Published: October 14, 2024 — Images and teaser released today of Academy Award®, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning actor Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man, The Staircase) as Jim Swire, and Catherine McCormack (Slow Horses, Temple, Lucan)  as Jane Swire.

The gripping limited series, which takes place over three decades, shows how a father, driven by love and loss, risks everything in the wake of Lockerbie – one of the world’s worst terrorist attacks.

Set amidst heightened international conflict and conspiracy, Dr. Jim Swire questions his long-held beliefs and allegiances as he mounts a controversial, decades-long campaign for truth and justice that takes him to the deserts of Libya where he met Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (Nabil Alraee) and to the Netherlands for the trial of convicted Libyan national, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi (Ardalan Esmaili). The series charts the devastating impact of Lockerbie on Jim and Jane Swire, their family, as well as the families of victims across the world.

Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant, Executive Producers for Carnival Films, commented: “The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 was one of the most devastating acts of terrorism that took the lives of 270 innocent people, including both US and UK citizens.

As the spokesperson for the UK victim’s families, we have followed Jim Swire’s remarkable story for over three decades. It is consequential to now watch Colin Firth’s captivating performance as he depicts Jim’s life’s work on screen. In part a profoundly moving character story of love and loss, this drama is as much an investigative political thriller that shows how an ordinary man with unstoppable determination can take on governments and world leaders in pursuit of truth.”

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth will be released on 2nd January 2025 on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW in the UK and Ireland and on Peacock in the US. The series will also be airing on Sky in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2025.
Notes to Editors

Synopsis

On 21st December 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie 38 minutes after take-off, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. 

In the wake of the disaster and his daughter’s death, Dr Jim Swire (Firth), is nominated spokesperson for the UK victims’ families, who have united to demand truth and justice. Travelling across continents and political divides, Jim embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardises his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever changed.

Exploring events from the disaster and its aftermath, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth provides an intimate account of a man, a husband, and a father who risks everything in memory of his daughter and the unflinching pursuit of truth and justice.

Production Credits

The five-part series is a co-production between Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, and Sky Studios. Renowned Scottish playwright David Harrower (Blackbird, Knives in Hens) is lead writer. Maryam Hamidi (Vigil) is guest writer on an episode. BAFTA Award-winning Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders, The Winter King) is lead director. Jim Loach (Save Me) will also direct an episode. Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Sam Hoyle is Executive Producer for Sky Studios. Additional Executive Producers include David Harrower, Otto Bathurst, Liz Trubridge, Jim Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan and Oskar Slingerland.

NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution will handle international sales of the series.

The series is based on the book The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice by Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph, along with multiple other sources.

Universal International Studios is a division of Universal Studio Group.