Helen McCrory (Peaky Blinders, MotherFatherSon) has been cast as the Prime Minister, Dawn Ellison, in Roadkill, a major new political thriller for BBC One, and Masterpiece on PBS, written by David Hare (Collateral, The White Crow) and produced by The Forge (Collateral, Kiri).

Helen and, previously announced, Hugh Laurie (The Night Manager, House), are joined by Sidse Babett Knudsen (The Accident, Westworld), Saskia Reeves (Us, The Child in Time), Sarah Greene (Dublin Murders, Normal People), Patricia Hodge (A Very English Scandal, Miranda), Ophelia Lovibond (W1A, Hooten & the Lady), Iain De Caestecker (Us, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Katie Leung (Chimerica, Strangers), Olivia Vinall (The Woman in White, Apple Tree Yard), Pippa Bennett-Warner (Harlots, MotherFatherSon), Shalom Brune-Franklin (Our Girl, Bad Mothers), Pip Torrens (Poldark, Preacher), Millie Brady (The Last Kingdom) and Danny Ashok (Deep Water, Capital).

Roadkill is a four-part fictional thriller about Peter Laurence (Hugh Laurie), a self-made, forceful and charismatic politician. Peter’s public and private life seems to be falling apart - or rather is being picked apart by his enemies. As the personal revelations spiral, he is shamelessly untroubled by guilt or remorse, expertly walking a high wire between glory and catastrophe as he seeks to further his own agenda whilst others plot to bring him down. However events show just how hard it is, for both an individual and a country, to leave the past behind. With enemies so close to home, can Peter Laurence ever out-run his own secrets to win the ultimate prize?

David Hare says: “The casting of Roadkill illustrates the extraordinary depth and range newly on show in British film acting. Hugh Laurie is leading a great ensemble.”

Roadkill is a 4X60’ series for BBC One and Masterpiece. It is executive produced by creator David Hare, George Faber and Mark Pybus for The Forge, Lucy Richer for the BBC and Michael Keillor, and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece. It is directed by Michael Keillor (Line Of Duty, Strike, Chimerica) and produced by Andy Litvin (The Trial, Hunger, Ginger & Rosa). All3Media international are the global partner on the project. Filming has begun in London.