Keeley Hawkes beams at her husband Matthew Macfayden in exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps of their new ITV drama Stonehouse.
The 46-year-old actress shared a moment with her real-life spouse, 48, before giggling with co-star Emer Heatley on the set of the three-part show, which is due to hit screens on Monday.
It’s a pivotal scene from ITV’s new flagship drama about a high-flying minister in Harold Wilson’s Labor government who tried to fake his death after acting as a spy for Czech intelligence.
Husband in real life: Keeley Hawkes beams at her husband Matthew Macfayden in exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps of their new ITV drama Stonehouse
Starring Succession star Matthew, 48, and his bodyguard actress Keeley as John Stonehouse and his wife Barbara, it dramatizes the moment in 1974 when the Walsall North MP was arrested in Australia.
In exclusive photos, McFayden and Keeley – who also played the married couple in the 2007 black comedy Death at a Funeral – have a picnic with Stonehouse’s lover Sheila Buckley, played by Emer.
Filmed in Malaga, Spain during the winter months, the trio are wrapped up against the cold when not filming. The tension between wife and mistress is palpable as they argue over sandwiches and sausage rolls.
Closing: The actress, 46, shared a moment with her real-life partner, 48, before giggling with her co-star Emer Heatley on the set of the three-part show, which is due to hit screens on Monday
But despite the tense scenes, the trio appeared in high spirits as they chatted and smiled between takes.
The scene ends with Stonehouse rushing to the edge of a cliff and saying, “Leave me alone, Barbara. stay back I’m warning you, Barbara, if you don’t leave me alone, I will…”
‘What?’ replied Barbara, laughing. ‘What are you going to do? Tell me… you love your melodramatic gestures, don’t you, John?’
On screen: The John Stonehouse affair is re-enacted by ITV with Matthew (centre) playing the disgraced Labor politician (Matthew’s real-life wife Keeley plays the MP’s wife Barbara (right), while Emer Heatley plays his secretary Sheila plays (left)).
Drama: It’s a pivotal scene from ITV’s new flagship drama about a high-flying minister in Harold Wilson’s Labor government who tried to fake his death after acting as a spy for Czech intelligence
The three-part series begins with McFayden striding out of his Florida hotel in a light blue suit before swimming out to sea. The picture was also shot in Malaga.
In another behind-the-scenes shot, Stonehouse is asked by Wilson, played by Kevin McNally, if he would represent the government and wave the flag for the Labor Party on election night.
John Stonehouse had abandoned Barbara and her three young children, Jane, Julia and Matthew, after they disappeared from Miami Beach after swimming out to sea, leaving behind a pile of neatly folded clothes and boarding a plane to Australia to find a new one to begin life.
Scenes: In exclusive photos, McFayden and Keeley have a picnic with Stonehouse’s lover, Sheila Buckley, played by Emer
Character: Keeley looked gorgeous in her retro costume while filming alongside her husband and co-star
Awkward: The tension between wife and mistress is palpable as they argue over sandwiches and sausage rolls
But he was arrested by Melbourne police – after being mistaken for Lord Lucan – and deported back to Britain, where he was tried on 15 charges of counterfeiting, theft and fraud. He was found guilty in 1976 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Actor Matthew and his wife Keeley have been married for 18 years and Keeley said they had to put aside the intimacy of their happy marriage to play the roles.
The actress insists her union is the complete opposite of that of politicians John and Barbara.
Between shots: Shot in Malaga, Spain, during the winter months, the trio are wrapped up against the cold when not shooting
High spirits: Despite the tense scenes, the trio appeared in high spirits as they chatted and smiled between takes
Dramatization: The three-part series begins with McFayden striding out of his Florida hotel in a light blue suit before swimming out to sea. The picture was also shot in Malaga
She told the Mirror: “We have worked together before but not for several years. And when that came up, it really did seem like the perfect project on so many levels, especially because the Stonehouses are so different from Matthew and I and our relationship.
“So it’s nice to see us, I think, and interesting for people who might know we’re married to see us as the ‘other’ couple.”
She told Matthew, “It was really wonderful. It was very funny, wasn’t it?’
He replied: “Yes, it was very difficult to work with Keeley.
Telling the story: Stonehouse tells how the former cabinet minister in the Wilson administration faked his death in 1974 and ran off with his secretary, Sheila Buckley (John Stonehouse pictured in 1981).
“She’s… it was hard. It was hard. No, that’s a stupid answer. It was a pleasure working with Keeley. It was nice, wasn’t it?’
Matthew and Keeley met on the set of the drama Spooks in 2001 and co-starred in the 2007 comedy Death at a Funeral.
They share children Maggie, 18, and Ralph, 16, together.
Stonehouse begins Monday 2 January at 9pm on ITV and will air over the following two nights.
Love: Matthew and Keeley met on the set of drama Spooks in 2001 and married in 2004 (pictured October 2021)