A new drama show depicting the Prime Minister's handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been met with a huge wave of criticism with viewers slamming the upcoming release as "tone-deaf" and saying "it's too soon".
The Sky series, called This England, will air later this year with Sir Kenneth Branagh portraying Boris Johnson and Andrew Buchan as former Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Viewers who watched the teaser trailer, released today, also took issue with the title of the show and questioned whether it was "only England that went through the pandemic ".
Others said experiencing it firsthand was already devastating enough and they would not want to go over the events again by watching the show. Twitter user Tim wrote: "Unless this is a jet black trenchant satire (guessing it isn’t even if the teaser hedges its bets) cannot imagine a worse timed drama than this."
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Helen said: "I didn't enjoy this 'drama' the first time around, do I have to go through it again?" Hector commented: "Absolutely tone-deaf in timing and title."
And Chauny questioned: "Haven’t we all suffered enough? Crikey."
In the trailer, a jubilant voiceover by Sir Kenneth as the prime minister can be heard saying: “A new dawn is breaking, 2020 will be a year of prosperity.” The tone of the clip shifts as Mr Johnson’s concern for the pandemic appears to grow as he says: “This Covid virus we need to keep an eye on.”
A montage of clips showing the inside of Number 10 follows as the Covid-19 pandemic escalates with a voice saying “500,000 deaths, that is a worst-case scenario”. An eerie soundtrack plays as the familiar rhetoric to “wash your hands” and “stay at home” plays out alongside images of the prime minister hosting press conferences at Downing Street.
The pressure of the premiership appears to mount as Sir Kenneth’s Mr Johnson says: “Isn’t it someone’s actual job to give me a heads up?” It closes with an image of the Number 10 door shutting as a radio announcer states: “The United Kingdom has overtaken Italy to report the highest official death toll.”
The series will follow the pandemic's impact on the UK, and the response of scientists, nurses and doctors. It is based on the first-hand evidence of people inside Number 10 Downing Street, the Department of Health, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), and from hospitals and care homes across the country.
Newly released images also show Ophelia Lovibond, who is also known for her roles in BBC sitcom W1A and Guardians Of The Galaxy, portraying the Prime Minister’s wife Carrie Symonds. The series, originally titled This Sceptred Isle, will be directed by Michael Winterbottom, who will also co-write, while Tim Shipman, the political editor of The Sunday Times, will act as a consultant.
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