Nigel Farage’s life after politics is to be the subject of a new BBC comedy.
The one-off show, Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back, was commissioned by BBC2.
Porridge star Kevin Bishop will portray the outgoing Ukip leader in the 30-minute project which will be a combination of direct pieces to camera and footage detailing the “day-to-day reality of being Nigel Farage”.
The programme will explore the many “faces” of Farage from “public Nigel” to “private Nigel”.
The title is a direct reference to Farage’s resignation speech that he made in July this year following the Brexit vote to leave the European Union.
Farage said: “During the referendum campaign, I said I want my country back. What I’m saying today is I want my life back, and it begins right now.”
The official synopsis for the project explains: “On 23 June, Britain voted to leave the European Union. Then, on 4 July, Nigel Farage, the man who had made it all possible, resigned saying he wanted his life back. But what sort of life has he gone back to, and how does a man forever in the spotlight fill his days now he has nothing to do?”
Bishop said: “I’m delighted to be playing a character as colourful as Farage. He’s a gift to parody and I’m looking forward to bringing previously unseen aspects of his life to the screen.”
Peter Holmes, managing director of Zeppotron and the executive producer, said: “This project couldn’t feel more relevant.
“Nigel Farage has had a huge part to play in the momentous political events of recent times, and everybody has an opinion of him.
“We hope we can create a lot of laughter while painting a portrait of such a divisive figure as he fills the empty hours of retirement.”
The comedy is being written by Alan Connor and Shaun Pye, who worked together on The Rack Pack and Sky Arts’ A Young Doctor’s Notebook, which starred Daniel Radcliffe and Mad Men’s Jon Hamm.
Farage appeared on stage alongside US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at a rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday night.
