Matthew Rhys, known for his roles in The Beast In Me and Widow's Bay, is set to headline a compelling new six-part BBC drama titled Dragon Slayers. The series will chronicle the remarkable career of legendary newspaper editor Sir Harry Evans, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 92, and his groundbreaking team at the Sunday Times.
Uncovering Britain's Biggest Scandals
The drama will chart the extraordinary journey of Evans and his Insight team, who fearlessly challenged powerful corporations, the legal establishment, and often the government itself. Their unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth, even when it was dangerous to reveal, led to the exposure of some of Britain's most significant scandals.
Matthew Rhys said: "At a time when stories of this nature are imperative, I am thrilled to be a part of this show." The series is penned by BAFTA-winning writer Peter Bowker, known for The A Word and Marvellous.
Based on Real-Life Events
Set in the 1970s, Dragon Slayers is based on comprehensive research, published works, and discussions with those who knew and worked alongside Harry Evans, including his widow, distinguished editor and journalist Tina Brown CBE, and the Evans family. Fans of The Hack, which starred David Tennant and was also based on real-life newspaper industry events, will particularly enjoy this drama.
Tina Brown said: "I could not be more thrilled that such a talented and creative team has come together to bring to the screen some of Harry's most inspiring journalistic achievements at the Sunday Times, and that the brilliant and versatile Matthew Rhys will be playing him."
Key Investigations
- Thalidomide victims: The Insight team became champions for Thalidomide victims, uncovering the systematic cover-up that left the public in the dark about the scandal.
- DC-10 disaster: They laboured relentlessly to expose the reality behind the DC-10 disaster, which stood as the world's deadliest aviation tragedy at that time.
- Kim Philby: The journalists also tackled treason allegations directly by revealing Kim Philby as one of the twentieth century's most successful spies.
Creative Team and Production
Writer Peter Bowker commented: "Telling the story of Harry Evans and the work of his Insight team is both a privilege and a joy. And having Matthew leading the cast is more than we could have hoped for. All of us are now united by a desire to honour the passion, doggedness and humour of this remarkable group of people. I hope the drama will make us take a fresh look at both journalism and that much maligned decade - the 1970s."
AC Chapter One will produce Dragon Slayers, with Universal International Studios co-producing for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Patrick Spence, Managing Director of AC Chapter One, stated: "The generational impact of Harry and his magnificent team acts as a powerful reminder of how much democracy relies on a fearless press, and what would happen if they could no longer shed light where it is most needed."
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: "Dragon Slayers is a rollercoaster story, each episode gripping and powerful, written with Pete Bowker's signature wit and sense of purpose. The investigative stories which were broken by Harry and his team carry as much power and purpose today as they did at the time. It's a real coup that the wonderful Matthew Rhys will star as the iconic Harry Evans."
