Hugh Grant: England Had Its Own O.J. Simpson Sized Trial

Hugh Grant looks back at the widely publicized trial of the British politician Jeremy Thorpe, who Grant plays in 'A Very English Scandal.'
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is the premier late night talk show on CBS, airing at 11:35pm EST, streaming online via CBS All Access, and delivered to the International Space Station on a USB drive taped to a weather balloon. Every night, viewers can expect: Comedy, humor, funny moments, witty interviews, celebrities, famous people, movie stars, bits, humorous celebrities doing bits, funny celebs, big group photos of every star from Hollywood, even the reclusive ones, plus also jokes.

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

It feels odd to say this, but I have no idea of how to express it otherwise: He is great at being brittish.

[@aaronrobinson2121]

Agreed, that's half his brand right there.

[@SaudiaTate]

Torbjörn Lekberg exactly!! 😂 he is just so very English

[@stillages1]

He's not like any British bloke I know

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

+ Russ Cusworth Maby he is just better at it then they are. ;)

[@ashwhite3810]

Hmmm well he’s a type of British. A rare type.

[@aligensa]

One of the few who's even wittier off screen than on.

[@aligensa]

@Emily Ascepiter "Screen" meaning "cinema", ie not playing a role and reciting lines that were written by someone else. The numerous people who liked this comment seem to have understood me. :)

[@Greendalewitch]

aplantagereloaded ......... Any change you can tell me what you are smiling about Mona Lisa lol?

[@zora99ny]

But apparently Jon Stewart said Hugh Grant was one of the worst guests on The Daily Show

[@aligensa]

@NYCzora That was because he complained about something backstage, not because he wasn't entertaining.

[@aligensa]

@Lutece At the moment, Hugh Grant.

[@lgmax4672]

I Love Hugh grant. He is so smart, funny and a gentleman. I just hope that the guests are not force to say anything negative about Trump. Respect each other’s opinion.

[@picketfence2028]

My lovable curmudgeon, Hugh Grant.

[@endlessfreedomful]

can he BE more British?

[@XeroFailGames]

Im a straight male and love hugh grant

[@starlinguk]

"I feel faintly smug about it" is the most British thing anyone has ever said.

[@simonperry8569]

He's made a career out of feeling "faintly smug"!

[@meganrmt]

I contest this. I give you exhibit A: Gogglebox (google it if you don’t know what this is). Giles and Mary. (Google them if you don’t know who they are). There’s a table. It’s shaped like a cat. They’re examining it. Giles says ‘No genitalia.’ Mary replies ‘oh Giles, why would it have. That would be surplus to requirements on a wooden cat.’ That, my friend... is the most British thing anyone has ever said.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@meganrmt Haha. I didnt know people on gogglebox used language like that. The clips I have seen most of them talk like Rob Becket.

[@meganrmt]

rimmersbryggeri yeah, Giles and Mary are the OG’s and very, very, VERY posh !

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@meganrmt I have only seen clips from it on comedy shows. I'm in sweden and it's not a format that exports well I guess.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

I love his whole discomfited, awkward thing... He takes a natural reticence and turns it into brilliant comic timing.

[@thomasandrewclifford]

Been a while since i've seen a sense of humor that dry. Love it.

[@Canuckmom128]

Thomas Clifford Agreed ! In a world full of in-your-face attempts at humour, a little wit is so refreshing. If you've ever seen Hugh together with his good friend, the multi-uber-talented Emma Thompson, you know what witty repartee is ( as in you have to try hard not to fall on the floor in howls of laughter).

[@eraven1982]

Agreed!

[@peterion5083]

how EXACTLY do you see a sense of humour ? Or 'humor' , as you would say . And how precisely is dryness visualised ? ( I suspect Hugh himself would be laughing his socks off at you right now. Except he is far too classy to laugh at other's linguistic or grammatical limitations . Especially Americans ). Nice try, but try harder next time please. Thank-you , and good-night.

[@eraven1982]

Peter Ion Are you always this much fun at parties?

