The Alan Clark Diaries

*The Alan Clark Diaries*
The Alan Clark Diaries
Genre	Drama
Written by	Jon Jones
Directed by	Jon Jones
Starring	John Hurt; Jenny Agutter; Hugh Fraser; Nicholas Jones; Jeremy Clyde; Paul Brooke;
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Producers	Richard Fell; Phillippa Giles; Laura Mackie;
Cinematography	Ian Moss
Editor	Sue Wyatt
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC Four
Release	15 January 2004

The Alan Clark Diaries is a 2004

the diaries of the controversial British Conservative politician Alan Clark. The six-episode series debuted on BBC Four on 15 January 2004, and was later repeated on BBC Two

.

Episodes

March of the Grey Men

In the run up to the

Point of Order by opposition MP Clare Short for being incapable. The sudden arrival of Leader of the House John Biffen

is a clear indication to Clark that he is to be dismissed at the first opportunity.

Minister for Trade where he dreams of a position in the cabinet as he sets out on an arduous tour of European states plagued by reports that he is anti-European. Returning home Clark feels worn down by his constant travels and his relationship with Jane is under strain. Re-elected in the 1987 general election but overlooked for cabinet once again Clark holds on determined to get through his anti-fur legislation but following his return from a controversial trip to Chile the Prime Minister under pressure from Canada forces him to drop the legislation. A reshuffle gives Clark his long dreamed of position at the Ministry of Defence but it is under new Defence Secretary Tom King

a man he considers ghastly.

Defence of the Realm

Clark has finally made it into the coveted Ministry of Defence but his triumph is short-lived when he finds himself once again walking on thin ice with his old rival Tom King. All the while, the political temperature is rising — poll tax riots rage, the Gulf War breaks out, and The Lady's iron grip on the Tory party appears to be slipping fast.

Into the Wilderness

With Thatcher gone and his estate in terminal decline Clark remains in curiously high spirits. In the resulting leadership election Clark supports the ultimately successful

Matrix Churchill scandal. Abandoned and alone in retirement at Saltwood Castle

Clark regrets his decision to leave politics.

Leaving Home

Rotting away in retirement Clark dreams of a victorious return to the House of Commons. When Chelsea MP Sir

brain cancer

, Clark chooses to disappear from public life.

Filming locations

Saltwood Castle featured as itself during the series after Clark's widow, Jane, gave her support for the production and welcomed the team into her home.^[1] The castle remains owned by the Clark family, and is rarely opened to the public. Alan Clark often used to visit Hythe seafront and this is represented in the first episode of the series.^[1]