Viewers left horrified by first look at Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson in new TV show

Twitter users have been left ‘freaked out’ by an image of Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson, as shooting commences on a new drama about the prime minister.

This Sceptred Isle, a five-part series due to air on Sky Atlantic and the streaming service NOW TV, follows “the events surrounding the UK prime minister, the government and the country in the face of the first wave of the global pandemic”.

A press release on the upcoming drama reads: “This Sceptred Isle will tell the tale of some of the most devastating events to ever befall the United Kingdom, and of a prime minister leading in these unprecedented times. 

“The drama will trace the impact on Britain from this once in a generation pandemic, and the response of scientists, nurses, and doctors as they worked tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome the virus. 

“It is based on the first-hand testimony of people from all walks of life; from Number 10 Downing Street, the Department of Health, The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), and from hospitals and care homes across the country.”

However, after the image was shared to social media, Twitter users described Branagh’s new look as “grotesque”, adding that “nobody asked for this”:

Others questioned the timing of the drama, as the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold:

Not all of the comments were critical, however, with some praising the make-up department’s use of prosthetics to make Brannagh look like the PM:

The drama is due to air in autumn 2022.