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

+G Wind I don't think he can hear you way up there on that high horse

[@tinaloye2014]

I never got the obsession before but bloody hell, that man is charming AF!

[@sharpey2006]

I met him the once, he was visiting a relative in a hospital near me while I had my wife in hospital.Swears like a sailor in real life, but you find yourself swearing with him. He's hilarious. (She's fine, by the way)

[@tinaloye2014]

Tony Glenholmes I'm very glad she's ok 🤗 and yeah, he's too charming

[@tinaloye2014]

Tony Glenholmes I'm very glad she's ok 🤗 and yeah, he's too charming y

[@ibrake4ants]

Watch some of his films when he was younger... I wish he had made more ;)

[@Gonkawonga]

Huge: I know this bugger will ask me about Trump..well I give him some. Steve apparently lacks funny moments probably he is about 1% of what Craig Ferguson can creat.

[@4EverATVAddict]

Hugh Grant was BLOODY BRILLIANT in that series. Having mainly known him for the Hugh-Grant-esque roles, his acting in this series was astounding and I'm so glad he's getting the recognition as an actor which he wholeheartedly deserves.

[@TitanFind]

GunsOnBungees He’s a really good actor. Probably somewhat underused in straight roles, if you’ll pardon the pun.

[@deborah8618]

A consummate English gentleman and professional to put up with Colbert's bullying and tastelessness. Mr. Grant was being interviewed to promote and discuss his work, not to stroke Colbert's politics.

[@pintpot]

I agree completely nut, unfortunately for Hugh, Ben Wishaw was SLIGHTLY better!

[@yevgeniyaleshchenko849]

@@pintpot Lol. no need to compare two leading actors and pit them against each other

[@rumblefish9]

@@pintpot Not really fair to compare two actors with characters so different from each other

[@joshmills5219]

"I feel faintly smug about it." This dry kind of humor isn't cultivated in the US and it should be.

[@JiminyHCriquet]

Hi I live in the US and I'd rather eat hot dogs all day than stamp on our constitution.

[@joshmills5219]

Pourquoi?

[@berrychampion3173]

Jiminy H. Criquet okay? Good for you

[@tomk6292]

I’ve seen a lot of people complain about US comedy, Late night talk shows don’t represent the country, the producers comb through the comedians material and most comedians hate going on them because the audiences are infamous among comics. If you do more of a deep dive into US stand up, you’ll find people much funnier than the talk show comedians or the comedians that get all the parts in Hollywood films

[@googleyeyed5814]

Hugh never disappoints: Charming, effortlessly witty and intelligent always.

[@mothball5425]

And still a snacc.

[@sweepingtime]

It's not fair that Hugh Grant looks more handsome the older he gets.

[@rax816]

dominichokage maybe you're becoming more blind with age..

[@alalalala57]

Raxta Emu maybe you're becoming a moron with age? Oh wait, you were always a moron. Carry on.

[@camelsheit_on_the_walls446]

It IS fair.

[@oltedders]

dominichokage Getting rid of that dreadful mop has certainly helped.

[@melbatoast667]

He's aged like shit.

[@kamaurahamukti5919]

nothing beats the British way of conversing - delightful.

[@bobsingh5521]

WOLF WOLF It's coversating

[@abbyflagesh5012]

@@bobsingh5521 Mate! It is conversing..😏🙄

[@bobsingh5521]

Abi Flagesh It’s conversating

[@duxnihilo]

Bob Singh WHICH ONE IS IT?

[@bobsingh5521]

Dux Nihilo Its conversating

[@patrycjaorska5370]

I could listen to him for hours, he's charming in such a smart way, love his sarcastic, ironic sense of humor, subtle not straigh in the face one

[@Matt00740]

Can’t even more posh and English. He is posh but charming posh.

[@outlawJosieFox]

matt & LDN Not if you are British. If you are British the man is a fop and a dud. Most films he has been in have been American made Rom coms.

[@neen42]

His mug shot isn't nearly so posh

[@lovisanaslund8998]

Josie Fox But he was playing up his Britishness here, no? When he’s on shows with British hosts he’s less super-British and more normal. I think this was a bit of a performance for the benefit of the audience, the Americans tend to like it when Brits are proper British.

