The "Elementary" actor plays John Major, who served as the prime minister from 1990 to 1997. Even before the show aired, some drama surrounding his storyline occurred. An episode of the show features a scene where Charles, who at the time was Prince of Wales, summons Major to Buckingham Palace in an effort to oust the queen, but the real Major has vehemently denied that such an event ever happened. According to The Guardian, a spokesperson for Major called the show a "barrel-load of nonsense peddled for no other reason than to provide maximum – and entirely false – dramatic impact," and added that "there was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II – nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John). Neither Sir John nor Dame Norma have discussed the Monarchy remotely in these terms."