Dominic West to star in BBC news drama

Dominic West will star as the news show's front man, Hector Madden

Dominic West, British star of US show The Wire, is to appear in a new BBC Two drama, set in a 1950s news room.

The Hour follows the launch of a topical news show in London set against the backdrop of a mysterious murder.

West will play Hector Madden, the programme's upper-crust, charismatic front man.

Atonement's Romola Garai and Bright Star's Ben Whishaw will also appear in the six-part series, to be broadcast next year.

Whishaw will play outspoken journalist Freddie Lyon, while Garai will play Bel Rowley, the show's ambitious boss.

The series is being created by Abi Morgan, Bafta-winning writer of Sex Traffic and White Girl.

"The combination of Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai and Dominic West gives us one of the most exciting casts for a British TV series in years," said Ben Stephenson, controller of drama commissioning.

"Our trio crackle with sexual frisson and will bring 1950s London to life with style and complexity," he added.