I Played the Prime Minister

Shaun Ley meets the women and men who have brought decision-making in Downing Street to life on film, TV and radio.

* How do actors approach portraying the loneliness of leadership at the highest level?

* How do they avoid slipping into impersonation or caricature, when their subject is so familiar?

Brian Cox describes how he tackled the country's most iconic Prime Minister in the film Churchill.

Patricia Hodge explains how she adapted her barnstorming performance as Margaret Thatcher between the radio and TV versions of 'The Falklands Play', which is among the dramas we will be hearing again.

Featuring:

'Dividing The Union', an imagined encounter between David Cameron and Scotland's First Minister, negotiating independence. Starring Greg Wise.

Producer: Adam Bowen

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in November 2018.