The drama tells the story of 17 days in the tangled life of the British Ambassador with 'Black Hawk Down' and 'Harry Potter' actor Jason Issacs as the the UK's top diplomat to Washington.
The drama will focus on the special relationship between the US and the UK, and parallels will no doubt be drawn with former UK Ambassador to Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, who resigned just before the start of the war in Iraq. He wrote a critical book 'DC Confidential' about Britain's relationship with the US.
The job of the UK Ambassador to the US is seen as the top job in the Foreign Office, but Issac's character Mark Brydon finds he is tested to the limits of his foreign diplomacy skills as he grapples with a world of tangled relationships and conflicting interests following a major diplomatic incident.
The incident centres on a British paratrooper, played by Lennie James, awaiting execution on Death Row in Florida. Brydon slowly realises that he is being played by an invisible puppeteer and that there are few people he can trust.
Jane Tranter, BBC controller of drama commissioning, said: "'State Within' is a high-octane, complex, action-packed conspiracy thriller. These distinctive and intelligent scripts aim to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, and is further evidence of the ambition, modernity and bravura of drama on BBC One."
It also stars former 'Cagney and Lacey' actress Sharon Gless as Lynne Warner, US Secretary of Defence, alongside James and Eva Birthistle.
Writers Dan Percival and Lizzie Mickery said: "Do you believe what your leaders tell you? Behind the doors in the corridors of power a terrifying plot is being forged.
"Trust no one. Truth and lies are sacrificed for expediency. Beneath the public mask of Ambassador, Mark the man finds himself torn between his duty and his conscience."
The drama is being filmed in Canada until July and is a co-production with BBC America.
Kathryn Mitchell, controller of BBC America, said: "With a great crossover plot involving the diplomatic worlds of America and Britain, I knew BBC America had to be involved in 'State Within'. As co-producer, I'm very excited by the edgy, contemporary and politically topical storylines -- it will translate perfectly for our American viewers."
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