Times are running at breakneck speed and if not, let them tell the next project by Kenneth Branagh (‘Belfast’), in which gets into the skin of (now) former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. We are talking about ‘This England‘ and we can already see a vibrant trailer for the British miniseries.
With a release date in Great Britain (Sky) scheduled for September 21 this year (“this fall” on Movistar Plus+), the six-episode miniseries It will follow the government of Boris Johnson since his appointment in the summer of 2019 and, especially, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accompanying Branagh as Johnson, the cast consists of Ophelia Lovibond as his wife Carrie Symonds; Simon Paisley Day in the role of Dominic Cummings; Andrew Buchan as former Minister of Health Matt Hancock; Y james corrigan as political strategist Isaac Levido.
The pandemic in Downing Street
Michael Winterbottom is the co-writer and main director of ‘This England’, being accompanied by Kieron Quirk in the script and Julian Jarrold Behind the cameras. In Winterbottom’s words:
“The first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic will be remembered forever. A time when the country came together to fight an invisible enemy. A time when people were more aware than ever of the importance of community. Our series weaves together countless true stories, from Boris Johnson to people on the front lines across the country, the efforts of scientists, doctors, nursing home workers and lawmakers who fought to protect us from the virus.”
1 Comment
The TV series about Boris Johnson et al called This England by Kenneth Branagh should have been called My Londongrad. Why? First ask yourself why hasn’t MI5 properly investigated Russian interference in British politics? Why should anyone believe Johnson put his country before himself or believe his anti-Russian rhetoric? In 2016 when campaigning for Brexit he accused the EU of provoking Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. Indeed, Johnson/Cummings delivered Brexit beyond Putin’s wildest dreams. Combine Brexit with Trump’s divisiveness and no wonder Putin concluded the USA/EU/UK/NATO club was a crippled anachronism.
There is some fascinating fact based research published on the web by Bill Fairclough (ex-spook codename JJ and author of The Burlington Files autobiographical espionage series) about Boris Johnson et al called Britain’s Dismal Dossier on Russian Political Infiltration. He puts forward hard evidence to support the facts that not only have many past British Prime Ministers been compromised by Russian intelligence, but so too have Trump, Johnson and Cummings (prior to becoming political bigwigs). Dozens of other Tory Party supporters, MPs et al with Russian leanings are named in the article. Any of them, Trump, Johnson and Cummings included, could have been unwittingly manipulated. After all, flattery is a narcissist’s best friend.
Indeed, Kenneth Branagh could have made hay while the sun shines with this research. It is published in Bill Fairclough’s name on LinkedIn or Google TheBurlingtonFiles and in the News Section select the article for July 21, 2021. You might also want to read Bill Fairclough’s biographical novel Beyond Enkription – it’s a must read for espionage cognoscente.