the press aren't going to want to do a long shot of you and the banner.

00:52:14That's their last shot.

00:52:15We're going to, we're going to stand at the top of the drive.

00:52:18They're going to want to do close-ups.

00:52:20They'll use every trick in the book to cajole you to get together,

00:52:23so they can do a close head shot.

00:52:25Now, I've asked David to come over here and marshal you to prevent that from happening.

00:52:28I see.

00:52:29Really, to prevent it from happening,

00:52:30because the press have manipulated you all the way along the line.

00:52:34I want you to be kept separate, at least 15 foot apart,

00:52:37so they can't have that shot.

00:52:39And in between the two of you is the banner with the website address on.

00:52:42OK.

00:52:43So, David's going to come over and make sure.

00:52:46How many are there at the top of the drive?

00:52:48Oh.

00:52:49Twenty?

00:52:50Thirty?

00:52:50Um, David, David's here.

00:52:54Who's David?

00:52:55Um, he is somebody who read my book and became a supporter as a consequence nowadays.

00:53:02I think that Neil and Christine need to be very careful about how they link this ongoing thing

00:53:07with the, um, the whole Sleaze affair, because it looks opportunistic.

00:53:12Why not be opportunistic?

00:53:14I mean, the press at the moment is hoping that this story's going to go away.

00:53:18This is an opportunity to bring it back.

00:53:21And, um, if they are being opportunistic, and it brings to people's attention what happened

00:53:26to them last time round, then I think it's great.

00:53:29I haven't.

00:53:30I haven't.

00:53:30I've got to fly.

00:53:31Where are you off to?

00:53:34Well, um, I've, I've got a job at the airport now, as a, as a, as a motor driver, and

00:53:40I

00:53:41need a medical, so I've got to go.

00:53:42You're not working as a journalist anymore?

00:53:44Can't.

00:53:45Why?

00:53:46Well, you give me a job as a journalist, I'll come and work for you as a journalist.

00:53:50You'll find me.

00:53:52OK.

00:53:53Can't get a job.

00:53:55Nobody wants somebody like me to stick his neck out and go against the tide.

00:53:59They want people who are just going to go with the flow.

00:54:01Can't get a job.

00:54:04All right.

00:54:06So I'm driving a truck now.

00:54:07And I need a medical, so I've got to go.

00:54:09All right.

00:54:09OK.

00:54:10See you later.

00:54:11I don't want to go out holding it back.

00:54:14I think it would be nice to have, you know, Neil Hamilton.

00:54:16Yes, no, I, I just don't personally.

00:54:19No, of course not.

00:54:19No, no, no, no.

00:54:20It just doesn't feel right.

00:54:21No, no, no.

00:54:22Don't worry.

00:54:23It just doesn't feel right.

00:54:24Don't worry.

00:54:25I'll see.

00:54:26I've been one of my hyper-whot-not stories, as always.

00:54:28I actually don't know how to fix these things out.

00:54:30Well, I don't know how to fix these things out.

00:54:30Where is Jonathan now?

00:54:32He's gone.

00:54:33Well, that's idiotic.

00:54:35Why is he gone?

00:54:36Why are you either?

00:54:37He's got to get a medical.

00:54:38He's got to get a medical.

00:54:39He's got to go.

00:54:41Um, is the plan still to go out there?

00:54:43It's Lee from Skye.

00:54:44Yes, I'm sorry.

00:54:45Just any minute, literally.

00:54:46Literally any minute.

00:54:47Can you hear that?

00:54:49OK.

00:54:50All right.

00:54:50See you later.

00:54:51Bye.

00:54:59Who, me?

00:55:01Well, I've already known he's off the phone now.

00:55:03Hang on.

00:55:04We're five minutes late now.

00:55:06That banner is now lying on the ground outside.

00:55:09Honestly, darling, we didn't.

00:55:16Where is it now?

00:55:17It's on the floor, outside the front door.

00:55:19Well, I...

00:55:20I...

00:55:21I...

00:55:21I told you so.

00:55:22I mean...

00:55:23Well, how was I to know that he was going to run off?

00:55:25I don't know.

00:55:27Because he's...

00:55:28Is he?

00:55:31We won't do it today.

00:55:32No, we won't.

