The Stage

BBC4 to screen MPs’ expenses drama

Published Monday 2 November 2009 at 12:19 by Matthew Hemley

BBC4 is to broadcast a drama revealing the untold story behind the recent MPs’ expenses scandal.

Journalist Heather Brooke (pictured) is to have her story dramatised by BBC4 Photo: www.yrtk.org

The Heather Brooke Story is being written by Tony Saint, whose credits include Margaret Thatcher - The Long Walk to Finchley, and looks at the five-year campaign of American journalist Heather Brooke to see MPs’ expenses disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.

Brooke was writing a book on the act and had approached the House of Commons about the disclosure of MPs’ expenses, but found her request declined.

A High Court hearing eventually ruled she could have the information, but a delay in the release of the documents meant a whistleblower sold the information to The Daily Telegraph before she could write her own story.

BBC4 controller Richard Klein said: “This drama seeks to understand the story behind a serious subject by way of a witty interpretation of events. To that end I am delighted that Tony Saint is bringing his dry and acerbic sense of humour to the piece.”