David Hare claims there is no “secret passage” between ‘Roadkill’ and the real world.
Hugh Laurie
The 73-year-old screenwriter has penned the BBC drama, which stars Hugh Laurie as Conservative minister Peter Laurence whose public and private lives are both falling to pieces.
However, Hare has insisted viewers shouldn’t try to guess who the characters are based on as there is no link between them and any real politician.
He said: "So much television drama is now based on documentary events that it is hard to remember the primary trigger for fiction is meant to be the imagination.
"My hero, Peter Laurence, is not based on anyone. Nor are the other characters. Mine is a parallel world to the real one, and there is no secret passage between the two.
"You will be wasting your time if you think that the purpose of the series is to work out who everyone is ‘meant to be’. In Roadkill, neither Covid nor Brexit consume every politician’s waking hour.”
The four-part drama will see Laurie reunite with the award-winning writer after working together in a series of his films in the 80s.
Hare previously said: "I first worked with Hugh Laurie in 1987 when he set off on his riveting change of direction from adroit comedian to commanding dramatic actor.
"I can't wait to see him embody the fictional future of the Conservative party in 'Roadkill'."
Michael Keillor is set to direct the thriller and act as an executive producer alongside David, George Faber, Mark Pybus, and Lucy Richer.
Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, commented: "'Roadkill' is a thriller which explores the relationship between personal morality and political power.
"Hugh Laurie is an incredible actor who will play this fictional role with utter conviction, and it is a great honour to work once again with David Hare and The Forge to bring this brilliantly sharp and funny drama to BBC One."
Tagged in Hugh Laurie