00:55:33But now, look.

00:55:33I mean, what are they doing?

00:55:34They're filming it, presumably.

00:55:35I don't know.

00:55:35Will somebody go and just...

00:55:39Yeah, I can't be.

00:55:41As Neil was dispatched to rescue the banner,

00:55:43now stranded on the drive, a local radio station arrived

00:55:47bearing a goodie bag full of complimentary T-shirts.

00:55:50Well, let's get...

00:55:51Let's get organised up here, shall we?

00:55:52Is it better than the last one or not?

00:55:54Yeah.

00:55:55We think so, Christine.

00:55:56Right, sir.

00:55:57Dave, so where have we gone?

00:55:58Are you going to put yours on?

00:56:01Sorry to disturb you guys.

00:56:18I came down to help.

00:56:20That's all.

00:56:20The sky are waiting.

00:56:25And so we went to face the waiting cameras,

00:56:28Neil, Christine and I, and no banner.

00:56:31We're going straight to Cheshire to hear from Neil and Christine Hamilton.

00:56:35They've just come out of their house to speak to the media.

00:56:37Well, we're just getting pictures now.

00:56:40This is the first time that they have been seen today.

00:56:45We've been waiting to hear from them all morning.

00:56:47We knew that they were inside that house and they clearly want to talk to the media.

00:56:51They haven't shied away from speaking to journalists since the allegations broke

00:56:56that Scotland Yard arrested them over sex allegations.

00:57:00Well, let's hear what they have to say.

00:57:02You'll all get your photographs, so don't worry.

00:57:05You know that now.

00:57:07Yeah.

00:57:09I've spent the morning assembling documentary evidence categorically to disprove these allegations.

00:57:17I'm not yet in a position to publish it, but I shall do in due course.

00:57:23With a little coaching from the press pack, Neil and Christine dutifully acted out today's photo.

00:57:29Heads up.

00:57:30Heads up.

00:57:31Heads up.

00:57:31This way.

00:57:32This way.

00:57:32Come on.

00:57:33Heads up.

00:57:38See, I think that was good.

00:57:40You don't want to look much better with that silly band.

00:57:42Put your hand round the diamond.

00:57:43I agree.

00:57:45You should listen to me more often.

00:57:47No, listen.

00:57:47Hang on.

00:57:48You should be able to give advice.

00:57:54Hide the military symbol.

00:58:18I can report it without fear of harassment by the tabloid press.

00:58:24I can report it without fear of harassment by the tabloid press.

00:58:25The Hamiltons went public when they learnt their accuser had approached the publicist,

00:58:29Max Clifford.

00:58:30The fact is, the law gave them little choice.

00:58:33Mick Higham, BBC News.

00:58:34I don't want you in the media.

00:58:36Well, Mum, we can't afraid.

00:58:38It's too late for now.

00:58:39However much they pay you, I don't care.

00:58:41I don't like it.

00:58:43Well, what do we do now?

00:58:44Plus, it's your job now to appear on television.

00:58:46Oh, no, that's not true.

00:58:47Why not?

00:58:48I mean, yes, they hope to make money out of the media, but not in this sleazy manner.

00:58:53I don't know.

00:58:54It's happened.

00:58:56It's no good wishing back when it's happened.

00:58:58You are being criticised, both of you.

00:59:01I know.

00:59:01For seeking publicity.

00:59:03I know.

00:59:04All this is going on camera.

00:59:06Yes, but this is...

00:59:06How can you deny that you don't?

00:59:08No, we do seek publicity.

00:59:10We are seeking publicity now, because we want to put our side of the story.

00:59:13We do seek publicity.

00:59:14And for a beneficial purpose.

00:59:17Because we've been filming all this as it has been happening.

00:59:19That's a highly legal sort of statement, Neil.

00:59:22For a beneficial purpose.

00:59:24Only the lawyers understand the beneficial.

00:59:27I'm not using the word beneficial in a legal sense.

00:59:31It sounds highly legal to me.

00:59:32I don't talk in terms of beneficial.

00:59:34No, let me talk in normal terms, because we understand each other, don't we?

00:59:37I know he does tend to talk illegal.

00:59:39We were already agreed to do this with Louis.

00:59:43And as you know...

00:59:43Yes, but you didn't know what was going to happen.