[@avantgauche]

He’s a smarmy his whole demeanour reeks of privilege your only charmed by that cause your not british

[@lovisanaslund8998]

avantgauche Of course he’s privileged. I don’t think anyone got the impression he’s working class? You don’t have to be British to get that.

[@ludovitche]

"I feel faintly smug about it" :)

[@jasonflay8818]

Ludovic Turlier an example of the great Brittish understatement!

[@greeling907]

im imagining anya's face for this

[@NOONE-cd4gu]

"Not to give it away but I'll say it" Hugh Grant

[@evanodonovan9608]

"He had manners one day and wealth sufficient to provide me with a gift, it would be dreadfully gauche to speak ill of him regardless of his apparent disdain for most of the world's population."

[@sookymbo179]

Unfortunately, most people including myself, should care more than we do. I don't know about H.G. don't know him personally, but he may surprise you. Taking on the tabloids is brave for a public figure. Why get involved in politics if you don't care...... Mmm!

[@halane4790]

So beautifully put. What a way woth words.

[@luissantos7343]

I adore everything he does, even if the movie is shitty, I still like his performance. And his interviews are always entertaining.

[@scattygirl1]

"Although Sarah Jessica..." LOL

[@BelMegloub]

I simply can't get enough of Hugh Grant. Brilliant actor, delightful and witty guest. What a come back he's made!

[@catmonkey6826]

Hugh Grant is getting better and better. A very English Scandal is superb, great performances by all.

[@Volvican]

Wow, he just keeps getting more and more 19th century English.

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

You mean correct English

[@emilydelcastillo1877]

I'm aware that Hugh is a naughty boy but he's so damn charming and aging like fine wine.

[@priiyaankaa]

Hugh Grant's voice is music to ears & he would never interrupt while someone's talking & how can he be always so relaxed...smiling face always

[@JayJay-wg5ex]

He doesn't have the stress of pretending to be someone he's not.

[@loraz5343]

The entire first minute is them just complimenting each other and then not being able to get out of it

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

lol well put. Hugh does have a gift for turning awkwardness into great comedy though

[@camelsheit_on_the_walls446]

That's nice and all. But I'd really like to see Hugh Grant on Seth Meyers show, considering how Hugh looks like a slightly older, less skinnier version of Seth.

[@tinaloye2014]

camelshit Seth played Hugh In snl

[@snuffyscorner]

I was thinking that too lol.

[@jillniemczynski5517]

camelshit Yes! I see it! That would be cool.

[@pablocruise678]

camelshit - or Phil Mickelson

[@nonebusiness4488]

be great to see them together cuz they are both so funny, but no way does skinny part jew boy seth look like hugh grant.

[@hamburgerhelperflick]

He is so wonderfully veddy veddy English. First time I saw him was Maurice so he's come full circle so to speak.

[@googleyeyed5814]

hamburgerhelperflick Yes, he was gay in “Maurice.”

[@221b-Maker-Street]

🏆😂

[@trumpetsharps4496]

Interesting timing, with "A Very English Scandal" airing on TV the same year that remastered "Maurice" was released, 2018.

[@rumblefish9]

He and James Wilby were brilliant in Maurice.

[@Muffy703]

Love it. Adore the Brit humor, especially on Hugh.

[@glammer]

No such thing. There is only Brit humour. It's always baffled us that a country which begins with the letter U should hate it so very much.

[@Danno1983]

Sum Nations dont get us

[@robbyrobby]

"In Paddington with him as the bear" I cannot tell you how many different ways that is trippy

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Love Hugh Grant in "a very British scandal" . I am the same age and grew up in the UK when the whole Thorpe/Scott scandal was unfolding.mits brilliantly acted by the entire cast.

[@shreyar4708]

I never grow tired of hearing Hugh Grant talk.

[@nomiddlenamenmn427]

He openly talks about drinking and his children driving him bananas. I love how earthy he comes across.

