False Witness, also known as The Diplomat internationally, is a two-part Australian television mini-series, produced by Screentime Australia, and broadcast simultaneously on the Australian subscription television channel UK.TV and BBC HD.[1] Commissioned as part of its required drama output, False Witness was the third in a series of drama commissions by the network in 2008, following Make or Break and Supernova.[2]

False Witness
UK DVD cover
Also known asThe Diplomat
GenreThriller
Created by
Written byPeter Gawler
Directed byPeter Andrikidis
Starring
Theme music composerBurkhard Dallwitz
Country of origin
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes2 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerJustin Bodle
ProducerPeter Andrikidis
Cinematography
  • Owen McPolin
  • Mark Wareham
EditorNeil Thumpston
Running time90 minutes
Production companyScreen Australia
Original release
Network
Release11 January (2009-01-11) –
12 January 2009 (2009-01-12)

Inspired by real events, The Diplomat stars Dougray Scott as Ian Porter, a British diplomat to Tajikistan, who comes under scrutiny from Scotland Yard whilst trying to prevent the sale of a nuclear bomb formerly belonging to the Soviet Union.[3]

The series premiered in Australia on 11 January 2009, with the second episode broadcast the following night.[4] The series also broadcast in the United States on iOn as a four-hour event on 17 January 2009.[5] Despite being co-produced by the BBC, the series was never broadcast on terrestrial television in the United Kingdom, instead being made available on DVD on 14 March 2011 via Showbox Entertainment.[6] The series was, however, broadcast on True Entertainment.[3]

Cast

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Episodes

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Episode Title Director Writer Original airdate
1"Part 1"Peter AndrikidisPeter Gawler11 January 2009 (2009-01-11)
Ian Porter, a British diplomat to Tajikistan, finds himself caught up in a web of espionage and deceit as he tries to prevent the terrorist trade of a nuclear bomb previously belonging to the Soviet Union. When Scotland Yard uncovers Porter's connections to the Russian mafia, the deal is threatened, forcing the terrorists to stop at nothing to get what they want.[3]
2"Part 2"Peter AndrikidisPeter Gawler12 January 2009 (2009-01-12)
Hundreds of thousands of innocent lives are at stake when the terrorist cell threatens to detonate the nuclear bomb. Hales must discover which side Porter is really on, while the Russian mafia and British agents chase the diplomat themselves.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Knox, David (9 January 2009). "False Witness". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  2. ^ Knox, David (11 June 2008). "UKTV commissions international thriller". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "The Diplomat - Series 1, Episode 1". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  4. ^ Knox, David (31 December 2008). "Airdate: False Witness". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  5. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (22 January 2009). "Chases, Gunplay and Terrorism, Without the Familiar Landmarks". NY Times. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  6. ^ "The Diplomat [DVD]". Amazon. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  7. ^ "The Diplomat - Series 1, Episode 2". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
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