00:59:45No, but just listen, please.

00:59:46You should have given Louis his marching orders.

00:59:49Well, no, I wouldn't see...

00:59:50I agree with Granny up to a point.

00:59:53I think it's good that we're still doing the documentary.

00:59:55It's good for you.

00:59:56It's good for me.

00:59:57Well, it's not good for them.

00:59:59Well, no, the point I was going to make is that...

01:00:01I think it...

01:00:02I don't...

01:00:02This isn't going up for several months, so this in no way affects what's going on at the moment.

01:00:07Well, then he'd literally drag the whole thing out of the mire again.

01:00:09I assume that's...

01:00:09Well, it is the last straw, isn't it?

01:00:11To have it all going on tape and...

01:00:13No, not at all.

01:00:14...screen.

01:00:14Well, it is for me, Neil.

01:00:15I'm sorry, Neil.

01:00:16I'm brought up in a different era from you.

01:00:18It's very...

01:00:19It's very important.

01:00:20Because we...

01:00:20These things never happen.

01:00:21There wasn't any television.

01:00:23We got the first radio with the crystals.

01:00:26In my youth, the idea that everything you do is going on screen and on tape and on God knows

01:00:34what.

01:00:36But it's very useful to have a contemporary...

01:00:38It may be useful to you, but it is not useful to me.

01:00:41All I'm saying is how you can appear.

01:00:43I know.

01:00:43Not necessarily do appear.

01:00:44No, I know.

01:00:45Not to anybody who knows you or knows us.

01:00:48No, I know.

01:00:48I know.

01:00:49But to this ghastly media circus.

01:00:52Easy.

01:00:53Well, I know that.

01:00:53Sorry, Terry.

01:00:55I'm not going easy for you.

01:00:57But it's a little bit hurtful, isn't it?

01:01:01Come on, Louis.

01:01:03The media isn't capable of being hurt.

01:01:06No, Louis.

01:01:07Look at him.

01:01:08He's part of the media, too.

01:01:09He sits there trying to look innocent.

01:01:13Doesn't succeed, though, does he?

01:01:14He doesn't succeed as far as I'm concerned.

01:01:16No, he's all right.

01:01:17Will's all right.

01:01:18I promise you.

01:01:19Blame me.

01:01:19No.

01:01:21I don't believe a word you say.

01:01:27That evening, and as Christine prepared supper, Neil and I talked about the house, on the

01:01:32market to help pay off his bankruptcy.

01:01:34You've been bankrupt for how long?

01:01:36Since the 22nd of May.

01:01:38This year?

01:01:392001.

01:01:402001.

01:01:41And so about, what is that, three months?

01:01:45Yeah.

01:01:45How long do you have, you get to sell your own house?

01:01:50Do you?

01:01:51You get to sell it?

01:01:52Well, we have to sell, because we need to pay my lawyers.

01:01:55They don't take it away and sell it.

01:01:56They don't boot you out and sell it on your bar.

01:01:58Oh, well, they could do, but we put it on the market anyway, in anticipation.

01:02:02I owe my own lawyers most of my share of the house.

01:02:06So that's before the likes of Mr. Fayed can get a look in.

01:02:11It's a nice house, though.

01:02:12How long have you been here?

01:02:13Since 1990.

01:02:16What?

01:02:17Well, I just, I'm perfectly calm and relaxed about it, but I just want to know what this

01:02:20means.

01:02:21Mr. Hague says, please note, I will need full details of all joint earnings.

01:02:26Why should he know what I'm earning?

01:02:28Who is Mr. Hague?

01:02:29He's the trustee in bankruptcy who's been appointed for Vindictive Mr. Fayed, and he's

01:02:34Neil's trustee.

01:02:34He's okay, I accept, have to accept, that he's entitled to know what Neil is earning, but

01:02:39I don't see why he should be entitled to know what I'm earning.

01:02:42I'm not bankrupt.

01:02:43I'm not answering in any way for all of this, and I don't see why I should tell that jumped

01:02:47up little man what I'm earning.

01:02:49But I suppose I've got to, just like when the police says go and stand in the corner,

01:02:53I have to go and stand in the corner.

01:02:54What sort of country are we living in?

