(dramatic music) - Better call the removal man, Robert.

(dramatic music) - You can bring me down Archie, but you will never take my place.

- I think Cobra's very true to real-life politics.

- It's an incredibly, politically, apposite script.

- A lot of backstabbing.

You can't trust people.

Agendas.

(dramatic music) - I was really interested in the degree to which you can preserve civilized values in a time when it feels like all of those values are disappearing.

- From the vigilantes, to the charlatans who tried to make political capital out of the suffering of others, I say this, "There will be a reckoning."

- Robert Sutherland, who plays our prime minister play by Robert Carlyle and his key problems is that his majority and therefore his grasp on power is very slender.

He constantly has the home secretary, Archie, played by David Haig, snapping at his heels.

- Part of the excitement as you realize that there can be enemies sitting opposite the table from each other, when they're in the same cabinet.

- When are you gonna make your move Archie?

- Well, do you know what they say about shooting the key?

- A populist, a charlatan, unbelievably smooth and clever operator.

He manipulates the crisis.

He manipulates right-wing opinion on opposition to the prime minister to further his own aims.

- There's another party that just pops up called People's Justice.

These are the people who are against the hands of the government's handling of this thing.

Within their ranks there're opportunists, to take advantage of the situation.

There's parallels to be drawn now about what's happening in the country right now.

- All the populism, the factions, the divisive element of how the story unfolds are reflected directly in the House of Commons today.

(techno upbeat music) - When Anna suggests Francine to the prime minister, he's like, "Are you kidding!"

Because they're just so not, they're not of the same tribe.

And so she's got them a little on their toes.

- How far can we trust our politicians when we're in crisis?

And what happens when that trust breaks down?

(techno upbeat music)