BBC Developing United Nations Drama From Complicit Scribe Guy Hibbert
The BBC has commissioned development on a new political drama set inside the United Nations, with writer Guy Hibbert attached to the project. The announcement positions the corporation to explore international politics through scripted drama at a time when global institutions are receiving renewed public attention.
Hibbert is best known for writing the Channel 4 thriller Complicit and is widely regarded for tackling morally complex subject matter. His body of work blends procedural tension with character-led storytelling, a combination the BBC hopes to bring to a series centred on diplomacy and international affairs. Producers say Hibbert’s approach emphasises the human consequences of political decisions.
Details about the storyline remain limited, but the series is reported to adopt a character-driven perspective on the organisation’s inner workings. Plotlines are expected to include elements such as peacekeeping operations and high-level negotiations, with an emphasis on the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals within the UN system. Creators aim to balance the procedural aspects of international diplomacy with the personal stories of officials and aid workers.
The United Nations provides a setting where national interests, humanitarian priorities and bureaucratic constraints collide, offering natural dramatic tension. Hibbert’s work often focuses on moral ambiguity, and the new project will likely use the UN’s institutional complexity to explore conflicting loyalties and hard choices.
The drama fits within the BBC’s wider slate of politically engaged and high-end drama commissions, following a string of recent projects that interrogate public institutions and global themes. Examples of the broadcaster’s recent drama activity include a commissioning move for a project from Jimmy McGovern and other internationally focused partnerships such as the BBC-two boards co-production of Intruders, demonstrating the network’s continued investment in serious scripted drama. The corporation has also developed literary adaptations as part of its broader drama strategy, underlining its appetite for content with cultural and political weight.
Industry sources say the series may spotlight the work of UN officials operating in conflict zones and responding to humanitarian crises, offering perspectives not always captured by news coverage. Those front-line viewpoints could provide storylines that examine the practical and moral challenges of delivering aid, mediating disputes and negotiating with reluctant states. By focusing on individual experiences, the show aims to show how international policy plays out on the ground.
Hibbert’s track record for humanising political issues is likely to shape the series’ tone, prioritising character complexity over simple partisan narratives. If the project proceeds to commission and production, writers and producers will need to navigate factual accuracy alongside dramatic licence to maintain credibility while engaging viewers.
The project remains at an early development stage, with casting and production timelines yet to be announced. The BBC’s confirmation of work on the series, however, signals the organisation’s intent to produce a globally relevant drama that examines the tensions and responsibilities of international diplomacy.