BBC & Netflix release first Look at New Lockerbie Disaster Series

Six-part series shares the untold story of the Scottish and American investigators who sought to bring the perpetrators to justice

The BBC and Netflix have released first-look pictures of The Bombing of Pan Am 103, the forthcoming drama based on the true story of the bombing of a passenger flight over the small Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 and the quest to bring the perpetrators to justice.

On 21 December 1988, flight Pan Am 103 was en route from Heathrow to JFK when a bomb exploded in its hold over Lockerbie, killing 270 people, including 43 British citizens and 190 Americans. It was the worst ever terror attack on British soil and the first major act of terrorism against US citizens.

Made by World Productions, with lead writer Jonathan Lee, the six-part series follows the untold story of the Scots-US investigation into the attack and the devastating effect it had on the small town and the families who lost loved ones. From the initial exhaustive search for evidence on the ground in Scotland, via the US and Malta to the trial at Camp Zeist in 2000, the series leads up to the upcoming new trial in the US. The Bombing of Pan Am 103 also highlights the human impact on the investigators, the families and the Lockerbie community as it sought to rebuild and connect with bereaved families around the world.

The cast includes Connor Swindells (SAS Rogue Heroes, Sex Education), Patrick J. Adams (Suits, A League of Their Own), Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Severance), Peter Mullan (Ozark, Payback), Tony Curran (Mary & George, Mayflies), Douglas Hodge (The Great, Catastrophe), Eddie Marsan (The Power, Ray Donovan), Nicholas Gleaves (After The Flood, The Rising) Lauren Lyle (Karen Pirie, Vigil), Andrew Rothney (The Undeclared War, Traces), Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Guilt), Cora Bissett (Annika, Shetland), Kevin McKidd (Greys Anatomy, Six Four), Parker Sawyers (Spy/Master, P-Valley), James Harkness (The Sixth Commandment, The Victim), Molly Geddes (Dinosaur, Where We Stop), Khalid Laith (Vigil, Cobra), and Amanda Drew (The Gold, Wolf).

Three women stand around a box on a table in a warehouse discussing something. One wears a police uniform while the others wear civilian clothes — Moira Shearer (Phyllis Logan), WP Lauren Aitken (Molly Geddes), Elma Pringle (Cora Bissett) (Image: Mark Mainz/BBC/Netflix)

Two men stand outdoors in daylight beside a Pan Am branded silver piece of equipment. A truck is visible in the background. The men wear coats and look concerned by something out of shot. One carries a clipboard and appears to be making notes. — Tom Thurman (Eddie Marsan) and DCI Harry Bell (Tony Curran) (Image: Mark Mainz/BBC/Netflix)

A woman in a patterned blouse with a broad white collar sits at a table in a cafe — Kathryn Turman (Merritt Wever) (Image: Jamie Simpson/BBC/Netflix)

Alongside acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Jonathan Lee as lead writer, two episodes are written by Scottish screenwriter Gillian Roger Park. The 6 x 60 series is produced by World Productions (United, the story of the Munich air disaster, and Anne, the drama about Hillsborough mother and justice campaigner Anne Williams) in association with MGM Television (The Devil’s Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes, Fargo) and Night Train Media (Rogue Agent, Catch me a Killer). The Bombing of Pan Am 103 was initially developed by MGM Television and Night Train Media.

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is coming soon to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, followed by Netflix globally. The producer is Julia Stannard (United, War and Peace, Anne) and Michael Keillor (Chimerica, Roadkill, Best Interests) is the director.

A man gets out of a black car in a sunny place, where a soldier stands guard at a building behind the car — DCI Harry Bell (Tony Curran) (Image: Darrin Zammit Lupi/BBC/Netflix)

A man a woman stand outside the FBI building, locked in tense conversation. The red and white stripes and blue stars of two United States flags fly from the building. — Dick Marquise (Patrick J Adams), Kathryn Turman (Merritt Wever) (Image: Shane Mahood/BBC/Netflix)

Two men walk along the side of a river with a series of skyscrapers in the distance behind them. One holds a file and both look tense. — Gabe Lepley (Terence Maynard), Dick Marquise (Patrick J Adams) (Image: Shame Mahood/BBC/Netflix)

The project was developed by filmmaker Adam Morane-Griffiths whose research includes extensive interviews with Scottish police officers and representatives from United States investigative agencies, many of whom have never previously shared their stories. Producers and writers also spoke to many of the families and loved ones of the victims. Their stories revealed the impact the bombing had on their lives and the heroic activism that followed – resulting in lasting change to the way authorities approached security, safety and duty of care towards those involved in mass fatality incidents.

Filming took place on location in Scotland, Malta and Toronto.

The executive producers are Simon Heath and Roderick Seligman for World Productions; Steve Stark and Stacey Levin for Toluca Pictures, Adam Morane-Griffiths, Sara Curran, Herbert L. Kloiber for Night Train Media, Jonathan Lee, Michael Keillor; and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC. The co-executive producer is Joe Hill. Mona Qureshi and Manda Levin are leading for Netflix. The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is produced by World Productions, an ITV Studios company, in association with MGM Television and Night Train Media.