01:02:57Right, I'll get on with supper, sorry.

01:03:02It was my last night in Cheshire, and after the stress of the past couple of days, and

01:03:07somewhat under the influence, I possibly over-relaxed.

01:03:11If you can't joke about it, I know this sounds awful, because it's so serious and so horrible,

01:03:15and you know how awful it's been, but if you can't joke about it, and if you can't laugh

01:03:19about it, we just wouldn't have got through, I mean, we wouldn't have got through the last,

01:03:25I mean, we haven't had seven years.

01:03:27But you and Neil are getting, I mean, am I wrong?

01:03:30I sense you're getting on quite well.

01:03:33Mmm.

01:03:34He likes you.

01:03:35Do you think he does?

01:03:36I know he does.

01:03:37How do you know?

01:03:38Because he tells me things.

01:03:41It's called pillow talk.

01:03:44And, um, I mean, I do like you.

01:03:47I mean, I'm not, I don't put my arm around everybody.

01:03:51No.

01:03:52You like to flirt, don't you?

01:03:54Of course I like to flirt.

01:03:55What's wrong with that?

01:03:56I've told you once before, if not twice, but I'll tell you again.

01:04:00One of the most wonderful things about being happily married, apart from all the obvious

01:04:04things, is that you can flirt outrageously and nobody takes you seriously.

01:04:09What was it that first attracted you to Neil?

01:04:18Um, oh, he was a romantic and he was, um, he was an individual and he's just the most

01:04:24sort of tender, loving, caring.

01:04:26Oh, my God, he's coming back up, he'll give bananas if he hears me talking.

01:04:29He'll probably give bananas if he sees us.

01:04:32Darling, we're having a little...

01:04:33Oh, dear, we've been caught out.

01:04:36You see, Neil knows my penchant for attracting.

01:04:39Would you like some coffee?

01:04:40Louie's got to present, present an objective documentary.

01:04:47But the problem is now that you've actually realised that we're actually kind of ordinary

01:04:51human beings.

01:04:52And I don't think you thought that we were.

01:04:54We're all ordinary beings.

01:04:55And I seriously don't think that you thought...

01:04:58Can I ask you one thing, Christine?

01:04:59You can ask me anything you like.

01:05:01Whether I answer or not is a matter for me.

01:05:03Does that look like an ordinary human being over there?

01:05:06That's my husband.

01:05:07Of course he's not ordinary.

01:05:08He's extraordinary.

01:05:09You would have to be extraordinary to be married to me because I'm pretty grim to live with on a

01:05:1424-hour basis.

01:05:17You may say that. I couldn't possibly comment.

01:05:20You see, Neil's quite relaxed. Here I am sitting here...

01:05:23He doesn't mind.

01:05:24But this is how your problems start in a way though.

01:05:27That's why it was a big story when you kissed that student because...

01:05:31Why shouldn't I sit here holding your knee?

01:05:33I mean, it doesn't mean a damn thing.

01:05:35It means nothing to you. It means nothing to me. And so what? It's just...

01:05:39It's a bit of fun, isn't it?

01:05:41It's not fun.

01:05:41We're not at a swingers party.

01:05:43No, it's nothing. It's not even fun.

01:05:46It's just...

01:05:47It's just friendship.

01:05:48It's just one human being reacting to another in a perfectly...

01:05:52There's no sex involved. It's just...

01:05:54Too late for that.

01:05:55I just kind of...

01:05:56It's nearly midnight.

01:05:57Kind of like you. It's awful, isn't it?

01:05:59What's wrong with that? I'm old enough to be your mother. There's nothing wrong with that.

01:06:02But all the whole blooming thing gets misinterpreted.

01:06:05I turned in around midnight, a little bleary and unsure whether Christine was being genuinely affectionate

01:06:11or playing some strange kind of game.

01:06:17It was another two hours before Neil and Christine came upstairs.

01:06:21Christine looked in on me as I slept.

01:06:26He's absolutely flattered.

01:06:44We're on the attack now.

01:06:46Tuesday morning.

01:06:47And the plan was for me to leave Neil and Christine for a few days that afternoon.

01:06:51Hi.

01:06:54Good morning.

01:06:55Good morning, darling. There are your boots.

01:06:56I brought you a cup of tea.

