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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Hamish Morrison

Armando Iannucci points out fatal flaw in name of new Boris Johnson drama

Armando Iannucci points out fatal flaw in upcoming Boris Johnson TV drama

A FATAL flaw in a new drama about the early days of Boris Johnson’s premiership has been exposed.

This England, a new TV series on Sky starring Kenneth Branagh as the Tory Prime Minister, will premier later this year.

But a problem with the show’s title has been pointed out by the Scottish political satirist Armando Iannucci.

The Glasgow-born creator of The Thick of It took issue with the show’s name, pointing out that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had all felt the impact of Johnson’s time as Prime Minister so far.

Iannucci took to Twitter to say: “I think you’ll find Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland went through it as well.

“#ThisTitleNeedsChanging”

Sky said the show will focus on “Johnson’s tumultuous first months as UK Prime Minister” which included Brexit and the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The channel added: “The drama takes us inside the halls of power, as Johnson grapples with Covid-19, Brexit, and a controversial personal and political life.

“The events in government are interwoven with stories from around the UK, from the experts and scientists racing against time to understand the virus; the doctors, nurses and care-home workers on the frontline working tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome it; and ordinary people whose lives were thrown into turmoil.”

This England is produced by Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films and Richard Brown’s Passenger. The series will air on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW later this year.

It takes its title from a line from William Shakespeare’s Richard II, a play about a tyrant king who is foolish, spendthrift and detached from the lives of his subjects.  

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