[@NewMessage]

I thought 'A Very English Scandal' was about that time Thorpe put the milk into the teacup before the tea. They hang people for that there, I hear.

[@Mordengaard]

Only for the first offence.

[@alalalala57]

Mordengaard They castrate you for the first one.

[@presidentwoodrow]

Bunnies can (and will) put the milk in first

[@chrissiek8706]

Hang, quarter and drown!

[@lucyhorwitz5745]

Too soon.

[@SARGENTO007A]

He is getting older...but my oh my...still seeexy! :)

[@Jeneva1]

Hugh Grant is the ultimate charming English gentleman. Love him, and his splendid humor. Thanks for posting ! :)

[@NewMessage]

I'll never see anything but him banging the bear now. It wont be a jar of Vaseline in my head.. just a jar of marmalade.

[@SherwoodWoodyYan]

Now you ruined my breakfast for life

[@puirYorick]

New Message ...eeeww!!

[@Sammy200655294]

now that cracked me up a bit

[@samfilmkid]

You, sir, are a terrible human being.

[@Naila.360]

Love Him Actually And He should Be Prime Minister for Life

[@sadyechester6934]

NailaCafé i see what you did there...

[@badfairy9554]

The dancing bit.

[@Naila.360]

Bad Fairy He'll take you there ;)

[@xyzsame4081]

He might be an improvment !

[@fuckfannyfiddlefart]

Don't even joke about celebrities going into politics, Regan and then Trump, NO MORE EVER!

[@nourasalem2705]

You guys really need to watch "A Very English Scandal".. can't express how much I loved it. It's surprisingly very funny!

[@trystwithdestiny6591]

Hugh grant is such a charming man

[@debbiedoodiedandi]

Oh Stephen, I love you, but c'mon man - did you really have to ask Hugh about the Cheeto in Chief?

[@LordAaronus]

they can't find Macaulay Culkin so that's all they got

[@shekebeawright1675]

debbiedoodiedandi g

[@rhondafortson5205]

HUGH GRANT is probably the MOST CHARMING MAN to have ever existed!!

[@carolking6355]

I just love Hugh Grant what a sense of humor. And I love Stephen Colbert. I am old and. Alone and he can make me laugh out loud. Thank you Stephen

[@RinRin_c]

Ooo.. I love him, he is one of the most adorable human beings on earth.. Nice hair, btw!

[@TitanFind]

Of course, Colbert’s former colleague Jon Stewart once called Hugh Grant the worst guest he’d ever had. But I watched that interview and it was pretty clear Stewart had done no prep for it, which pissed Grant off.

[@rumblefish9]

Grant also apologized to the crew after.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Cant help but love Hugh grant

[@davidrosing-schow8097]

4:59 “I feel faintly smug about it” deserved a much bigger laugh

[@lesleyleith4440]

The Jeremy Thorpe scandal was huge back in the day, full of sex, political intrigue and spicy details. It was amazing. The Buggery movie, I was rolling on the floor. Great interview.❤️❤️❤️😘😘

[@aureliaansah1462]

The American audience didn't seem to get the "buggers film" or the Vaseline reference. Oh well, we found it hilarious :D

[@222browneyes]

4:13 It's funny that CBS didn't censor "buggers" - I guess Americans don't know it's a homophobic slur...

[@501archer]

I never got into his stammering, nerdy English pretty boy characters and didn't understand why everyone else loved him so much back in the 90s but THIS older, mildly vile but still hilariously charming curmudgeon, I can totally get on board with!

[@deborah8618]

X

[@rumblefish9]

He was ALWAYS like this even in his younger days. You can see it in interviews. He just got typecasted because he worked a lot with Richard Curtis who essentially wrote the same parts for him.

[@KhalidKashogi]

"Remember the vaseline" -- hahahaha!

[@markroberts3277]

Hugh Grant was brilliants as Jeremy Thorpe and is an excellent campaigner against the gutter-press.

[@allyp6289]

Sigh Hugh...What a gorgeous, gorgeous man and funny too surprisingly ;)

[@badfairy9554]

Hugh looks young again. A very English Scandal is one to watch.

