A BBC exec, the Iraq War film and a question of artistic licence
WITH a cast including Keira Knightley, Matt Smith and Ralph Fiennes, it is easy to see why the political thriller Official Secrets is tipped as this year’s most anticipated British film.
But the story about Katharine Gun, a GCHQ translator, leaking a devastating memo showing that the US asked British intelligence to spy on the United Nations in the run up to the Iraq War has proven uncomfortable viewing for one senior BBC executive.
Kamal Ahmed, the BBC’s editorial director and former business and economics editor, is understood to feel upset he has been cast as “the villain”.
Ahmed’s character, played by Ray Panthaki, is based on his time as political editor at The Observer.
With much of the film set in the Leftleaning paper’s newsroom, the reporters are eager to expose the “dirty tricks” used to secure backing for the war.
However, Ahmed’s character is reluctant to run the story because it would upset his Downing Street contacts, including many of Tony Blair’s gung-ho team of spin doctors.
He is portrayed as viewing the memo suspiciously, fearing that publishing it would be contrary to the paper’s decision to back military action against Saddam Hussein.
In the end the story made the front page and Ms Gun, played by Keira Knightley, was prosecuted for breaking state secrecy laws, a charge that was eventually dropped.
The movie – described as a “film documentary” and likely to be a hit with those who opposed the war – is particularly embarrassing for Ahmed as his BBC role demands political neutrality. A source close to Ahmed said he was given an Official Secrets private screening a few months ago and felt it was “not nice” to appear as “the villain”.
“The final decision on publishing any story is always down to the editor, rather than the political editor,” the source added. “The leaked memo story appeared on the front page anyway, so if Kamal was sceptical of its veracity he definitely did not influence the editor.
“Everyone who knows Kamal knows he wasn’t that close to Number 10 – he simply played the game that any parliamentary reporter has to play.”
Asked about Official Secrets, Ahmed, a former business editor at The Sunday Telegraph, is suitably diplomatic. “It’s a film, and a good one, but not a documentary,” he said. “OK, so its portrayal of me is not fair or accurate – I don’t recognise any of what I am supposed to have said and done and no one checked anything with me – but the film tells an important story. And Ray Panthaki who plays me is much better looking than I am – so, swings and roundabouts.”
Gavin Hood, who directed Official Secrets, insisted his thriller is an accurate account.
“It was important that every material fact and event shown could be supported by clear and accurate research,” he said.