BBC commissions '24'-style drama 'Siege'

[Perdita]

BBC One has commissioned a real-time drama in the style of 24.

Siege, a new four-part series, is about a botched kidnap plot at a London secondary school.

Holding 100 civilians hostage, the kidnappers demand the release of a notorious war criminal from a British jail. When the Government stands firm, the siege takes hold.

"After developing the original Five Days and seeing the viewers’ appetite for contemporary television events, the logical next step seemed to play out a drama in real time on consecutive nights and Kate Brooke is the perfect writer to take on such a challenge," said executive producer Simon Curtis.

BBC One controller Jay Hunt added: "This compelling thriller will build on BBC One's reputation for unmissable drama events."

[Chloe O'brien]

They'll never be able to do a 24 style drama. they've not got the big bucks to produce such a drama but I'll tune in. And if they need a cheap Chloe I'm your girl.

[Dazzle]

One of my fave BBC shows, Spooks, is kind of like 24, though not set in real time, of course. The BBC can produce good thrillers on a small budget if they really try.