Trick looks a treat
Jason Watkins is to front a new BBC drama about the 2009 Climategate Scandal.
The Trick sees Watkins play world renowned scientist Prof Phil Jones with Victoria Hamilton (Doctor Foster and The Crown) as his wife, Ruth.
Prof Jones was director of climate research at the University of East Anglia in 2009 when he found himself in a global media storm after hackers stole emails that sceptics falsely claimed showed global warming was a scam.
The drama will also look at the consequences of climate change denial and how the hack undermined public confidence in the science, causing us to lose a decade of action.
The film also charts the persecution of Jones and his wife Ruth’s fierce support.
Speaking about the project which will be screened as a 90-minute special, Jason said: “It is rare that a drama marries the personal and the public in such a compelling way – the urgent need to tackle the effects of the earth’s warming is not going away and the research into this project has been sobering.
“It is a privilege to play the brilliant scientist, Phil Jones, whose own private world was so threatened from outside and whose research and efforts have been so vital in combating the effects of climate change.
“I’m delighted to be performing alongside Victoria, the whole exceptional cast and with [director] Pip Broughton, whose singular and beautiful work I so admire.”
Filming will take place in Cardiff, London and Norfolk and other names signed up for the project include Jerome Flynn and Adrian Edmondson.
In the past Jason has memorably played the lead role in The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies, which won him a Bafta and Prime Minister Harold Wilson in Season 3 of The Crown. So the omens are good this will be a great film.