Jason Watkins to star in The Trick

9 June 2021

Jason Watkins will lead the cast of 'The Trick'.

Jason Watkins

The 'Crown' actor will portray Professor Philip Jones, the Director of Climate Research at the University of East Anglia, in a one-off 90-minute BBC One drama which tells the story of the 2009 Climategate Scandal.

'The Trick' - which is written by Owen Sheers - follows the professor as he finds himself “at the eye of an international media storm and the victim of cyberterrorism", with the film examining the consequences of climate change denial, how public confidence in science was undermined by a media storm over hacked emails, and the "unjustified persecution" of Philip.

Jason hailed his casting as a "privilege".

He said: "It is rare that a drama marries the personal and the public in such a compelling way – the urgent need to tackle the effects of the earth’s warming is not going away and the research into this project has been sobering.

“It is a privilege to play the brilliant scientist, Phil Jones, whose own private world was so threatened from outside and whose research and efforts have been so vital globally in combating the effects of climate change. I’m delighted to be performing alongside Victoria, the whole exceptional cast and with Pip Broughton, whose singular and beautiful work I so admire.”

He will be joined in the drama by Victoria Hamilton as his on-screen wife Ruth, and the 'Doctor Foster' star is proud to be part of the project.

She said: "This project is a call to arms in favour of the climate change cause, and I’m genuinely thrilled to be part of it.”

The star-studded cast also includes Jerome Flynn, George MacKay, Aneirin Hughes, Pooky Quesnel, Richard Elfyn, Rhashan Stone, Justin Salinger, Tara Divina and David Calder.