01:06:58Thanks very much.

01:06:59What are you doing?

01:07:00Can I have a little...

01:07:05I was now four days into the story and I'd been absorbed into the Hamilton household.

01:07:10I feared I was losing my bearings as a journalist.

01:07:13I felt more like a visiting son of Neil and Christine, Louis Hamilton.

01:07:19Today's guide to the Hamilton circus. Pages four, five...

01:07:23By now, a lot of the papers were focusing on the relationship between the Hamiltons and the media.

01:07:28It seemed clear to all that they were innocent of the charges of sexual assault, but guilty of milking the

01:07:33press.

01:07:34The astonishing double axe summoned news teams to their country home.

01:07:39But Neil and Christine were committed to another photo call that morning, and the press were waiting outside.

01:07:44We're being accused of, you know, posing and organising the media and everything, which is, you know...

01:07:49So I don't think we want any sort of posed photograph.

01:07:52It's just not... it's not fair on us.

01:07:55Does that... I mean, shall I take the flowers, or do you think that's too posed?

01:08:01I just... I must want...

01:08:03Well, I don't think you should just go out there and stand around with flowers for the sake of it.

01:08:06No, they have asked us to go out because they want it, so all we're doing is cooperating with the

01:08:11press.

01:08:13I think you should just go out and say, I've got the receipts, and waive the receipts. And end it.

01:08:19Yeah, we're not going to do anything very much. They're there. There's nothing we can do about it.

01:08:25We're taking pity on them, so they get their picture.

01:08:28I am getting tired.

01:08:31I've had enough.

01:08:32I don't want to look posed. It's not posed.

01:08:34We're going out just to satisfy the clear demand.

01:08:39We haven't summoned them here. We haven't asked for it.

01:08:42But they're there. I'm having a dip.

01:08:45I can see that.

01:08:52Oh, dear.

01:08:52Well, come on, you're getting harassed.

01:08:54Well, I know I'm getting harassed because I'm...

01:08:57Oh, dear.

01:08:58I don't know what to do.

01:09:00What's going to do, sir?

01:09:01What?

01:09:02What's going to do, sir?

01:09:03Let's just go out.

01:09:04I can't go out now, can I?

01:09:10Will I log in?

01:09:11No.

01:09:12What?

01:09:14Will I just head up with this coldness or something?

01:09:17All right.

01:09:19Horrible accusations that we've somehow caught at the door.

01:09:23Oh, dear.

01:09:30A few minutes later, and Christine emerged clutching the controversial flowers.

01:09:34But she still hadn't recovered from her dip.

01:09:37And I wondered if, after all the talk of a media circus,

01:09:40she wanted to show how upset she was and perhaps gain some sympathy.

01:09:52Do you know who they're from?

01:09:55No.

01:09:56Can I tell you?

01:09:57Go on, tell me.

01:09:59They're from Audrey Roberts.

01:10:01Otherwise known as soon as she's in coronation school with her husband, Mark Eve.

01:10:05Aren't they lovely?

01:10:06Yeah.

01:10:06Was that all right?

01:10:07No, I think that was probably a disaster.

01:10:09I mean, that is the last thing that they should have got.

01:10:11I suppose that's what they want me in tears.

01:10:13I mean, I don't know.

01:10:14Is that a good idea?

01:10:16I can't do anything right.

01:10:17Well, I don't know.

01:10:17I don't think it necessarily.

01:10:18Sometimes vulnerability is good, isn't it?

01:10:20Sometimes showing it.

01:10:21Sometimes you want a bit of vulnerability.

01:10:23Do you not?

01:10:24Well, I can't win, can I?

01:10:25I mean, we're accused of summoning all those people to the end of the drive.

01:10:29We're accused of creating a media circus.

01:10:31You know what?

01:10:32You have to watch out for, because I noticed this as well.

01:10:34It's like the cameramen swinging round and shooting the other cameramen.

01:10:38And then you hear in your head, the media circus continues.

01:10:41And then you think, well, they can't all be there covering each other and saying

01:10:44they're all the other ones of the circus and they're not.

01:10:47But then I suppose, in a way, that's what we're doing.

01:10:49Are we part of the circus?

01:10:50Or it's a circus that feeds on itself, is it?

