HNNM0H DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR at the Waldorf Astoria, New York, in October 1941.
Multi award-winning indie Yeti Television today announces its commission from Channel 5 for Edward & Wallis: The Bahamas Scandal W/T (1×90’). For the first time, the documentary will uncover the scandalous lives of Edward and Wallis Simpson and their outrageous war-years spent in the Bahamas.
In 1940, as the Battle of Britain raged, Edward Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII, and Wallis Simpson (the woman for whom he gave up the throne) were en-route to The Bahamas. Sent there by Winston Churchill with the agreement of the Royal Family, the couple were ordered to take up Governorship of the island. But the real reason behind their ‘exile’ was to keep their brazen Nazi sympathies quiet and stop them communicating with the enemy.
Featuring newly uncovered British government files and FBI records, the film reveals what took place during the five years that the couple spent in the Caribbean, including secret affairs, blackmail plots, allegations of money laundering and involvement in an unsolved murder. Hearing from a roster of experts and historians, the documentary will reveal why the Duke and Duchess would never again be trusted after their escapades in the Bahamas.
The film was commissioned by Daniel Pearl/Kate Ansell at Channel 5, is produced and directed by Rachel Jardine and the executive producer for Yeti is Siân Price.
Sian Price, Creative Director at Yeti, says, “This documentary is jaw-dropping! Edward and Wallis never cease in their ability to shock and surprise. This is a beautifully crafted documentary, with top-notch journalism and an extraordinary story at its heart. We’re excited to share this latest outrageous royal chapter in the lives of Edward and Wallis with the Channel 5 audience.”
Kate Ansell, Commissioning Editor Channel 5 adds, “Yeti have produced a really fascinating, revelatory film, packed with fresh insights. Edward and Wallis have long intrigued the British public. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, some of the stories uncovered in this documentary make their lives feel more fiction than fact!”
