Episode 4

Synopsis

Igal Naor plays the ruthless dictator Saddam Hussein in a series that charts the rise and fall of one of the most significant political figures in recent history.

As Western coalition forces invade Iraq in 2003, Saddam Hussein and his family are forced to flee to the rural area of Tikrit. Saying goodbye to his sons, Uday and Qusay, for the last time in a Baghdad restaurant, his entourage all disappear into the night, surrounded by loyal bodyguards. As it is now too dangerous for Saddam to remain in the town, he returns to the small secret compound in which he has been staying - far removed in the deep country.

Still believing himself actively to be the President, Saddam writes speeches to encourage the Iraqi insurgency against Allied forces Surrounded by loyal bodyguards, the possibility that he may never regain power looms large for the first time.

Credits

Uday Hussein

Philip Arditti

Tariq Aziz

Makram Khoury

Qusay Hussein

Mounir Margoum

Saddam Hussein

Igal Naor

Mohammed

Toni Maalouf

Raghad Hussein

Agni Scott

Mustafa Hussein

Bahran Ehasa

Sajida Hussein

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Samira Shabandar

Christine Stephen-Daly

Ahmed

Karim Fakharany

Director

Jim O'Hanlon

Producer

Steve Lightfoot

Writer

Alex Holmes

Writer

Stephen Butchard

Broadcasts

1. Wed 20 Aug 2008
   21:00
   BBC Two
2. Tue 26 Aug 2008
   00:45
   BBC One (except Cambridgeshire, London, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
3. Tue 26 Aug 2008
   01:15
   BBC One (Cambridgeshire, London, Northern Ireland, Wales only)