THE TRICK (2021)
A landmark film for BBC1 that tells the real life story of the ‘Climategate' affair from 2009. Written by Owen Sheers.
Nominated for Best Feature / TV Film for the 2022 BAFTA Cymru Awards.
“An intense and timely drama” - The Guardian
“A fine central performance from Jason Watkins” - The Guardian
“gripping” - The Express
“numerous tear-jerking scenes” - Radio Times
“Jason Watkin’s portrayal of climatologist Phil Jones, wrongly accused in a hacked-email plot, humanises a complex subject” - The i
“The Trick should be screened to delegates at the start of COP26, it might undo some of the damage caused by Climategate’ - The i
“A dramatic and gripping watch” - Stylist
“Valiant” - The i
“features an impressive cast” - The Metro
“Watkins gives an affecting performance” - New Scientist
“With time running out to save the planet, The Trick looks at the devastating consequences some leaked emails from climate change scientists had on those trying to prevent the crisis” - What To Watch
The Trick was nominated for Best Feature / TV Film at the 2022 BAFTA Cymru Awards.
You can see all the list of all nominees here.
Commissioned by the BBC, directed by Pip Broughton and written by Bafta-nominated Owen Sheers (The Snow Spider, Aberfan: The Green Hollow) The Trick tells the story of world-renowned Professor Philip Jones; Director of Climate Research at the University of East Anglia, who back in 2009 found himself at the eye of an international media storm and the victim of cyberterrorism.
With time running out against an unseen enemy, The Trick looks at the potentially devastating consequences to humanity from climate change denial; how a media storm undermined public confidence in the science and how the concept of ‘truth’ took a back seat causing us to lose a decade of action. The film also charts the unjustified persecution of Phil Jones, his wife Ruth’s fierce support of her husband and the fight for the ultimate exoneration of himself and the science.
The powerful single drama will star an ensemble cast including Jason Watkins as Professor Phil Jones (Line of Duty, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies), Victoria Hamilton as Ruth Jones (Doctor Foster, Life), George MacKay (1917, Pride), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones, Ripper Street), Adrian Edmondson (The Pact, Save Me), Aneirin Hughes (Hinterland, Keeping Faith), Pooky Quesnel (The A Word, The Victim), Richard Elfyn (The Pact), Rhashan Stone (Keeping Faith, Finding Alice), Justin Salinger (Hanna), Tara Divina (Line of Duty) and David Calder (Time, The Hatton Garden Job).
Jason Watkins & Victoria Hamilton
“It is rare that a drama marries the personal and the public in such a compelling way - the urgent need to tackle the effects of the earth’s warming is not going away and the research into this project has been sobering. It is a privilege to play the brilliant scientist, Phil Jones, whose own private world was so threatened from outside and whose research and efforts have been so vital globally in combating the effects of climate change.”
“I’m hugely grateful to Vox Pictures and to the whole cast and crew for putting together a timely and important piece about a subject which is rarely seen in drama - the climate change crisis. This shocking true story speaks of the complexity of the challenges we face in tackling it.”
“The Trick is a thriller that gives us a unique opportunity to convey the dangers of climate change through the prism of a drama that is both chilling and true. It’s a privilege to be able to contribute to the debate surrounding the biggest challenge the world has ever faced, especially in the lead up to COP26.”