In 1895, the world's first celebrity trial challenged the creaking moral core of the British Empire. Dr Anthony Delaney traces the extraordinary trajectory of Oscar Wilde—from the toast of London’s West End, a shining star on both sides of the Atlantic, to the disgraced accused standing before the Old Bailey, charged with "Gross Indecency." Delaney argues that these three trials were about far more than a single fate: they were a reckoning for Victorian society, where public virtues hid private vices and the press fuelled a voracious demand for scandal.

Exploring key locations - from the luxurious Savoy Hotel, where Wilde’s recklessness peaked, to the grim walls of Bow Street Police Station - Anthony investigates the sensational newspaper coverage that both created and destroyed him.

With the help of experts, including Wilde’s grandson, Merlin Holland, the film uncovers how Wilde's persecution fundamentally changed the social landscape, making same-sex attraction a target of intense intolerance and fuelling a hostile environment for decades.

Ultimately, this is the story of the man caught in the centre of the perfect storm, who, standing up for his own integrity, achieved his status as the modern icon of rebellion and resilience.
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If you’d like to learn more about the legacy of the trial, Merlin Holland’s latest book ‘After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal’ is out now.
In it, Holland charts the extraordinary afterlife of the legendary writer and thinker, and traces the dramatic fluctuations in Wilde's posthumous reputation over the past 125 years. https://europaeditions.co.uk/book/9781787705920/after-oscar-the-legacy-of-a-scandal

And you can hear more from Anthony, on his podcast, co-presented with Dr Maddy Pelling, for History Hit: 'After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal'. https://podfollow.com/1705694900/view