Anna Maxwell Martin has been announced to play journalist and campaigner Heather Brooke, whose tenacious investigations brought about the disclosure of MPs' expenses, in one-off drama Bringing Down The House for BBC Four.
Brian Cox will star opposite Anna as Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, who was forced to resign after finding himself in a battle against Heather's determination for Freedom of Information relating to MPs' expenses and allowances.
Written by Tony Saint, the humorous 60-minute drama will focus on the events leading up to one of the biggest political scandals in recent history, and reveal the David and Goliath tale behind the now infamous headlines.
Bringing Down The House will also star Alex Jennings, as Fees Office head Andrew Walker, the man in charge of approving MPs expenses; Tim Pigott-Smith as Labour MP Alan Keen; and Neil Pearson as Hugh Tomlinson QC, who successfully led the legal campaign to force the Commons to publish the claims.
Bringing Down The House follows the five-year campaign of American journalist Heather Brooke for the disclosure of MPs' expenses claims under the Freedom of Information Act – a battle that took her all the way to the High Court in a case against the House of Commons, and resulted in the biggest political scandal in recent history.
Heather Brooke, an American living in London, was writing a book on the Freedom of Information Act. In 2004 she approached the House of Commons asking about MPs' expenses, and found her legitimate requests declined.
As she stepped up her fight to see the information, the establishment closed ranks and blocked her all the way. Twice Members of Parliament tried to pass legislation exempting themselves from the Act. It was only when Heather took her case to the High Court and won that the process of scanning the receipts began.
Heartbreakingly for Heather, the release of these documents was then delayed leading to a whistleblower selling them to the Daily Telegraph. One of the biggest political news stories of the decade slipped through her fingers just as she was preparing to write it.
Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Bleak House, And Then There Were None) will play a major role in the final two episodes of Line Of Duty series five. The Bafta-winning actor will appear as Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael, a senior anti-corruption detective brought in from outside of AC-12. Viewers will first meet DCS Carmichael this Sunday at 9pm on BBC One. On joining Line Of Duty, Anna Maxwell Martin says: “I’ve been a fan of Line Of Duty for years, so was dead chuffed to be part of series five. I’m so pleased I no longer have to keep it a secret! I feel honoured to follow in the footsteps of the host of great actors who make up the Line Of Duty family, and Jed Mercurio - of course - has written a brilliant character in Carmichael. She’s a woman on a mission.” Line of Duty showrunner Jed Mercurio says: “I’m delighted and flattered an actor of Anna Maxwell Martin’s status agreed to play this pivotal role in Line Of Duty. Anna was a pleasure to work w
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