New show sees Michael Gove navigate war with Russia as fictional prime minister

New Sky TV show The Wargame will see former Conservative MP Michael Gove navigate war with Russia as the prime minister of a fictional cross-party cabinet.

The four-part series, produced by The Garden as part of ITV Studios, is based on the Sky podcast of the same name and will take viewers into fictional Cobr-style meetings, following a fictional Russian attack on UK soil.

The Wargame will also star former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon as deputy prime minister, former Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt as defence secretary, Labour’s Harriet Harman as home secretary, and former Labour MP Jim Murphy as foreign secretary.

The cabinet will be completed by Tory Baroness Sayeeda Warsi as attorney general, director of communications Labour’s Ayesha Hazarika, retired British Army general Richard Barrons as chief of defence staff, national security adviser, former diplomat Kim Darroch, and former MI6 intelligence officer Christopher Steele as intelligence chief.

They will be opposed by a team of Russia experts, led by British writer Keir Giles.

There will also be international roles with Anthony Scaramucci playing the US secretary of state and Lord George Robertson as Nato secretary general.

Phil Edgar-Jones, executive director of unscripted originals at Sky, said: “A year ago, Sky News’ groundbreaking original podcast The Wargame captivated listeners, shedding light on the impossible choices our country’s leaders face under escalating military threat.

“Now working with the talented team at The Garden we’re bringing The Wargame to new audiences in a visceral new TV format, which will challenge some of the most experienced political and military minds in the country to imagine how they might respond under threat of war.

“At a time when we are facing increasing threats from all sides, this series couldn’t be more timely.”

The Wargame will air on Sky and Now this September.