01:10:54I don't know how it was.

01:10:56You know, perfectly reasonable.

01:10:58You know, the press want today's picture.

01:11:00They don't want yesterday's picture.

01:11:01This is what Granny can't understand.

01:11:03Oh, for goodness sake.

01:11:04You know, they've got millions of pictures of you.

01:11:07Yes, Granny, but, you know, it's not today's picture.

01:11:12Oh, dear.

01:11:14A little later that day, I left Cheshire with a plan to meet up with Neil and Christine

01:11:18as and when there were any new developments.

01:11:22Two weeks later, the police dropped the investigation into Neil and Christine.

01:11:36Back at Neil and Christine's flat, and interestingly, the press pack was nowhere to be seen.

01:11:41It looked like the media circus had finally left town.

01:11:44I thought a little toast might be in order.

01:11:47Aw.

01:11:50Since you've had good news.

01:11:52Look at that.

01:11:53A bolly.

01:11:54A bolly.

01:11:55Aw.

01:11:56And a widow.

01:11:58And a widow.

01:11:58Is there any...

01:11:59Darling, do the BBC pay you enough to afford champagne?

01:12:03Wasn't very expensive.

01:12:04Well, don't spoil it.

01:12:06Don't spoil it.

01:12:07Congratulations.

01:12:09Don't spoil it.

01:12:12We're not on bail.

01:12:14I hope that's all right.

01:12:16It's not probably what you're used to.

01:12:19Well, Bollinger.

01:12:20No, it isn't.

01:12:20You're quite right.

01:12:21We're normally used to Sainsbury's Plon.

01:12:24Which is very drinkable.

01:12:25That's...

01:12:26A third of the price.

01:12:27The police decision to drop their investigation of Neil and Christine Hamilton by allegedly

01:12:31involvement in sex offences was widely predicted, not least in this newspaper.

01:12:35The allegations against the couple were made by a woman who was denounced even by her own

01:12:39husband as a fantasist.

01:12:40Listen to this.

01:12:41Deeply unattractive as the Hamiltons are, it seemed difficult to imagine them in the

01:12:47context of a lurid sex case.

01:12:50Now listen to this.

01:12:51Well, because...

01:12:52He says, because you're unattractive, you couldn't be in a sex case.

01:12:56No, it says...

01:12:57I've seen swingers.

01:12:58They're not attractive.

01:12:58No, shut up.

01:12:59It says, deeply unattractive as the Hamiltons are, it seems difficult to imagine them in

01:13:03the context of a lurid sex case.

01:13:04It then goes on to say, the Hamiltons deserve less sympathy than most since they are incorrigible

01:13:09publicity seekers who have already made some money out of their story and will no doubt

01:13:13make more.

01:13:14Well, there's a grain of truth to that.

01:13:16No, not at all.

01:13:17Darling, it's all gone to lies already.

01:13:18And we've been arrested...

01:13:20Well, but then what's wrong with seeking publicity?

01:13:22What is wrong with that?

01:13:23No, he's saying we deserve less sympathy because...

01:13:25No, I don't...

01:13:26Because we live in the media.

01:13:28Because they are incorrigible publicity speakers.

01:13:31Oh, yes, I'm going to get rid of the inferior.

01:13:34Yep, get rid of that rubbish.

01:13:36Well, here's to not being on bail.

01:13:37Cheers.

01:13:38Oh, golly.

01:13:39Onward and upward.

01:13:40Onward and upward.

01:13:41Onward and upward.

01:13:42That's what I say.

01:13:44The Hamiltons were in the clear.

01:13:46And for our last night of filming, I took them over the road for supper.

01:13:50Neil had wanted to be an MP since he was 13.

01:13:53With the press pack gone, it occurred to me that the Hamiltons were now free to walk away.

01:13:57But they had plans to bring libel actions against certain newspapers and sue the police for wrongful arrest and were

01:14:04already suing the woman who made the allegations.

01:14:07If they were looking for kinder treatment from the press, it seemed an odd decision.

01:14:11Whether you like it or not, if you continue, there's a danger that you will...

01:14:15No, no, no, no.

01:14:15...that you will, um, view negatively.

01:14:17No, no, but Louie's absolutely right.

01:14:20If we...

