David Tennant is the star of the hard-hitting drama Litvinenko which follows the heartbreaking story of a former Russian spy who was poisoned in London. Alexander Litvinenko was a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and he died in a hospital after drinking green tea laced with a mysterious radioactive substance. Former Doctor Who actor Tennant has shared why he took on the “important” role with .
The series will retell how two police officers were called to University College Hospital in London to interview a patient in declining health.The patient was Litvinenko, a Russian dissident who claimed to have been poisoned on the direct orders of Putin.Photos from his hospital bed, while he was dying, sent shockwaves around the globe.The drama details the fight his wife, Marina Litvinenko, had to prove the guilt of those who poisoned him.
You are reading: David Tennant’s important reason for retelling Alexander Litvinenko’s murder
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Litvinenko airs on Thursday (Image: ITV/GETTY )
Marina has dedicated her life to getting justice for her husband (Image: ITV)
Speaking about transforming into Litvinenko, Tennant toldand other media: “I remember it happening and I remember being appalled, bewildered and shocked by the news story like the rest of the world was.”And then to read the way that George had written the script was captivating and compelling.”The actor added: “It felt like a story which had to be told.”He said it felt “important” to retell the story “on a geopolitical scale”.
Litvinenko blames Putin for his death (Image: ITV)
Litvinenko was poisoned in 2006 (Image: ITV)
“It’s also the emotional fracturing of a family, the terrible truth of what was attempted by this gangster [Putin] who has all this power,” Tennant stressed.”It was unjust and unfair,” he added. “What Litvinenko set out to do was to make sure this story was told, that’s how it felt.”Tennant added: “The most important thing we can do is tell the story again and again and again because that way Putin loses.”Tennant and the rest of the cast and crew worked alongside Litvinenko’s wife to make the four-part drama.
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In the opening episode, Litvinenko’s wife tells the detectives doctors are sceptical of his story.However, his deteriorating physical condition is clear for the medics to see.Over three heartbreaking days, the detectives interviewed Litvinenko who provided a detailed account of who he believed killed him.He was convinced Putin was the person responsible for ordering his murder.
Litvinenko’s death sparked an investigation into a chemical attack on the streets of London and a lengthy investigation between Britain and Russia to find justice for his murder.The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled last year Russia was responsible for the killing.Filming for the series took place across London last year.Litvinenko airs on ITVX on Thursday, December 15 at 9pm.