Lindsay to play Blair again in C4 comedy

Robert Lindsay is set to play Tony Blair in an irreverent comedy drama about what the premier's life could hold in store after politics.

Channel 4 chiefs today revealed plans to screen the two-hour film to mark digital channel More4's first anniversary this autumn.

It is being written by Alastair Beaton, author of TV drama A Very Social Secretary, about David Blunkett's affair with Kimberly Quinn, in which Lindsay played Mr Blair.

Head of More4 Peter Dale said: "We've asked Alastair to write another script, which he is in the midst of now.

"It will be a romp about what might happen to the Prime Minister in the future, after he leaves office.

"Robert Lindsay, who had his cameo as Blair in A Very Social Secretary, is keen to have another pop at it."

News of the proposed comedy drama comes as C4 director of television Kevin Lygo said the broadcaster aimed to rival the BBC in its Play For Today heyday, with at least half a dozen single dramas every year.

He was unveiling the channel's new spring season, which includes Ray Winstone as a Premiership football manager in the darkly comic All In The Game, while Bradford Riots recreates the events and the aftermath from the perspective of a group of the city's young Asian men.

Filming has also just finished on the controversial new drama Longford, starring Jim Broadbent as the peer who fought to win parole for Moors murderer Myra Hindley.

The one-off drama, starring Samantha Morton as Hindley and Lord Of The Rings actor Andy Serkis as Ian Brady, will be screened later this year.