First image released of David Tennant as Alexander Litvinenko

ITV has released a first look at David Tennant as former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.

The Doctor Who actor will play Litvinenko in an eponymous drama about the spy's infamous death in London in 2006.

Making international headlines, Litvinenko was found to have been poisoned at a London hotel with polonium and he subsequently died 22 days later.

In the days before his death, Litvinenko have a number of interviews to the press and allowed his picture to be taken as he lay in hospital.

The image released of Tennant is a recreation of the famous picture of Litvinenko from three days before his death in hospital.

Read more: David Tennant 'was in the running against Daniel Craig' for James Bond role

Written by George Kay, who is the creator of Lupin, Litvinenko follows the spy's widow Marina as she attempts to put pressure on the British government to acknowledge Russia's involvement in her husband's death.

"In a statement, Kay said: “In late 2006, Alexander Litvinenko was a living witness to his own murder. He spent his dying days entrusting the Metropolitan Police with the details of what happened to him. It took those police and his remarkable widow Marina Litvinenko a decade to have those claims ratified.

Their stamina, hard work and bravery are what make this not only an essential story of our times but a privilege to be asked to write."

Litvinenko also stars Margarita Levieva as Marina Litvinenko as well as Neil Maskell and Mark Bonnar.

In September 2021, the European Court of Human Rights found that Litvinenko's killing was the responsibility of Russia.

The UK also concluded that the assassination was "probably approved by Mr. Nikolai Patrushev, then head of the FSB, and also by President Putin."

Litvinenko had been a vocal critic of Putin after fleeing in exile to Britain from Russia.

Litvinenko will launch on ITV’s streaming platform, ITVX, on Thursday 15 December.

Watch below: David Tennant opens up about one 'worry' he had regarding his Doctor Who return