The drama reunites McGovern with producer Gub Neal. The pair created Cracker together and were also responsible for the award-winning drama-documentary, Hillsborough.

The executive producers are Robert Cooper, former Head of BBC Northern Ireland Drama, and Gareth Neame, BBC Head of Drama Commissioning.

Robert Cooper says: "Gunpowder, Treason and Plot is a signature drama from one of Britain's most accomplished television writers, who is known for exploring such universal themes as injustice, prejudice and intolerance in Sunday, Liam, Hillsborough, Priest and Cracker.

"In Gunpowder, he explores the nature of power and kingship with a drama inspired by historical characters and events, in much the same way as Shakespeare interpreted the past in the history plays.

"It's a personal vision, a dramatic interpretation of history."

Gareth Neame adds: "It's become a cliché that nations should learn from their past and that history repeats itself.

"However in Britain in 2004 we live with the threat of terrorism as revenge for perceived religious persecution.

"Four hundred years ago Britain was under the same threat as a small group of disaffected Catholics, sickened by the persecution they suffered at the hands of their king, fought back in the first attempted act of modern terrorism with a strike at the heart of the nation."

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot, which will be shown on BBC TWO in March, is a Box TV production for BBC Northern Ireland.