Former 24 star Dennis Haysbert has joined BBC One drama Undercover. The political thriller will air on BBC America Stateside and is co-developed under a creative partnership between BBC Worldwide and AMC Networks. From screenwriter Peter Moffat (Silk, Criminal Justice), it stars Sophie Okonedo.

The six-part series is currently filming in Louisiana and the UK. Haysbert plays a man who has been on death row for 20 years, falsely imprisoned for murder. Maya (Okonedo) can only watch as her dearest friend and client refuses to go quietly, urging her to fight the deep-grained injustices that have tainted two decades of his life.

Exec producer is Hilary Salmon, Head of BBC Drama Production England, for BBC One and BBC America.