[@wendyknox-leet1034]

He is a wonderful actor! This is an amazing role!

[@squamish4244]

I'm sure his ex-military father saw all sorts of interesting things going on during his service.

[@rorysmith9382]

His performance as Thorpe was super. He is a great actor.

[@SonjaDawn]

Hugh Grant is even better now than he ever was - love him!

[@krystofdayne]

I'm really grateful he didn't take the Donald Trump bait... When Stephen showed that picture, I was like "Oh man, do you have to drag Trump into *everything* ?" You have Hugh Grant on there, an English actor, who's about as far removed from having anything to do with Trump as you can be, you could just for once not mention him...

[@Johnny-rx4hs]

Britain has their own politicians to worry about anyways.

[@mariendorf1981]

I agree, it's an arrogant assumption to think that everyone else is obsessed with him.

[@JayZondi-cd8jj]

You're a complicit idiot. Any time spent ridiculing that vicious dotard is bigly appropriate.

[@lindaliestman4397]

Unfortunately, no one in the world is far removed from the “drunkin escapades” of Trump as the potus. I travel a fair amount and people all over are completely disgusted with what America has brought onto itself. And people are very worried. If Americans traveled more it might help them understand more about the serious fascist issues we face under this administration, and the sharp edge of a knife we now dance upon to avoid having a totalitarian government. It would also help if Americans would get educated on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and read a lot more diverse information and books about history - the idea is not to repeat the mistakes of the past --- but here we are dancing on the sharp edge of that knife once again. I truly hope that our Democratic Consitutional Republic survives Trump. I wish Trump worshippers would come down off their Trump Drunk and dry out.

[@krystofdayne]

A) I don't know if I have given anyone the idea that I support Trump but of course I don't. Would I even be watching Colbert if I was? Well maybe, just to go trolling in the comment section, but no, I don't. I hate him just as much. And B) I'm not American either and yeah you're right, here in Europe, of course people realize not only the idiotism but also the real danger of Trump-style politics. You already seem them spreading in Italy, in the UK and even in Germany with the AfD. My main point was, that as good as Trump is as joke-fodder, and as much as I realize we can't let the normalization of Trump happen (to quote Oliver), it is refreshing to see Colbert or other comedians talk about something else for a change and when he throws in Trump just for the sake of throwing in Trump even though it had nothing to do with the conversation... it's just tiring and frustrating and obviously just audience-pandering from Colbert.

[@leondeveraux4485]

This was A Very English Interview. Just look at their awkward small talk in the beginning XD

[@vamanosninja4143]

I love Two Week's Notice! It's underrated.

[@altertheskyy1]

He is so underrated and hilarious

[@DE-xt7jv]

Can highly recommend the mini series. One of the few performances Hugh gives without playing a version of himself.

[@TheKingby1]

My dad is Devon born and bred and the way he describes the Thorpe trial is exactly how I've heard African Americans describe the OJ trial. They immediately dismissed it as impossible, but then as the trial went on it all became clearer and was devastating for many Devonians.

[@BlackKnight_217]

He's brilliantly hilarious.

[@pixiebells]

I was really hoping they would bring up the fact that he played Clive Durham in Maurice which has a slightly similar plot but that's kind of a unknown gem if you will. It still looks really great though! Still a nice guy. He's like every polite quintessential British cliche but it's adorable somehow

[@rumblefish9]

I fell in love with him in Maurice. Hugh really gave Clive's character a lot of depth because he's not very likeable in the book. Undoubtedly his best work. I think Clive would be a lot like Thorpe in his older years (except the murdering bit). Still hiding his true self and still dreaming of that "external Cambridge" with Maurice beckoning to him.

[@MandySam13]

Always loved Hugh Grant. Pretty much from childhood. Seeing him here I realised I always will!

[@stacyhackney6100]

Congratulations to Mr. Grant and his wife on their marriage.

