The country is on the verge of a national emergency in new Sky original drama COBRA

Ever wondered what happens in the corridors of power during a time of national emergency?

Starring Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Legend of Barney Thomson) as Prime Minister Robert Sutherland and Victoria Hamilton (The Crown, Deep State) as his Chief of Staff Anna Marshall, COBRA, is a new Sky original production set in the heart of government during a major crisis.

The high stakes six-part British drama for Sky One and NOW TV deals with an unfolding national emergency that threatens to engulf the country as the COBRA committee, a team comprised of Britain’s leading experts, crisis contingency planners and most senior politicians fights to ensure the protection of the people of Great Britain

The Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff must contend with impossible political decisions, whilst also wrestling with ferociously pressured personal lives. Not only do they bear the weight of public expectation and their family’s needs; they must also be mindful of their political opponents who will use any sign of weakness as an opportunity to strike.

Written by Ben Richards (The Tunnel Sabotage; Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling) and produced by New Pictures (The Missing and Catherine The Great) for Sky, the drama hurls us into the eye of the political storm, both inside the corridors of power and on the ground, as catastrophic events pull the nation further and further into the abyss. 

Additional cast include Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones, Fortitude) as Fraser Walker, Head of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, David Haig (Killing Eve, Penny Dreadful) as Archie Glover-Morgan, Home Secretary, Marsha Thomason (Better Things, White Collar) as Francine Bridge MP and Lucy Cohu (Broadchurch, Forgiven) as Rachel Sutherland, the Prime Minister’s wife.

Award winning actor Robert Carlyle said: “I am really looking forward to stepping into the role of the Prime Minister in a story that feels almost too true to be fiction. COBRA is a palpably thrilling and witty take on a political drama but with a humanity at the heart of the series.”

Cameron Roach, Director of Sky Drama and Sky Studios, said: “COBRA gives a fascinating look into the world of politics and power under pressure, brought to life so brilliantly by Ben Richard’s scripts. It is a fantastic addition to our growing line up of home-grown British drama on Sky.”     

Charlie Pattinson Co-Founder and CEO of New Pictures, said: “COBRA is a thrilling mix of high stakes politics and high octane action. We are delighted to be working with Sky again to realise Ben Richards’ exhilarating scripts.”

COBRA is the latest drama series from Sky, as it continues to invest in bringing viewers bold and original British content. Forthcoming dramas for 2019 include Catherine The Great, Chernobyl, Temple, and Riviera, series 2. 

Executive producers for COBRA include Charlie Pattinson, Ben Richards, Jonathan Young and Nicola Larder. Joe Donaldson (Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street) is the producer. Lead director Hans Herbots (Riviera, The Treatment) will direct episodes 1-3 and Al Mackay (Humans, Deep Water) will direct the remaining episodes 4-6. The commissioning editor for Sky is Gabriel Silver. The series was commissioned by Cameron Roach, Sky’s Director of Drama and Sky Studios and Zai Bennett, Director of Programming for Sky Entertainment UK & Ireland.

The series is co-funded and distributed internationally by Sky Vision.

COBRA will air on Sky One and TV streaming service NOW TV this Autumn.

ENDS

For further information, contact: jillian.morabito@sky.uk

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