Benedict Cumberbatch undergoes balding transformation to play Vote Leave campaign manager

The drama will track the 'myriad tactics employed to swing one of the most surprising referendum'

Vote Leave campaigner Dominic Cummings claims the EU is 'dominated by France' when questioned by the Treasury select committee in April 2016 (Nick Wall/PA Wire)

Benedict Cumberbatch has switched up his look to play Vote Leave campaign manager Dominic Cummings for a new TV one-off drama.

The Channel 4 TV movie, which currently has the working title Brexit, will focus on the data-driven political campaign during the EU referendum, including the "myriad tactics employed to swing one of the most surprising referendum results in living memory".

Filming has begun on what's been promised to be an "explosive and illuminating" Brexit thriller, directed by Toby Haynes, who's worked on the likes of Sherlock, Black Mirror, and Doctor Who.

Cumberbatch, who's been vocal in his opposition to Brexit, has transformed himself into Cummings, the leading strategist and campaign director of Vote Leave, with the help of a receding hairline. He was one of almost 300 actors, musicians, writers, and artists who signed an open letter in support of the UK remaining within the EU.

The TV movie was initially announced last month, as the controversy grew over the political impact of data-mining, with investigations examining possible links between Vote Leave's campaign and data companies.

Tory knives are said to be out for Vote Leave campaign director Dominic Cummings (Asadour Guzelian)

The drama promises to explore the "anatomy of a modern data-driven election campaign, and the divisive figures driving it from the shadows".

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