Kenneth Branagh is to play UK prime minister Boris Johnson in a new TV series for Sky.

This Sceptred Isle chart the events surrounding Johnson, the UK government, and the country in the face of the first wave of the global pandemic.

The five-part drama will trace the pandemic’s impact on Britain, and the response of scientists, nurses, and doctors as they worked to contain and overcome the virus.

It is based on the first-hand testimony of people from all walks of life; from Number 10 Downing Street, the Department of Health, The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), and from hospitals and care homes across the country.

The series has been co-written and will be directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Filming is due to begin this spring, with the series expected to air on Sky Atlantic and Now TV in 2022.