Channel 4 announced today that the In Treatment star will play politician Tom Dawkins, a “reluctant hero” who “risks everything by taking on the might of the establishment”.

The official synopsis reads: “A massive industrial accident on Teesside leaves several people dead and raises awkward questions about the safety procedures of the US petrochemical company involved.

“As a man who has a profound belief in transparency and open government, Dawkins will have to tackle vested interests, financial, media, and military, both domestic and international, in his pursuit to uncover the truth and get justice for the families affected by the disaster.

“Along the way, he will struggle to keep his party onside and the electorate behind him, as he also weathers damaging revelations about his personal life. And as the investigation into the Teesside disaster proceeds, Dawkins becomes aware of establishment’s secret ties to the petrochemical company and comes to realise that there are bigger powers at play behind the scenes.”

Written by Robert Jones (Lennon Naked, Buried) and based on the novel A Very British Coup by Chris Mullin, Coup will begin filming next month and will air on Channel 4 later this year.

Are you looking forward to Coup? Let us know below…