Advertisement

Kenneth Branagh appears as Boris Johnson in 'This England' trailer

Watch a teaser for This England

Sir Kenneth Branagh has been unveiled as Boris Johnson in the first trailer for Sky's upcoming drama This England.

The show is set to focus on the prime minister's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and go inside the decisions made by the government in the spring of 2020.

Sporting prosthetics and a wig, Branagh looks uncannily like Johnson in the clip with the Hamlet actor also appearing to have put on weight for the role.

Picture shows: Prime Minister Boris Johnson (KENNETH BRANAGH)
Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson in This England. (Sky)

This England will also depict the pandemic's affect on frontline workers such as doctors, nurses and care home workers with subplots following the race to deploy a vaccine against the virus.

Read more: Everything new on Sky in May

In addition to Branagh playing Johnson, Ophelia Lovibond will play his wife Carrie and Andrew Buchan will portray Matt Hancock, the then-health secretary.

Picture shows: Carrie (OPHELIA LOVIBOND) and Prime Minister Boris Johnson (KENNETH BRANAGH)
Ophelia Lovibond and Kenneth Branagh in This England. (Sky)

The five-part series, which is being written and directed by Michael Winterbottom, will also touch on Johnson's controversial personal life and matters such as Brexit.

A synopsis for the show reads: “The drama takes us inside the halls of power, as Johnson grapples with COVID-19, Brexit, and a personal and political life wracked by controversy.

Kenneth Branagh, after winning the Oscar for Original Screenplay for Belfast in 2022. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Kenneth Branagh, after winning the Oscar for Original Screenplay for Belfast in 2022. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The events in government are interwoven with first-hand testimonies from around the UK, from the experts and scientists racing against time to understand the virus; the doctors, nurses and care-home workers on the frontline working tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome it; and ordinary people whose lives were thrown into turmoil.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds, stand in Downing Street during a nationwide Clap for Carers. (Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds, stand in Downing Street during a nationwide Clap for Carers. (Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)

Branagh could most recently be seen in Death on the Nile where he reprised the role of Hercule Poirot from Murder on the Orient Express. He also directed the film which co-starred Rose Leslie, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer and Annette Benning.

It was recently confirmed that he will be reuniting with Christopher Nolan for the director's next movie, Oppenheimer.

Branagh has previously worked with Nolan on Tenet and Dunkirk.

This England premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW later this year.