BBC Unveils Gripping Drama on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's Hostage Ordeal
The BBC has launched a powerful new factual drama series, Prisoner 951, which chronicles the extraordinary real-life story of British-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband Richard Ratcliffe's relentless campaign for her freedom. This four-part mini-series delves into one of the most high-profile international hostage situations in recent British history.
The Harrowing True Story Behind Prisoner 951
In April 2016, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's life was torn apart when she was arrested at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, separated from her 22-month-old daughter, and falsely accused of espionage. What followed was a six-year nightmare of imprisonment where she became a pawn in a decades-old political dispute between Britain and Iran.
Thousands of miles away in London, her husband Richard Ratcliffe, an accountant by profession, refused to accept the situation quietly. He embarked on an unprecedented campaign that would see him battling political indifference at home and tyranny abroad to secure his wife's release. The series promises to reveal both the public story that played out in media headlines and the private struggles behind closed doors.
When and Where to Watch Prisoner 951
Prisoner 951 premiered on Sunday, November 23, with the entire four-episode series becoming available on BBC iPlayer from 6am. The drama also broadcast on BBC One from 9pm the same evening, giving viewers multiple ways to access this compelling story.
The series benefits from top-tier creative talent, being penned by acclaimed writer Stephen Butchard, known for This City Is Ours and Five Daughters, and directed by three-time BAFTA winner Philippa Lowthorpe, whose credits include Three Girls and The Crown.
Meet the Cast Bringing the Story to Life
Portraying Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is Narges Rashidi, familiar to audiences from her roles in Gangs of London and Under the Shadow. Rashidi described the role as emotionally demanding, stating she had to film up to eight emotionally intense scenes some days. She expressed profound respect for the real Nazanin, acknowledging that while her acting assignment lasted four months, Zaghari-Ratcliffe endured the real ordeal for six years without knowing when or if it would end.
Opposite her, Joseph Fiennes takes on the role of Richard Ratcliffe. The Handmaid's Tale actor brings his experience portraying real-life figures to the part, having previously depicted characters such as the Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth and Gareth Southgate in Dear England. Fiennes revealed that he met with Richard Ratcliffe for several hours to understand his spirit and physicality, noting that Ratcliffe's background as a forensic auditor became his "super skill" in systematically challenging the authorities holding his wife.
The drama is based on extensive first-hand accounts from both Nazanin and Richard, as well as comprehensive research, ensuring an authentic representation of their family's extraordinary courage and resilience. The series precedes the couple's upcoming book, A Yard of Sky, offering viewers a dramatic preview of their full story.
