How The Crown Season 5 turned Jonny Lee Miller’s John Major into internet’s latest crush

So who was John Major?

John Major was the former Prime Minister of the UK and served as the leader of the Conservative Party from 1990-1997. Major followed after Margaret Thatcher’s controversial reign as the ruling PM, and was succeeded by the somewhat more successful Tony Blair.

During his period as the Prime Minister, John Major was credited with privatising the railways, introducing Council Tax instead of Poll tax, among other things. After suffering landslide defeat in the 1997 elections, Major gave up his seat and decided to pursue other interests, including business and charity. Major was famously known as ‘Honest John’ in the press for his gentle and polite manners.

Former UK PM John Major. (Photo: Express Archives)

While he now might be a sensation among audience thanks to The Crown Season 5, the prime minister himself is not so impressed with his portrayal on screen, and has called it a ‘barrel-load of nonsense,’ reported The Guardian. The statement emerged post reports that the show suggests King Charles lobbied with Major to oust his mother, Queen Elizabeth II as the queen. Meanwhile, a Netflix spokesperson was quoted as saying by the publication, “Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians.”

In the Crown Season 5

In the show, John Major is seen being his congenial self while worrying over what would happen if Prince Charles and Princess Diana part ways, fearing some kind of widespread national unrest. He is later seen playing a key role in meditating a ‘quiet’ split between the couple upon the queen’s behest.

Also starring the likes of Dominic West, Jonathan Pryce, Olivia Williams and Imelda Staunton, The Crown Season 5 is currently streaming on Netflix.