LITVINENKO - ITV 9-10pm - mon Tue wed thur - TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Four-part drama based on the true story of the police investigation into the poisoning of the former Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko.

In November 2006, Litvinenko, a former KGB officer, lies dying in a London hospital - poisoned by a mysterious radioactive substance.

As police are summoned to take his statement, Litvinenko points his finger directly at the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

Litvinenko's death a few days later sparks an investigation into a chemical attack on the streets of London and a ten-year investigation between Britain and Russia to find justice for his murder.

The four-part drama will air on ITV1 on consecutive nights starting from Monday 19th June at 9pm, with a documentary special titled Litvinenko: The Mayfair Poisoning then following at the same time on Friday 23rd June.

The drama – which is written by Lupin's George Kay – follows the true story (https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/litvinenko-itvx-true-story-exclusive/) of the Metropolitan Police's investigation into the fatal poisoning of the titular Russian
defector in 2006, as they strive to prove who was responsible for his death.

Tennant stars as the former Russian Federal Security Services officer while the cast (https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/litvinenko-itvx-cast/) also includes Margarita Levieva as Marina, Mark Bonnar as DS Clive Timmons, Neil Maskell as DI Brent Hyatt and Sam Troughton as DI Brian Tarpey.

And although Tennant is playing the title role, director Jim Field Smith explained last year that the star was actually only on set for "around 10 days" of shooting (https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/litvinenko-david-tennant-filming-newsupdate/), given his character dies towards the start of the drama.

Kay previously said of the series: "In late 2006, Alexander Litvinenko was a living witness to his own murder. He spent his dying days entrusting the Metropolitan Police with the details of what happened to him.

"It took those police and his remarkable widow Marina Litvinenko a decade to have those claims ra
tified. Their stamina, hard work and bravery are what make this not only an essential story of our times but a privilege to be asked to write."

The Litvenenko story covers the incident, police investigation and ongoing issues

There isn’t a direct connection to salisbury
But the hall relate to the gangster style state and ‘Muscovite mindset’

The Putin book from Russia with blood that I linked above covers the wider piece of the various backstabbing’s of the regime
(it’s available as an audio book and I believe may fall within free credits if anyone has a subscription audio book service)

I’m not currently watching, and can’t remember the Litvenenko background given in these episodes, but his job in Russia and his reasons for leaving Russia have a connection to these the ‘wrongness’ of these types of goings on by Putins government
(I don’t want to make any spoilers, and can also recommend once having watched all episodes to look up Litvenenkos wiki etc plus the alternative programmes such as the Salisbury poisonings and ‘from Russia with blood’

PS if your interest is sparked then after all the above Bellingcat is a good area to look in

Quite a few resources and a series of podcasts….. with the following page covering a few areas
https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/podcasts/2020/06/16/bellingchat-episode-3-hunting-the-the-salisbury-poisonings-suspects/

Catching up on ITVX, halfway through ep #1. Very well done so far.

I am really enjoying this. I was in London when this happened. My company had their Xmas party at The Millennium Hotel a month after Litvinenko was poisoned and we had the whole party might get cancelled/should we still go ahead. Party did go ahead but parts of the hotel were cordoned off as still radioactive/under investigation so it's interesting for me to see the hotel on screen.

I still find it absolutely shocking what happened and that Russia/Putin have essentially got away with it. Tonight's episode shows just how ruthless the Russians are.

@tennissquare thank you

12 years apart! I hadnt realised!

Spoiler. He dies

One thing that struck me, as soon as found out it was polonium, why the hell they didn't test the two cops straightaway (who'd been with Sasha more than anyone; more than his wife)? they seemed to leave it days (weeks?) before the boss cop casually mentioned, you two had better get tested!

I just messaged my son, and said him, I think this, and the Steeltown Murders story on BBC, are way better than the average run of Netflix mini-series, and although I don't generally like 'Based On A True Story' shows too much, I'd give both of these the thumbs-up.

Just finished this series and thought it was excellent.

I’ve just returned from holiday & DH hadn’t recorded it but found on catch up and binge watched assuming you’d all seen it. Will definitely look into this more. Thank you for the links @tommika

I've been quite disappointed in recent TV series. Thought Happy Valley had ruined me for anything else this year. Have only seen episode one so far, but I'm so impressed and it doesn't matter that the reality's well known.

It's made me look up the 1978 assassination of Georgi Markov on Waterloo Bridge, the famous poisoned umbrella tip, as well as refreshing my memory on the more recent Salisbury poisonings.

In the light of the last year or so's happenings from Russia it's horribly compelling to follow and re-think.

Try dr death @duc748

Thanks, Blondes, will have a look!