Update:

Many others are reporting on this great news now, including The Hollywood Reporter (ooooh, and while you are there, check out the latest Academy Awards News!), The Stage, and TheaterMania.

Here is the official press release from Channel 4, dated January 24, 2012:

Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, Miller’s Crossing) marks his return to British TV to head the cast of Channel 4’s brand-new four-part drama series Coup (w/t), it was announced today.

Byrne plays the pivotal role of politician Tom Dawkins, the reluctant hero at the heart of this contemporary conspiracy thriller, who finds himself thrust into the spotlight of front-line politics when he least expects to be, and who risks everything by taking on the might of the establishment.

A massive industrial accident on Teesside leaves several people dead and raises awkward questions about the safety procedures of the US petrochemical company involved. As a man who has a profound belief in transparency and open government, Dawkins (Byrne) will have to tackle vested interests, financial, media, and military, both domestic and international, in his pursuit to uncover the truth and get justice for the families affected by the disaster. Along the way, he will struggle to keep his party onside and the electorate behind him, as he also weathers damaging revelations about his personal life. And as the investigation into the Teesside disaster proceeds, Dawkins becomes aware of establishment’s secret ties to the petrochemical company and comes to realise that there are bigger powers at play behind the scenes.

The series will go into production next month for transmission later this year.

Golden Globe winner (for hit US drama In Treatment) Gabriel Byrne is an internationally-renowned actor and producer, arguably best-known for acclaimed roles in Miller’s Crossing and The Usual Suspects.

Coup is written by Robert Jones (Lennon Naked, Cops, Buried), based on the novel A Very British Coup by Chris Mullin, directed by Ed Fraiman (The Philanthropist, ShakespeaRE-told, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and produced by Johann Knobel (The Shadow Line, Shameless). Executive Producers are Jason Newmark, Ed Fraiman, George Faber and Charles Pattinson.

A Company Pictures/Newscope Films production.

The Guardian informs us that Gabriel Byrne is returning to British television in Coup, which is based on Chris Mullen’s novel A Very British Coup. Fans may remember the very fine 1988 UK television series of the same name, with Ray McAnally. It was quite a hit. Filming of this new version is set to start next month and the show will air sometime this year.

The Usual Suspects and In Treatment star Gabriel Byrne is making a return to UK television to take the lead role in Channel 4’s conspiracy drama Coup.

In what is understood to be his first UK TV role in almost 20 years, Byrne will play reluctant hero Tom Dawkins.

In the four-part thriller, which is based on the novel A Very British Coup by former Labour MP Chris Mullin, politician Dawkins takes on the might of the establishment in a bid to uncover the truth behind an industrial accident in Teeside.

Byrne’s casting is something of a coup itself for Channel 4, because although the Irish actor appeared in some UK television productions in the 1980s and early 1990s, he has since mostly worked on films in the US.

Read the rest of the article.

Yes, yes. I am happy to return to the small screen in the UK.
I’ve had a lot fun on TV in the United States recently…

The Guardian reported on May 11, 2011:

Other new Channel 4 shows include, Coup, a four-part political thriller based on former Labour MP Chris Mullin’s novel A Very British Coup.

Coup explores the relationship between government, big business and the City and is being adapted for TV by Robert Jones, whose writing credits include Party Animals, Buried and The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

Camilla Campbell, head of drama at Channel 4, commissioned Company Pictures and Newscope Films to make the drama. Ed Fraiman is directing, with Johann Knobel producing.

Fraiman will also share executive producing duties with Jason Newmark, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson.

This is terrific news!!

7 Comments

  1. WhoohooYipYipYipYippeeHuzzar
    WhootWhootOhYes.
    And of course the accompanying picture.
    FizzleSizzleOMGLOOKATHISEYES
    ANDHISSMILEANDOHMYGOODNESSTHUD.

    Some Byrnese for you ;-))

  2. Kim Serrahn /Connell (@kimserrahn)

    Well this time we get to be jealous of those on the other side of the pond. Good watching OOOXXX

  3. Ooooo fantastic!!!!! Can’t wait for this….anyone know where it’s being filmed? xxx

    • A bit late, but some at least of Coup has been filmed in Manchester. Don’t know all of the locations, but I understand Manchester Cathedral is one, and I know Trinity Methodist Church in Ancoats was used for some scenes as well – I know the lady who lives on site there, who got to meet Mr. Byrne himself!

  4. sounds like an interesting story. reminds me a little of Defence of the Realm, which is my favorite Gabriel movie.

  5. Great news!!!
    Sounds like a very interesting story.
    Hope it will be shown on Norwegian television.

  6. Will the series “Coup” be available for US fans to watch on the web?

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