01:14:21What he's really saying is quit now while you're ahead.

01:14:25Isn't it?

01:14:25What do you mean by ahead?

01:14:27Quit now.

01:14:28Don't...

01:14:28Don't pursue anybody.

01:14:29Just say, I forgive the police.

01:14:31I forgive Louise, Milroy, Nadine, Sloan, whatever her name is.

01:14:34Just say, okay, the police have dropped the charges.

01:14:37Everybody knows what it is.

01:14:38Just draw a line and say, that's it.

01:14:41Goodbye.

01:14:42I suppose that is a possibility.

01:14:45Well, I'm not taking the decisions to pursue all this legal stuff.

01:14:49I mean, I know I'm arguing against myself because really what I, at the moment, is right now I would

01:14:55just like to walk out of that door and just disappear into oblivion.

01:14:59We have now got the power to create interest in the fight back and also to try and generate interest

01:15:06in the various organisations who are fighting for people who have been accused wrongfully of various crimes.

01:15:14And we, you can't just walk away from that.

01:15:17It's so long.

01:15:17I think it's a teeny bit.

01:15:18I mean, the word news about Martin Bell.

01:15:21Sounds sanctimonious, I suppose.

01:15:21I knew you were going to say sanctimonious.

01:15:23Well, you believe all the cuttings.

01:15:25Yeah.

01:15:25I mean, I wouldn't.

01:15:27Come on, let's go.

01:15:29I mean, go a bit without pudding.

01:15:30Is she...

01:15:31Is she walking out?

01:15:32Do you need some more bread?

01:15:34Oh.

01:15:35Is she all right?

01:15:35No.

01:15:37Is she all right?

01:15:38No.

01:15:39If the Hamilton's are demanding money to appear on television, that's part of the cause and everybody believes that.

01:15:44If the Hamilton's are actually saying that they want to try and do something that's worthwhile and good, you tell

01:15:47me that's sanctimonious.

01:15:48Well, thank you, Louis.

01:15:52You have completely missed the point of the last whatever minutes of conversation because we are in the limelight, because

01:15:57this whole business has been hugely escalated by the press.

01:16:01There's nothing else going on in August.

01:16:03It is precisely because we're in the limelight that we really...

01:16:05Macedonia is totally irrelevant for you.

01:16:07It's because we realise...

01:16:09No, that's the judgment of news editors all over the place.

01:16:16I was making a point and you've completely cocked it up.

01:16:20So I've...

01:16:20I give up.

01:16:22No, you don't.

01:16:22I do, because I've forgotten the thread.

01:16:24You're carrying on.

01:16:25No, I'm not.

01:16:25That's an order.

01:16:27Das ist ein Befehl.

01:16:35I'm sorry.

01:16:36Cut.

01:16:39Take two.

01:16:40Well, I have forgotten the point I was made, I have, but...

01:16:43Well, I'm going aside.

01:16:51It was time to say goodnight.

01:16:53The Hamilton melodrama would continue, probably playing to smaller audiences, but my role was at an end.

01:17:04In spite of everything, I couldn't help admiring their perseverance, keeping the show going in the face of such hostility.

01:17:11But I also wondered whether, after all the years of media glare, they'd convinced themselves there was no other choice.

01:17:24Look, lurking Louie framed alongside the Hamiltons yesterday.

01:17:28Their geeky pal is offbeat TV interviewer, Louie Theroux.

01:17:32Oh.

01:17:33So are you enjoying it so far, Louie?

01:17:35The couple returned to their apartment last night, accompanied by television presenter Louie Theroux, with a documentary team following them.

01:17:43Look at me, rape quiz.

01:17:44They're inside the house.

01:17:46They're inside the house, we believe, with the BBC documentary maker Louie Theroux.

01:17:50How do you feel about the suit of the year, Louie?

01:17:52Um.

01:17:54I have no comment.

01:17:55I have no comment.

01:17:56I have no comment.

01:17:57Part of the Hast?

01:17:57How do you feel about the owner of the Reese's class?

01:17:57It has that much here, right?

01:17:57Kids, I am not not.

01:17:57If you look at the previous of the messages that are located in the apartment, no town, no community,

01:17:57choosing one Anne aqueles

When Louis Met... - Series 1- The Hamiltons

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