New Partygate TV drama praises The Mirror for exposing No.10 Covid lockdown booze-ups

The Every day Mirror’s journalism is given full credit score for exposing the Downing Road Partygate scandal in a brand new docudrama in regards to the relentless lockdown booze-ups at No. 10.

The 90-minute particular exhibits the complete extent of the 15 events which breached the federal government’s personal guidelines throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020/21. It combines a story that includes actual and fictional characters performed by actors, interspersed with information footage to remind viewers of the strict “keep dwelling, save lives” mantra which banned or curbed all socialising.

It additionally accommodates real-life testimonies from these notably affected on the time, together with some whose family members died alone whereas these working for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson received drunk and danced. Aides are proven sending countless emails inviting one another to leaving dos and different events – together with the notorious birthday drinks for Johnson himself.

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On the finish of the movie – when the complete hypocrisy of their actions has been leaked – a message on the display screen tells viewers: “On the time the 15 lockdown events happened, few exterior Downing Road knew about them. Then, in November 2021, Pippa Crerar of the Every day Mirror broke the primary story. And later Paul Model of ITV Information ran the primary tv studies in regards to the events.

“Their tales had been the catalyst for the Grey Report, and with out their reporting the occasions documented on this movie could by no means have come to gentle.” The Channel 4 movie, to air throughout the Tory celebration convention early subsequent month, exhibits how the drunken bashes had been so frequent that on some days there have been multiple to select from.

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Impressionist Jon Culshaw performs Johnson whereas Line of Obligation’s Craig Parkinson is former Downing St director of communications Lee Caine, Ghosts’ Charlotte Richie turns into ex-deputy cupboard secretary Helen Macnamara and New Methods’ Anthony Calf is Mark Sidwell, then head of the civil service. The opposite real-life characters being portrayed embody the PM’s personal secretary Martin Reynolds, his spouse Carrie Symonds, deputy chief of workers Cleo Watson and head of the Covid activity power Kate Josephs.

Referred to as Partygate, the movie is basically based mostly on the detailed investigation performed by civil servant Grey, which finally price Johnson his job. Scenes embody the shopping for of a workers wine fridge, a toddler’s swing getting damaged throughout a backyard celebration, a karaoke machine being introduced in and one aide taking up the position of DJ.

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The motion centres on two fictional Particular Advisors, Grace Greenwood (Georgie Henley) and Annabel D’Acre (Ophelia Lovibond), who view the rule-breaking inside No.10 quite in another way. It additionally depicts a drunken struggle, vomiting and the remnants of drug-taking.

Saying the mission earlier this 12 months, Channel 4 mentioned: “This meticulously researched docudrama takes viewers inside No 10 as workers partied whereas the Covid dying toll soared and the nation diligently noticed lockdown restrictions.” The broadcaster mentioned the programme would distinction “the revelry contained in the nation’s seat of energy with the hardship and sacrifice skilled throughout the remainder of the nation”.

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It’s being produced by a workforce behind Bafta-winning dramas together with Killed by My Debt, The Left Behind, and Murdered by My Father. Johnson, 59, resigned as Prime Minister in July 2022, two months after Grey’s report into Partygate. A 12 months later, in June, he gave up his position as a Conservative MP, claiming he was the sufferer of a “witch-hunt”.

Partygate, Channel 4, October 3, 9.30pm.