New drama to expose the expense cover-up

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 22:05

SCOTTISH actor Brian Cox, best known for his role as the corrupt CIA boss in two of the Bourne movies, was yesterday announced to be lined up to play former House of Commons speaker Michael Martin.

The Scottish star will play the MP, who was forced to resign in the fall-out from the expenses scandal, in a new BBC4 drama.

Bleak House actress Anna Maxwell Martin will also appear in the film, playing journalist and campaigner Heather Brooke who helped to bring MPs' expense claims into the open.

Executive producer Patrick Spence said: "Heather Brooke's story is both inspirational and timely, and we're delighted to announce such an esteemed cast to bring Tony Saint's witty script to life."

The one-off 60-minute drama, Bringing Down The House, will feature Tim Pigott-Smith as Labour MP Alan Keen, and Neil Pearson as Hugh Tomlinson, QC, who led the legal campaign to to publish the claims.

The film follows the five-year campaign by Brooke for the disclosure of MPs' claims under the Freedom of Information Act, which sparked one of this year's biggest news stories.

Brooke's campaign was sparked when writing a book on the Freedom of Information Act and found her efforts to uncover MPs' expenses blocked.