Litvinenko ITV1 release date and first look at new drama starring David Tennant

David Tennant is to play Alexander Litvinenko in a brand new ITV drama – here’s all you need to know.

The four part series, Litvinenko will see David Tennant as Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian Federal Security Services and KGB officer who died from polonium poisoning in November 2006.

Written by acclaimed screenwriter, George Kay (Lupin, Criminal), Litvinenko is the story of the determined Scotland Yard Officers who worked for ten years to prove who was responsible.

Litvinenko now has a confirmed date in the TV schedule, airing on ITV1 from Monday, 19 June 2023 at 9PM.

The show will continue nightly throughout the week to Thursday, 22 June.

On Friday, 23 June a companion documentary, Litvinenko: The Mayfair Poisoning will air.

Litvinenko first premiered on new streaming service ITVX on 15 December 2022.

Writer George 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.”

Margarita Levieva (The Deuce, The Blacklist) will play Marina.

A full synopsis shares: “The drama will relate how in November 2006 two police officers were called to University College Hospital in London to interview a patient in declining health. The Patient was Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident who claimed to have been poisoned on the direct orders of Vladimir Putin.

“During the police interviews, Alexander provided meticulous details from his hospital bedside about the events leading up to his illness. His information would ultimately help detectives track down two Russians who had poisoned Litvinenko with Polonium 210, a highly toxic radioactive substance.

“The iconic photograph taken of Litvinenko at his bedside generated international headlines, and after he was pronounced dead on November 23, Scotland Yard launched its murder investigation.”

ITV say that the drama is being made with the support of many of the key individuals involved in the investigation and subsequent public enquiry including former Scotland Yard officers, Clive Timmons and Brent Hyatt, along with Ben Emmerson QC and Alexander’s family. Mark Bonnar (Catastrophe, Quiz) will play Clive Timmons, whilst Neil Maskell (Small Axe, Utopia) is playing Brent Hyatt.