A death FORETOLD

DAVID TENNANT on playing real-life Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko, the man who solved his own murder

- SEAN MARLAND

LITVINENKO

NEW FROM THU 15 DECEMBER, ITVX DRAMA

The fatal poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko sent shock waves around the world in November 2006.

Now, new true-crime drama Litvinenko, launching this week on ITV’s streaming service ITVX, will explore the story of the Metropolitan Police officers who investigated the case after the 44-year-old (portrayed by David Tennant) was found in declining health at University College Hospital in London as a result of a radioactive substance being put into his drink at a Mayfair hotel.

Through a series of bedside interviews, Litvinenko, who was known as Sasha, provided the police, including Det Supt Clive Timmons (Mark Bonnar) and DI Brent Hyatt (Neil Maskell), with crucial details about the events leading up to his illness and claimed the attack was on the direct orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The information would lead to one of the most dangerous investigations in the history of the Metropolitan Police.

Filmed on location in and around London, the four-part series also focuses on his devoted widow, Marina Litvinenko (Margarita Levieva), who bravely and tirelessly fought to persuade and tirelessly fought to persuade the British Government to publicly name her husband’s killers.

Here, David, 51, tells us about taking on this challenging role…

Why did you want to portray Alexander Litvinenko?