THE bitter fall out between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond is to be turned into a TV show, reports say.
The show will be a political drama, hoping to pitch itself alongside other acclaimed programmes like Brexit: The Uncivil War, which starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Dominic Cummings.
Synchronicity Films, based in Glasgow, told The Times Newspaper it had taken out an option on the book Break-Up: How Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon Went to War and the project was “in active development”.
The production company previously released The Cry, a BBC1 psychological thriller.
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The programme will be based on the book written by Courier editor David Clegg and Kieran Andrews, Scottish political editor at the Times.
We previously told how Salmond had taken legal steps - including contacting the Crown Office - over the book which detailed his rift with Nicola Sturgeon.
And now, a TV drama will use details from the book to delve into the alliance between Sturgeon and Salmond that lasted decades, before sexual assault claims ripped through the party.
Synchronicity Films told the Times that it was seeking a writer to develop a script about the feud between Salmond and Sturgeon.
The TV drama will focus on Salmond and Sturgeon's relationship and fall-out
It said the affair was a story of power that ended in allegations of conspiracy as the 30-year alliance, in which both parties shared the vision of Scottish independence, disintegrated following allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
Salmond denied the allegations against him and was cleared of all charges in a High Court trial.
Siobhan Synnot, a film critic, said the story had “the makings of a great House of Cards-style drama” with “intrigue, strong characters and two warring tribes”.
Synott said she could imagine several leading actors in the lead roles, such as Scottish actress Laura Fraser, who has appeared in the hit series Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul.
Brian Cox is one suggestion of who could take on the role of Salmond
She said: “Tracey Ullman has already had a crack at Nicola, though the voice needs work. “Nicola herself suggested Borgen star Sidse Babett Knudsen, and Siobhan Redmond would be worth a shout.
“Unfortunately James Gandolfini is no longer with us but Brian Cox or Robbie Coltrane might be persuaded to add Salmond to their acting roster.”
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Claire Mundell, creative director at Synchronicity Films, said: “This story touches on so many things we as a society grapple with today.
“At its core it is an exploration of a universal story: the breakdown of a relationship between mentor and mentee as their once-united ideologies fracture.”
The SNP and Alba have been contacted for comment.
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