Channel 5 is set to release a new factual drama detailing the embezzlement scandal involving former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell. The 90-minute program, tentatively titled "To Nicola, Love Peter," will focus on Murrell's theft of more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party, which led to his imprisonment for over five years in June.
The drama is being produced by the same team behind "Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards." Its announcement has fueled speculation about potential casting for the role of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Elizabeth Caproni, known for her social media impersonations of Sturgeon, expressed interest in playing the former First Minister in a serious capacity. Sturgeon herself has suggested that Helen Mirren, whom she believes could capture the accent despite being English and 25 years her senior, would be an ideal choice. Another contender mentioned by Sturgeon is Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen, who portrayed the Prime Minister in the political drama "Borgen," a series Sturgeon has cited as a favorite.
Tracey Ullman, who previously parodied Sturgeon in BBC satire sketches between 2017 and 2018, is also among those who have portrayed the former First Minister on screen.
Wonderhood Studios will produce the drama for Channel 5. According to the producers, the program will draw on a wide range of factual sources, including evidence from Police Scotland and the Crown Office, as well as interviews with Nicola Sturgeon and other key figures. The show aims to reveal how Sturgeon's political reputation was impacted following her husband's arrest in April 2023, just months after she was Scotland's longest-serving and most popular political leader.
Producers described the story as having "Shakespearean proportions," involving "power, envy, deception and greed." Ben Frow, chief content officer at Channel 5, highlighted the blend of political melodrama and domestic drama that captured headlines. The drama is expected to address the circumstances surrounding Murrell's embezzlement, including the purchase of salt and pepper grinders for £2,600.
The narrative will explore how Murrell deceived Sturgeon over 12 years, falsifying receipts, gaslighting staff, and using secret codes to fund a compulsive shopping habit. In May, Murrell pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to over five years in prison. While his crimes initially appeared financial, producers note that his actions plunged the SNP into chaos, tarnished Sturgeon's legacy, and undermined the ambition of Scottish independence.
The drama is directed by Scottish Bafta-nominated director Misha Manson-Smith and written by Scottish Bafta-nominated screenwriter Lucy Brydon.