Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major lash out at The Crown: ‘It is complete and utter rubbish’-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

The former PMs have slammed the show (Picture: Netflix / Getty / AFP)

Former Prime Ministers Sir John Major and Sir Tony Blair have lashed out at The Crown’s depiction of them.

The new series will focus on the affair between now King Charles III and newly appointed Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles, as well as the treatment of late Princess Diana.

Landing a long two years after season four, the highly-anticipated ten episodes are scheduled to arrive on Netflix in a matter of days, with Dominic West taking on the role of Charles while Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana.

Imelda Staunton will be taking over from Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, while Jonny Lee Miller will be playing then prime minister Sir John and Bertie Carvel playing Sir Tony.

During the series, it is reported that Charles will cut short a holiday with Diana to host a secret meeting with Sir John at Highgrove in 1991, at which they discuss potentially ousting the Queen.

Sir John wrote in a letter to The Telegraph that it ‘will be profoundly hurtful to a family who are still grieving for the very person on whose life the entire drama was founded,’ following the death of the Queen on September 8.

Charles is reportedly shown trying to recruit Sir Tony as an ally to protect his future and pave the way for him to marry Camilla, shortly after the 1997 general election.

Sir Tony’s spokesman added to the publication: ‘It should come as no surprise that this is complete and utter rubbish.’

Sir John Major has slammed The Crown (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Jonny Lee Miller plays then Prime Minister Sir John Major (Picture: PA/Netflix)

In his letter, Sir John wrote: ‘Netflix may well take the view that any publicity is good publicity.

‘But I assure them it is not – most especially when it disrespects the memory of those no longer alive, or puts words into the mouths of those still living and in no position to defend themselves.

‘Fiction should not be paraded as fact.’

He continued: ‘I gather Netflix continues to refuse to put out a disclaimer at the top of the opening credits, on the basis that “everyone knows this is a drama series.”

Tony Blair’s spokesperson labelled it ‘complete and utter rubbish’ (Picture: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Sir John Major and Prince Charles in 1994 (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘But this is simply not good enough. If everyone knows, why not acknowledge that?

‘Without such action, many millions – around the world – could still be influenced by a damaging and fictional script, which claims “authority” by being interspersed with historical fact.

‘Entertainment is a great and glorious industry that brings enormous pleasure to many millions. Netflix should not demean it with portrayals which are both injurious and untrue.’

Sir John previously blasted the series as a ‘damaging and malicious’ work of fiction.

Imelda Staunton takes on the role of Queen Elizabeth II (Picture: Netflix / Alex Bailey)

Dominic West plays Prince Charles (Picture: Netflix)

The former prime minister, who was in office from 1990 to 1997, added to those voicing concerns that a rumoured scene could  harm the reputation of the future King.

There’s also said to be dialogue between Miller’s Sir John and his wife Dame Norma (played by Flora Montgomery) where they discuss the Royal Family in unflattering terms.

A spokesperson for Sir John previously commented: ‘Sir John has not cooperated – in any way – with The Crown. Nor has he ever been approached by them to fact-check any script material in this or any other series.

‘Discussions between the monarch and prime minister are entirely private and – for Sir John – will always remain so.’

Elizabeth Debicki takes on the role of Princess Diana (Picture: Netflix / Keith Bernstein)

The fifth series will follow the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage (Picture: Netflix/Keith Bernstein)

Their imagined conversations were dismissed as ‘fiction, pure and simple’, while rumoured plot lines were also slammed in the statement as ‘nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction’ and ‘a barrel-load of nonsense peddled for no other reason than to provide maximum – and entirely false – dramatic impact’.

The spokesperson added: ‘There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II – nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John).’

At the time, in response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for The Crown told Metro.co.uk: ‘The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events. Series 5 is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians.’

Regarding the scenes where Sir John and Dame Norma are said to disparage the Royal Family, the spokesperson stressed that ‘that has never been their view, never would be their view, and never will be their view’.

Last month Netflix put a disclaimer in the description of its YouTube trailer for the fifth series of The Crown, saying the production is a ‘fictional dramatisation’ and ‘inspired by real events.’

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This came after Dame Judi Dench called for viewers to be given clarification, after accusing the show of being ‘crude sensationalism’.

On YouTube, the description for the teaser reads: ‘Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.’

Netflix declined to comment when approached by Metro.co.uk.

The Crown launches on Netflix on Wednesday, November 9.

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