Zinc’s Brook Lapping has been commissioned to make two additional episodes of critically acclaimed documentary series Putin vs the West.
The programmes will follow the first three episodes of the documentary series – which explored Putin’s relationship with the West, from the invasion of Crimea to the brink of its wider invasion of Ukraine. The new episodes will cover the developing war and the response from the West.
Putin vs the West: War (w/t, 2×60 min), for BBC Two, will again be produced by filmmaker Norma Percy.
A co-production with Les Films d’Ici and ARTE France, Putin vs the West: War (w/t) will pick up where the series left off, telling the story of the first year of the war. It will show how President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s quest to secure support forced leaders in Europe and America to take tough decisions about how far they could go to back him without provoking World War Three.
The programmes will also look at Putin’s meeting with Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan to clashes at the UN and at the G20 summit in Bali, exploring how the Russian President has forged alliances which undercut even the toughest Western sanctions.
Norma Percy, Series Producer, Brook Lapping, says: “We’re delighted that BBC Two has asked us to continue this series. As we always do, we will take viewers behind the scenes to show how and why the crucial decisions were made, and what it was like for Ukraine’s President Zelensky, Britain’s Prime Ministers and Western leaders as they struggled against Putin’s invasion without provoking World War Three.”
Tim Stirzaker, Series Director, Brook Lapping, says: “This conflict has changed the entire world, and we hope to shed light on how those in power took decisions that had such huge ramifications. Making this series while the war is ongoing makes the testimony of these world leaders even more powerful.”
Lucy Hetherington, Executive Producer, Brook Lapping, says: “Norma Percy and Brook Lapping have a track record of achieving unrivalled access, and that means that these series provide a first draft of history. Top decision-makers take us to the heart of key turning points, giving viewers a real insight into the exercise of raw power and the impact it has on millions.”
Putin vs The West: War (w/t) was commissioned for BBC and BBC iPlayer by Joanna Carr and Gian Quaglieni. It is Executive Produced by Lucy Hetherington for Brook Lapping, Series Produced by Norma Percy and Series Directed by Tim Stirzaker. Charlotte Uzu and Serge Lalou are Executive Producers for Les Films D’ici, and Alexandre Marionneau, Anne Grolleron and Fabrice Puchault for ARTE France. The additional episodes are being produced in association with SVT, VPRO, NRK and DR and distributed internationally by BBC Studios Distribution.
Jon Creamer
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