“devastating” The Observer “goosebump-inducing” The Herald
“understatedly horrifying” Evening Standard “important and disturbing” Metro
“bold, powerful, furious” Den of Geek “meticulously written and directed” Heat
In November 2006, two police detectives were called to University College Hospital in London to interview a patient in declining health. The patient was Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident who claimed to have been poisoned on the direct orders of Vladimir Putin.
During the police interviews, Alexander – portrayed by David Tennant (Des, Broadchurch) – provided meticulous details from his hospital bedside about the events leading up to his illness, which he knew would prove fatal. His information would ultimately help detectives track down two Russians who had poisoned Litvinenko with Polonium-210, one of the most toxic radioactive substances known to science.
Written by acclaimed screenwriter George Kay (Lupin, Criminal), this four-part factual drama series also focuses upon the story of Marina, portrayed by Margarita Levieva (The Deuce, The Blacklist), Alexander’s fearless, dignified widow who fought tirelessly to persuade the British Government to publicly name her husband’s killers and acknowledge the role of the Russian State in his murder.
LITVINENKO has been produced with the support of many of the key individuals involved in the investigation and subsequent public inquiry including former New Scotland Yard officers, Clive Timmons and Brent Hyatt, along with Ben Emmerson QC and Alexander’s family.
Mark Bonnar (Catastrophe, Quiz) portrays Clive Timmons, whilst Neil Maskell (Small Axe, Utopia) portrays Brent Hyatt.
Litvinenko has been directed by Jim Field Smith (Criminal, Endeavour) and was filmed on location in and around London.
The series is executive produced by Patrick Spence for ITV Studios (A Spy Among Friends, Ralph & Katie), Josephine Zapata Genetay for NENT Group, Lucy Bedford for Tiger Aspect Productions (Three Little Birds, Viewpoint, The Good Karma Hospital), George Kay, Jim Field Smith and David Tennant.
The co-Producer is Richard Kerbaj for Livedrop Media (Hunting the KGB Killers, Unmasking Jihadi John: Anatomy of a Terrorist) and the drama has been produced by Chris May.
Jim Field Smith 