Emma Thompson will lead the cast of new BBC One drama Years & Years, which has been written by Russell T Davies.

Thompson will play Vivienne Rook, an outspoken celebrity turned political figure whose controversial opinions divide the nation. She’s a new breed of politician, an entertainer, a rebel, a trickster, and her rise to power leads us into an unknown future.

Thompson will be joined in the six episod drama by Rory Kinnear, who plays Stephen Lyons, a financial advisor and the family’s peacekeeper who is married to Celeste, played by T’Nia Miller, an ambitious and opinionated accountant. Russell Tovey plays Daniel Lyons, a hard-working housing officer and Stephen’s brother.

Their sister, Edith, played by Jessica Hynes, is radical, dangerous and calculating with a secret life. Ruth Madeley, is heavily pregnant Rosie, and Anne Reid, as imperial grandmother Muriel, rounds out the cast.

The family drama, which is set in Manchester, converges on one crucial night in 2019. The story will then accelerate into the future, following their lives and loves over the next 15 years as Britain withdraws from Europe, America becomes a lone wolf, China asserts itself, and a new world begins to form. That’s when Rook then begins her rise to power.

Russell T Davies said, “This is a dream cast, put together by Andy Pryor, the man who found Jodie Whittaker to be Doctor Who. I’m very lucky, and very excited to start filming.”