Scandalous TV
Hugh Laurie plays a crooked politician in `Roadkill'
Hugh Laurie stars in “Roadkill”
Without a doubt, politics is top of mind these days. As the U.S. election looms mere days away, politics is once again a hot topic, and a new miniseries is poised to capture the imaginations of TV viewers with a tale of scandal and corruption.
Hugh Laurie (“House”) stars as Peter Laurence, an unscrupulous Conservative Party minister who is forced to navigate a number of scandals in “Roadkill,” premiering on PBS's Masterpiece Mystery, Sunday, Nov. 1. Once a furniture salesman, Laurence has risen through the ranks of British politics thanks to his undeniable charm and knack for populism. However, he has plenty of skeletons in his closet and no shortage of adversaries who want to take him down as he employs his ruthless ambition to rise to the top.
People on both sides of the pond may feel as if Laurence's story is familiar and, although some real-life politicians offer plenty of fodder for writers, David Hare (“The Hours,” 2002) — who penned all four episodes of the miniseries — insists that Laurie's character isn't based on any one person in particular.
“My hero, Peter Laurence, is not based on anyone,” Hare explained to RadioTimes in October, “nor are the other characters. Mine is a parallel world to the real one, and there is no secret passage between the two.”
While the main character in “Roadkill” may not have come from the hallowed halls of the British Parliament or the White House, that is not to say that he won't entertain TV viewers.
Remorseless and seemingly impervious to guilt, Laurence is less concerned with the personal implications of his public scandals than he is about how they will impact his political career. As the series opens, he's basking in the victory of a recent libel suit against a reporter who accused him of accepting payments for his part in helping to privatize the National Health Service. His legal team may have saved him from becoming “roadkill” in that case, but it isn't long before more problems emerge on the horizon.
Laurie, who made a name for himself in the comedy series “A Bit of Fry and Laurie” before delving into more dramatic fare such as “House” and “The Night Manager,” seems the perfect choice for the role. News of his casting in “Roadkill” broke way back in August 2019 when originating network BBC announced the upcoming political thriller.
“`Roadkill' is a thriller that explores the relationship between personal morality and political power,” BBC executive Piers Wenger said at the time of the official BBC news release. He went on to praise Laurie, saying: “Hugh Laurie is an incredible actor who will play this fictional role with utter conviction.”
Laurie's in good company with his “Roadkill” co-stars, too. The cast includes Saskia Reeves (“Close My Eyes,” 1991) as his long-suffering wife, Helen, to whom he's been married for three decades. Having stood by him thus far and even lied in court for him, Helen begins to have second thoughts about their relationship. Reeves' television credits include “Spooks,” “The Commander” and “Women in Love.”
Millie Brady, who currently stars in Netflix's “The Last Kingdom,” portrays Helen and Peter's spirited daughter, Lily. She shakes things up for the Laurences when she arranges for a “family trial,” prompting the return of her sister, Susan, played by Ophelia Lovibond (“Elementary”). They may be family, but both daughters are quick to take their father to task.
Danish actor Sidse Babett Knudsen stars as the other woman in Laurence's life, his mistress, Madeleine, who's finally grown tired of his refusal to commit. In her homeland, Knudsen garnered praise for her work in the Danish TV series “Borgen.” However, North American audiences may know her better from her role as Theresa in HBO's “Westworld.”
Helen McCrory of “Peaky Blinders” fame can be seen alongside Laurie as “devious” Prime Minister Dawn Ellison. Well aware of the Laurence's many closeted skeletons, she is wary of his popularity with the people.
McCrory is well known for her work in such films as “The Queen” (2006), “Hugo” (2011), and “Skyfall” (2012), as well as for her turn as Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies.
The supporting cast includes young actor Olivia Vinall (“The Woman in White”) as the prime minister's eyes and ears, Julia Blythe, who appears to know all of Laurence's secrets. Laurence's special adviser, Duncan Knock, is played by Iain de Caestecker, famous for his roles in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “In Fear” (2013) and “Not Another Happy Ending” (2013).
Other notable cast members are Pippa BennettWarner (“Harlots”) as Laurence's lawyer, Rochelle Madeley; Sarah Greene (“Normal People”) as the reporter Laurence sued, Charmian Pepper; Pip Torrens (“Poldark”) as Pepper's editor, Joe Lapidus; Patricia Hodge (“A Very English Scandal”) as the newspaper's proprietor, Lady Roche; and Sylvestra le Touzel (“The Crown”) as Laurence's subordinate, Dame Vanessa Pollard.
While some of these characters appear to be allies, you never can tell when you are dealing with the likes of Peter Laurence — it seems everyone has a reason to hate him. As his life falls apart around him, he pushes forward, quipping: “You can get away with anything if you just brazen it out.”
Don't miss Hugh Laurie as politician Peter Laurence in Masterpiece Mystery's “Roadkill,” premiering Sunday, Nov. 1, on PBS.