Rafe Spall to Play U.K. Prime Minister in Steven Moffats Channel 4 Political Dramedy Number 10

Rafe Spall will play the British prime minister in a new political comedy-drama Number 10.

In August, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Sherlock creator Steven Moffat was penning his first project for Channel 4, a series following one of the most famous addresses in the world.

Produced by Hartswood Films, part of ITV Studios, Number 10 will be led by Spall, next to Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who, The Sandman) as his deputy chief of staff and Katherine Kelly (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) as chief of staff.

Joining them in 10 Downing Street are Akshay Khanna, Abigail Lawrie, Laura Haddock, Jing Lusi, Pierro Niel-Mee, Rick Warden, Joe Wilkinson, Robyn Cara, Richard Rankin, Rhiannon Clements, Patrick Baladi, Shaun Prendergast, Harry Baxendale, Alex Macqueen, Sid Sagar, Sam Alexander and Emer Kenny.

“There’s a Prime Minister in the attic, a coffee bar in the basement, and a wallpapered labyrinth of romance, crisis and heartbreak in between,” a plot synopsis reads. “Set in the only terrace house in history with mice and a nuclear deterrent, it’s the only knock-through in the world where a hangover can start a war. The government will be fictional and unspecific, but the problems will be real. We’ll never know which party is in power, because once the whole world hits the fan it barely matters. This is a show about the building and everyone inside.”

Spall said: “Number 10 is a sensational piece of writing, equal to its peerless author, Steven Moffat. I’m delighted to be playing the Prime Minister, in a funny, real and thrilling piece of TV,” while Coleman added: “I thought it was about time I visited another British institution with Steven Moffat. I’m very much looking forward to moving into Number 10 with Steven’s cracking scripts and working with Sue Vertue, Ben Palmer, Rafe Spall and Katherine Kelly”.

Kelly said, “I am delighted to be reunited with Steven Moffat. His scripts are second to none, and I am thrilled to be working with the team at Hartswood Films once more. I look forward to walking through the famous doors of Number 10 and playing this delicious role.”

Steven Moffat, writer and executive producer for Hartswood Films, said, “it’s all about famous doors!”

“The doors to the TARDIS, the door to 221B Baker Street, and now the most famous door in the world —Number 10,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to write about the madhouse that runs the madhouse for years, and I’ve never had so much fun doing the research. Other nations are ruled from mighty palaces. Britain is run from a little brick street with a big black door. If you want to do a workplace comedy drama this one is the boss of them all. And what a cast.”

Commissioned for Channel 4 by Gwawr Lloyd, acting head of Channel 4 drama, the executive producers for Hartswood Films are Moffat and Sue Vertue, with Lawrence Till as the producer. Rachel Stone will be the co-producer. The director will be Ben Palmer.

Number 10 is produced in association with and will be distributed by ITV Studios. Transmission details will be revealed in due course.