[@JoePalau]

Thank you, Stacy. I very much agree. Time to acknowledge how Grant turned a corner in his life, entered a stable marriage and is raising children properly. His wealth and fame could have ruined him. He took control of his life and is doing well.

[@stacyhackney6100]

Joe Palau He's a good actor, funny and handsome too. I'm happy for him that he has his children and wife to love and care for him.

[@LadyHashZ]

It was going so well until Stephen brought up Trump again. Like honestly

[@sweiland75]

Still trying to work Trump into every conversation eh Stephen? Lol

[@NS-un5lz]

He has no career otherwise.

[@wren4077]

"I just did Paddington 2 with him playing the bear. Uh ... " LMAO

[@isaactfa]

What an endlessly charming guy.

[@amitkhaian5863]

"Not to give it away but I'll say it" Hugh Grant

[@ADreamOfSpring]

Man.. the silence from the audience when Trump was mentioned.. Ouch haha.

[@muggedinmadrid]

lol @ they're drugged. grant is hilarious and so characteristically charming.

[@MrStGeorgeIllawarra]

Everyone should see A Very English Scandal, some of Hugh's best work of his entire career.

[@kobaltapollodorus8922]

I'm not entirely sure who this man is, but my God, I love the way he speaks.

[@lucyhorwitz5745]

Veeeerrrrry famous English actor. He resides in our delightful tea land.

[@lockergr]

It's already on my Amazon watchlist! Great to see Hugh!

[@laur2139]

Many giggles. Hue Grant still so charming

[@lazyperfectionist1]

Oy. Poor dog.

[@LonewolfGaming1]

Colbert is so deranged about Trump he just can’t help bringing him up... makes sense in the monologues where he is covering current affairs, but with the guests it really seems like an unhealthy obsession. I think Grant’s discomfort reflects what an inappropriate thing it was to ask him to join in the hate in this context.

[@wildwildben]

Well spotted.

[@MrsBobby-gy5of]

Colbert's hatred of trump I's all I like about him .

[@NS-un5lz]

Just for anyone who wants the truth: 1) the gay affair was never proven in court 2) the "victim" who claimed he had a sexual affair spend time in a mental institution. Grant is playing into the usual everyone is gay because I want them to be fetish. Grain of salt, people.

[@robotbattler]

Back to the most important question, did the dog survive?

[@Sherbertdip36]

Best keep a hanky handy, sweetie... it's not good news for the pooch.

[@RichardGadsden]

Afterwards, someone set up the Dog Lovers' Party just so they could run against Thorpe in the next election.

[@marymore7366]

That comment about Ben Whishaw is hilrious. I‘m wondering whether that‘s the reason Paddington was mentioned in A Very English Scandal

[@bennyton2560]

I didn't know he's this witty!! That Paddington comparison had me dead XD

[@MarkCranerium]

Can't stand Trump but Colbert has to play the Trump card in every single interview.

[@bakersteven3]

If you get a chance to see him as Jeremy Thorpe, you should watch his impression of him its brilliant. He really has got thorpe down to a tea.

[@nickwalter9630]

I think its supposed to be 'a tee'

[@feliztremblez8373]

Lol I love that he threw the name of SJP out there.

[@cynthiasmith4130]

I love Hugh, so kind funny, so polite!!!!

[@1111MJR]

Buggered the bear. Brilliant.

[@omarspost]

Stephen: look how happy u made the people. Hugh: they're drugged.

[@yelb9135]

He’s so, so good in this show!

[@celeste5508]

My oh my ♡

[@francaperotti5934]

He did his best performance ever in a very British scandal.

[@hg82met]

Stephen is such a bad interviewer - there is no flow, no naturalness to his interviews.

[@ryangerald8966]

Did he say, "They're all drugged David" at the end when Stephen mentions how happy he's made them?

[@Shazbut0191]

"They're drugged, I think". As an Englishman myself, I feel sure of this. No wait...I feel...quite... sure of this.

[@EricaShady10171972]

That interview was awkward. Props to Colbert: " That's because you don't live here!" 💪💪💪💪

[@magnificentfailure2390]

The drinker you smoke, the player you get.