David Tennant to star in TV drama 'The Spies Of Warsaw'

Former Doctor Who star David Tennant will play a French spy in a new two-part Second World War-era drama by Likely Lads writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

The actor will appear with Merlin star Janet Montgomery in the BBC Four show The Spies Of Warsaw based on the best-selling novel by Alan Furst.

Tennant's character is drawn into the murky world of espionage in the story which is set in Poland, Paris, London and Berlin in the years leading up to the outbreak of war.

BBC Four controller Richard Klein described the show as "a tense, passionate and sexy love story set against the increasingly strident clang of coming war".

He said: "Spies Of Warsaw is an entertaining, thrilling and insightful drama with a very different take on the Second World War, seen through the eyes of characters who know from the start that they and their fellow countrymen will face the brunt of the horrors to come: this is top class drama, and perfect for BBC Four."

Clement and La Frenais have written some of the most popular British television shows of the last 40 years including The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Filming will start next month in Poland.

PA