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London (CNN) --
Netflix has come out in defense of its series "The Crown," calling it "dramatized fiction," after former UK Prime Minister John Major criticized its portrayals of his time in the charge as "damaging and malicious fiction" and a "load of nonsense".
Major, who was prime minister from 1990 to 1997, responded on Saturday to rumors in the British media that one of the new season's plot lines features King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, by hinting that he wanted the support of Major for the abdication of his mother.
Another storyline is said to include disparaging conversations between Major, played by Jonny Lee Miller, and his wife, Norma, about the queen and the royal family.
Former Prime Minister John Major is seen in London in February 2022.
Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Images/Getty Images
A statement on behalf of the former prime minister sent to CNN on Monday described such scenes as "a bunch of nonsense sold for no other reason than to provide maximum, and wholly untrue, dramatic impact."
"Sir John has not cooperated in any way with 'The Crown.' Nor has he been contacted to fact-check scripts for this or any other series," a spokesperson for Major said in the statement.
"Discussions between the monarch and the prime minister are totally private and, to Sir John, they always will be. But none of the scenes depicted are in any way accurate. They are fiction, pure and simple," the spokesman said.
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"There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about a possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II, nor did the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John) ever raise such an unlikely and improper subject," he added.
"Neither Sir John nor Lady Norma have spoken of the monarchy remotely in the terms that you suggest in your email," the spokesman said, adding: "What you report as depicted in the script has never been your point of view. view, it would never be your point of view, and it will never be your point of view.
The next season of "The Crown" will premiere on Netflix on November 9, with Imelda Staunton taking over from Olivia Colman in the role of the queen, who played her in seasons 3 and 4.
According to Netflix's description, season 5 focuses on the queen "approaching the 40th anniversary of her accession."
Netflix responded to the scandal on Monday.
A spokesperson said in a statement: "The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical fact."
"Series 5 is a fictional dramatization, imagining what might have transpired behind closed doors over a significant decade for the royal family, one that has already been scrutinized and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians," the spokesperson added.
The series, created by Peter Morgan, swept the drama categories at last year's Emmy Awards, winning the night's top accolade, Outstanding Drama Series.
-- Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.
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