Kingmaker
Documentary. Rupert Murdoch must decide who he wants to be Britain’s next prime minister, whilst a battle for succession begins within his own family.
Kingmaker meets Rupert Murdoch in 1995, a pivotal year that sees him presiding over two important dilemmas - who he wants to be Britain’s next prime minister and which of his children he wants to take over his business.
This episode charts the growing relationship between Rupert Murdoch and Tony Blair, and the Murdoch press and Blair’s Labour Party - a relationship that becomes almost uncomfortably close. Critics claim that Murdoch’s organisation cultivated too much influence over the British government – lobbying for war in Iraq, enjoying open access to the prime minister and favourable treatment when it comes to business. Supporters, however, claim that this is how business works, not least when you are as influential as Rupert Murdoch.
Murdoch’s family dynamic is rocked when he marries a woman 37 years his junior, polarising the children and jeopardising Murdoch’s plans for succession. Just as Murdoch is approaching the peak of his powers and influence in the UK, cracks begin to appear that point to deeper, darker problems within his empire.
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Clips
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Tabloids and their hold over politicians
Duration: 01:35
Music Played
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D:Ream
Things Can Only Get Better
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Brian McFadden
Almost Here
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Interviewed Guest | David Yelland |
Interviewed Guest | Hugh Grant |
Interviewed Guest | Alan Sugar |
Interviewed Guest | Nigel Farage |
Interviewed Guest | Les Hinton |
Interviewed Guest | Andrew Neil |
Interviewed Guest | Sarah Ellison |
Interviewed Guest | Piers Morgan |
Interviewed Guest | Alastair Campbell |
Interviewed Guest | Roy Greenslade |
Interviewed Guest | John Prescott |
Interviewed Guest | Ken Auletta |
Interviewed Guest | Neil Wallis |
Interviewed Guest | Graham Johnson |
Interviewed Guest | Nick Davies |
Interviewed Guest | Peter Oborne |
Director | Jamie Roberts |
Executive Producer | David Glover |
Executive Producer | Cate Hall |
Line Producer | Sophie Wright |
Series Producer | Owen Phillips |
Editor | Justin Badger |
Editor | Will Grayburn |
Editor | Samuel R Santana |
Narrator | Kate Fleetwood |
Production Company | 72 Films |
Broadcasts
- Tue 14 Jul 2020 21:00
- Thu 16 Jul 2020 23:30´óÏó´«Ã½ Two except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD
- Sat 1 Aug 2020 02:40
- Mon 13 Mar 2023 22:00
- Tue 14 Mar 2023 02:00
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