SVT Drama Tells Secret Story Of King Gustaf V

Sverrir Gudnason (Borg/McEnroe) and Staffan Göthe (Gentlemen) take the lead roles in an as yet untitled drama written by Bengt Braskered for SVT about the illicit relationship between restaurant owner Kurt Haijby and King Gustaf V.

The year is 1933 and Kurt Haijby (Sverrir Gudnason) runs the Lido restaurant together with his wife Anna in the heart of Stockholm’s entertainment district. But Kurt is denied a liquor permit due to his criminal record, so decides to take his case to the king.

But the meeting with ageing monarch Gustaf V (Staffan Göthe) leads to a secret and forbidden relationship. At a time when homosexuality is a criminal offense and the monarchy is threatened by politics, there is no room for scandals. There is too much at stake and the King’s immediate family discourage him from all contact with Haijby.

The bubble finally bursts when Kurt’s wife, Anna Haijby, realises what’s going on and declares her husband’s infidelity with the King of Sweden as grounds for divorce. With Chief Superintendent Torsten Nothin leading the investigation, a desperate battle is set in motion to save the monarchy from disaster.

SVT Head Of Drama, Anna Croneman, said: “At SVT Drama, we continue with our strategy of telling unique stories about Sweden.. and it’s hard not to be fascinated by what happened or didn’t happen in the circles surrounding Kurt Haijby and Gustaf V – and the legal scandal that followed.”

Set in Gothenburg, Trollhättan and Stockholm, the untitled four-part drama is slated to premiere Christmas 2021 on SVT1 and SVT Play. Filming begins in June with Lisa James Larsson on board to direct.