BBC teams with Discovery to produce Saddam drama

by Staff, Brand Republic 31-Oct-05, 08:30

LONDON – The BBC is working with the Discovery Channel to produce a drama series telling the story of the inner workings of Saddam Hussein and his family.

The drama, 'House of Hussein', is being made for BBC Two and will focus on the lives of Saddam's closest family and the elite few who were at the top of the dictator's murderous regime through its rise and fall.

The series will takes place against the backdrop of the larger tragedy of the Iraqi people, through suppression and war, as well as drawing out the story of the Middle East's relationship with the West.

Roly Keating, controller of BBC Two, said: "The story of Saddam Hussein's family is one of the key epic dramas of our time. It is part of BBC Two's mission to develop bold, contemporary, fact-based drama, which brings current issues to its audience."

The series is being written and directed by Alex Holmes, who was behind the BBC's drama documentary 'Dunkirk', as well as 'Coup' and 'Every Time You Look at Me'.

"Although this project is very much at the development stage, the ambition is one that chimes well with a bold and confident BBC Two Drama output," Jane Tranter, BBC controller of drama commissioning, said.

The series is based on Dr Ala Bashir and Lars Sigurd Sunnana's book 'The Insider: Trapped in Saddam's Brutal Regime'.

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