Brook Lapping to Make New Putin Doc for BBC Two

Brook Lapping, part of Zinc Media, has been commissioned by the BBC to make the documentary Putin and the West (w.t.).

The 3×1-hour doc, produced for BBC Two, tells the inside story of how Western leaders have struggled to deal with Russia as Vladimir Putin tries to exert his power on the world stage.

It is a co-production with Les Films d’Ici and ARTE France. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Norma Percy, renowned for making documentaries telling the stories of 20th-century crises, is on board. 

Percy, series producer at Brook Lapping, said: “There is a huge global appetite for these types of documentaries, and our relationship with BBC Two, in particular, making landmark programs like this, goes back decades. Once again, we will set out to show viewers what it’s like to be in the room when important decisions are made by top political aides, told in their own words.”

Tim Stirzaker, series director at Brook Lapping, added: “There’s never been a better time to tell this story. Hearing from those who have sat across the table from Putin and tried to deal with him makes you look at what’s happening today in a completely new light.”

Lucy Hetherington, executive producer at Brook Lapping, said: “Brook Lapping, along with Norma Percy, has a history of shining a light on contemporary historical events. Norma’s documentaries stand out for their seriousness and also for the people who agree to be interviewed for them. This type of storytelling is what we do best, and with our unrivaled access to those on the inside, we tell the story of the breakdown in relations between Putin and the West, as he repeatedly wrong-foots his counterparts, then blindsides them with the biggest threat to world peace for generations.”