Our First Look at Peacock's 'Lockerbie: A Search for Truth' Follows Colin Firth's Quest for Answers

The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 remains the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of the United Kingdom. On December 21, the plane was en route from Heathrow to JFK when a bomb exploded in its hold over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland. All 243 passengers and 16 crew members were killed, as well as 11 Lockerbie residents who died when large sections of the aircraft crashed into a local neighborhood. The tragedy made headlines worldwide, but what happened in its aftermath is a slightly less well-known story. Peacock intends to correct this with its prestige-feeling true crime series Lockerbie: A Search for Truth.* 

(*Not to be confused with Netflix's Lockerbie, which is also in production and planned for a 2025 release.) 

While Peacock and Sky's five-part series will undoubtedly cover the bombing itself, it will focus predominantly on the investigation that followed, which saw Dr. Jim Swire, the father of one of the victims, cross both countries and political divides in an attempt to see those responsible for the crime prosecuted. Based on The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father's Search For Justice, Oscar-winner Colin Firth (The Staircase) stars as Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the bombing and who, along with his wife Jane, became a spokesperson for the victims. 

Two Libyans, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, were ultimately accused of carrying out the bombing, but because no extradition treaty existed between the U.S., U.K., and Libya, the question of where the men would be tried was a complicated one. It was ultimately determined they should be tried under Scots law in a neutral country, and Swire was an instrumental part in lobbying for this plan and was present during the trial. However, he later came to believe in al-Megrani's innocence and advocated for his appeal and release.

Here's the series synopsis. 

Inspired by the true-life story, on December 21, 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie 38 minutes after take-off, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. In the wake of the disaster and his daughter’s death, Dr Jim Swire, is nominated spokesperson for the UK victims’ families, who have united to demand truth and justice. Traveling across continents and political divides, Jim embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardizes his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever changed. Exploring events from the disaster and its aftermath, Lockerbie: A Search For Truth provides an intimate account of a man, a husband, and a father who risks everything in memory of his daughter and the unflinching pursuit of truth and justice.

“The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 was one of the most devastating acts of terrorism that took the lives of 270 innocent people, including both US and UK citizens. As the spokesperson for the UK victim’s families, we have followed Jim Swire’s remarkable story for over three decades,” executive producers Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant said in a joint statement. 

“It is consequential to now watch Colin Firth’s captivating performance as he depicts Jim’s life’s work on screen. In part a profoundly moving character story of love and loss, this drama is as much an investigative political thriller that shows how an ordinary man with unstoppable determination can take on governments and world leaders in pursuit of truth.”

Alongside Firth, the series also stars Catherine McCormack (Slow Horses), Rosanna Adams (Do You Remember?), Jemma Carlton (A Thousand Blows), Harry Redding (Red Rose), Sam Troughton (Litvinenko), Mark Bonner (Murder is Easy), Ardalan Esmaili (Deliver Me), and Selwa Jghalef (Pensive Moments). 

The five-part series is written by David Harrower (Outlaw King), Maryam Hamidi (Vigil), Jim, Kirsten, and Naomi Sheridan. Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders) will direct the majority of episodes, with Jim Loach (Save Me) also directing.

Executive Producers include Harrower, Bathurst, Jim and Kirsten Sheridan, Liz Trubridge, Oskar Slingerland, Neame and Marchant for Carnival Films, and Sam Hoyle for Sky Studios.

Lockerbie: The Search for Truth will premiere on Thursday, January 2, 2025, on Peacock.