Channel 4 is to air a political drama about Nick Clegg in the run up to next year’s general election.

Coalition will explore what Channel 4 describes as the “emotionally wrought, politically-charged and often frenzied moments” leading up to Clegg’s decision to go into government with David Cameron.

The one-off, 90-minute drama is to air early next year and looks into the backroom politics, compromises and wrangling that took place after the 2010 election failed to produce a majority.

Writer James Graham, who also penned political plays This House and Tory Boyz, said: “In May 2010, British politics was faced with a dilemma it hadn’t had to face in peacetime for over 75 years. The public were asked ‘who should govern’, and they came back with the answer – ‘we don’t know’.

“Those historic, dramatic few days put personalities at the heart of politics – and the choices made, I believe, changed the face of British politics forever. What we try to capture in this drama is the tension, the high stakes, and the frequent farcical and absurd nature of what happens when a power is wrangled, negotiated and fought over like children trading cards in the playground.”

No decision has yet been made as to who will play Clegg, although suggestions include Chris Addison and David Morrissey, who starred in another Channel 4 political drama, Peter Morgan’s The Deal.

Coalition will be directed by Bafta-winning Alex Holmes and produced by Cuba Pictures who previously collaborated with Channel 4 on the award-winning Boy A. It was commissioned by head of drama Piers Wenger, and commissioning editor Sophie Gardiner.

The drama is one of four commissions unveiled by Channel 4 creative director Jay Hunt at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

The others include another political drama, Opposite Number, about the closed world of North Korea and a potential nuclear crisis sparked after a British nuclear scientist is taken prisoner.

Produced by Endeavour makers Mammoth Screen, the ten-part series delves into the world of the CIA and MI6 and the relationship between London and Washington.

Opposite Number is written by Matt Charman who penned forthcoming BBC series Our Zoo. It is the second commission to come out of Channel 4’s newly formed international drama division and Mammoth is looking for an international partner to help “realise the scale and ambition of the project”.

Channel 4 deputy head of drama Beth Willis said: “Matt Charman has done something extraordinary with this gripping political thriller. Weaving together three very different political systems – it is full of secrets, lies and almost constant tension.”

Also on the cards is what Channel 4 claims is a television first – capturing the life of an Ethiopian tribe using the kind of ‘fixed rig’ technology used in other series such as 24 Hours in A&E.

The as-yet-untitled four-part observational documentary will follow the tribe during their daily lives and as new technology arrives.

Head of documentaries Nick Mirsky has ordered the series from Renegade Pictures with filming starting in September and transmission due in early 2015.

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