‘The Great Fire’ ITV Drama Lead Cast and Trailer Released

Here’s a look at the first trailer (above) for ITV’s upcoming drama The Great Fire, which has been written by Tom Bradby.

As you’ve probably guessed from the shows title, this four-part series from ITV Studios is set in 1666 and based around The Great Fire of London, focusing in particular on the fabled involvement of baker Thomas Farriner.

Inspired by historical events, this series focuses on circumstances which led to the catastrophic inferno, Farriner’s family life at the Pudding Lane bakery and King Charles’ extravagant playboy lifestyle.

Critics of CGI in TV and film will be pleased to hear that special effects and pyrotechnics are instead being used to create the programmes fire sequences and visuals. This comes as welcomed news seeing how there’s nothing like obviously fake fire and explosions to distract viewers from a shows plot.

Executive producer Douglas Rae told ITV “In 1666 London was the greatest city in the world with a population of 300,000. In just four days The Great Fire destroyed nearly half the city and threatened the monarchy. It’s a fascinating premise for a drama and creates the perfect backdrop for Tom Bradby to be at his most creative.”

‘The Great Fire’ Main ITV Cast Line-up

Character – Actor/Actress (Previous Work)

Thomas Farriner – Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch, Nowhere Boy, Garrow’s Law)

King Charles II – Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire, American Hustle, Parade’s End)

The Queen – Sonya Cassidy (Vera, Endeavour, The Paradise)

The Duke of York (James) – Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Mr Selfridge, Dracula, World Without End)

Sarah – Rose Leslie (Downton Abbey, Utopia, Game of Thrones)

Samuel Pepys – Daniel Mays (Mrs Biggs, Public Enemies, Treasure Island)

Elizabeth Pepys – Perdita Weeks (Flight of the Storks, The Invisible Woman)

Vincent – Andrew Tiernan (Foyle’s War, Ripper Street, Prisoner’s Wives)

Frances Stewart – Antonia Clarke (Lightfields, A Mother’s Son)

Lord Denton – Charles Dance (Secret State, Game of Thrones, Strike Back)

Duke of Hanford – David Schofield (Land Girls, Da Vinci’s Demons, The Shadow Line)

UPDATE: You can now view the shows full line-up of actors here.