Burn Up is a powerful story of love, commitment and divided loyalty - a thriller in which the stakes couldn't be higher.

This topical thriller sees oil company executives, environmental activists and politicians collide in the battle between economic success and ecological responsibility.

Penry-Jones stars as Tom, who, having been named the new head of Arrow Oil, finds his life unravelling as he's pulled into a high-stakes game of power and international intrigue.

Campbell plays his colleague Holly, whose covert collaboration with environmentalists puts her in great jeopardy, and Whitford plays Tom's best friend Mack, a charismatic yet unscrupulous oil industry lobbyist.

We follow the trio's lives and loves as they hurtle towards a global climate change summit.

BBC Commissioning Editor for Drama, Lucy Richer, said, "Burn Up is a highly authored piece wholly of this unique moment in time. The exciting mix of US, Canadian and UK talent, the awesome backdrop of the Canadian wilds combined with Simon's taut and provocative script makes for an epic proposition."

Kudos Film and Television's Stephen Garrett said, "As a lifelong fan of the political thriller, it's been incredibly satisfying to marry it to the most urgent issue facing us as the century unfolds – a potent cocktail of fiction and fact that we hope will enlighten as much as it will entertain."

Alchemy CEO Carrie Stein said, "Climate change and environmental issues affect us all, so Burn Up will strike a chord with every viewer. Writer Simon Beaufoy has constantly updated his research so our script is as current and realistic as today's front-page news."

Burn Up is produced by Kudos Film and Television and Calgary-based SEVEN24 Films for the BBC (UK) and Global Television (Canada).