EastEnders’ Danny Dyer lands leading role in “gripping” adaptation of bestselling novel

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Danny Dyer, known for his roles in EastEnders and Rivals, is starring in a new Channel 4 drama called The Siege. The series is adapted from Ben Macintyre’s book of the same name, and the script is written by Will Smith, who has worked on Slow Horses and Veep. Lewis Arnold, the director of Des and Time, is directing the show.

This six-episode series is set in the 1980s and depicts the true story of six armed men who held 26 people hostage at the Iranian embassy in London, fighting for the rights of their community.

In the days that followed, everyone involved – the gunmen, the hostages, and the police – struggled to keep the situation from spiraling out of control.

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While the world watches, the SAS secretly plans to stage a rescue mission.

The show will be a suspenseful thriller, but it also aims to be moving, thoughtful, and funny.

The cast includes David Morrissey, alongside talents like Motaz Malhees, Omid Djalili, Nicola Stephenson, Sean Pertwee, Asim Chaudhry, Moe Bar-El, Aneurin Barnard, Mark Bonnar, and Gwilym Lee, in addition to Dyer.

Channel 4’s Ian Katz explained that the Iranian embassy siege and the subsequent raid were pivotal events that established the modern SAS’s reputation for exceptional skill and bravery.

Okay, so this show totally blew me away. It’s a really intense thriller, but what got me was seeing why the hostage-takers did what they did – it wasn’t just simple villainy. And it really dug into what it was like inside the embassy during the whole standoff, while everyone was watching and the British special forces were prepping for a seriously risky operation. It felt so real and human, it was gripping.

He explained that the project will offer a new perspective on the siege, showing just how easily the well-known SAS operation could have failed. He also expressed excitement about collaborating with Will Smith, Ben Macintyre, Lewis Arnold, Patrick Spence, and the talented actors involved.

This significant project highlights Channel 4’s dedication to creating high-quality, original British dramas.

Alexandre Piel, head of drama at ARTE France, stated that The Siege is their first collaboration with a UK partner, and they’re thrilled to be working with Channel 4 on such a great show.

Will Smith has created a fantastic book based on Ben Macintyre’s novel. He skillfully combines thrilling suspense with the heartfelt emotions of the true story. The result is a powerful narrative that is both gripping, touching, and surprisingly humorous.

The Siege does not yet have a release window.

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2026-02-13 14:20