Oscar nominated actress Julie Walters is to play Mo Mowlam, the former Northern Ireland secretary and one of the most popular Labour politicians of recent times, in a new single drama for Channel 4.

Written by Neil McKay (See No Evil: The Moors Murders, Innocents, Wall of Silence, Dunkirk), Mo portrays Mowlam’s rise to prominence in Tony Blair’s government and her unorthodox, straight talking style that helped bring the Good Friday peace agreement to fruition in 1998.

The drama, based on extensive research including interviews with Mowlam’s family, close colleagues and key players in the Northern Ireland peace process such as Martin McGuinness and David Trimble, aims to depict both the politician and the woman behind the public persona. A compelling inside account of the extraordinary events on the road to peace, Mo is also a personal portrait and love story, depicting the happiness she found late in life through marriage, and her courageous battle with ill-health.

Channel 4’s Head of Drama, Liza Marshall, said: “Mo Mowlam is one of the most inspiring figures of our recent political past and I can’t think of an actress who could more powerfully capture her energy, wit and ultimately the tragedy of her situation than Julie Walters.”