BBC plans film on MPs' expenses row

A film probing the MPs' expenses row is being planned by BBC Four, the corporation has announced.

The "humourous drama" will be directed by Simon Cellan-Jones and written by Tony Saint, who was also behind Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk To Finchley and Micro Men.

Channel controller Richard Kein said: "This drama seeks to understand the story behind a serious subject by way of a witty interpretation of events.

"To that end I am delighted that Tony Saint is bringing his dry and acerbic sense of humour to the piece."

The drama will follow US journalist Heather Brooke who, while writing a book on the Freedom Of Information Act, approached the House of Commons about MPs' expenses in 2004. Brooke was rebuffed but later took the case to the High Court and won.

A delay in the release of expense receipts led to a whistleblower selling the details to The Daily Telegraph. Transmission of the film is scheduled for early in 2010.