Colin Firth shares his experience portraying Jim Swire in the new drama about the Lockerbie bombing, exploring grief and the quest for truth.
Lockerbie: So, back in December 1988, Jim and Jane Swire were just getting ready for Christmas in their cozy home in Finstall, Worcestershire. They had just said goodbye to their daughter, Flora, who was off to New York for the holidays. Then, out of nowhere, they saw on the news that a plane had crashed over Lockerbie, and their lives changed forever.
Flora was one of the 270 victims of the deadliest terror attack in the UK. Just 38 minutes after taking off from Heathrow, a bomb exploded on Pan Am flight 103, killing everyone on board and 11 people on the ground.
Fast forward 36 years, and there’s a new Sky Atlantic drama called Lockerbie: A Search for Truth. It dives into Jim’s relentless search for answers about that tragic night. Colin Firth plays Jim, and he’s been really moved by the sadness of Jim’s journey. The show has taken years to make and features Catherine McCormack as Jane, who has stood by Jim even when his obsession with the case strained their family.
The Lockerbie bombing case is still full of questions. Only one person, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was convicted in 2001, but many doubts have surfaced since then. It turns out the US government paid key witnesses to testify, and some evidence has been discredited. There are even whispers that the CIA might have planted evidence.
Megrahi, who spent eight and a half years in prison before being released on compassionate grounds, always claimed he was innocent. Interestingly, he and Jim formed an unusual friendship while he was in prison, leading Jim to believe that Megrahi was framed. Initially, Jim had pushed for Megrahi’s extradition but later campaigned for his retrial.
Jim suspects that Iran was behind the bombing, seeking revenge after a US missile shot down an Iranian plane earlier that year. He thinks Megrahi was just a pawn in a bigger political game, with the US and UK wanting to blame Libya to keep Iran on their side during the Iraq conflict.
Despite the ongoing debate, both the American and British governments still insist that the bomb was planted in Malta as part of a Libyan plot. Another Libyan, Abu Agila Masud, is set to go on trial in the US in May 2025, but he denies the charges.
At a screening, Firth mentioned how the script hit him emotionally. It wasn’t just about the legal drama; it was about the deep feelings of Jim and Jane and their family’s long struggle.
Firth was amazed by the twists in Jim’s story. He admired Jim’s courage to change his theories based on new evidence, which really struck a chord with him. He felt a bit out of his depth taking on such a complex role.
Jim’s determination was inspiring, but it also took a toll on his family. In the drama, he becomes so consumed by the case that he misses important moments in his other kids’ lives. At one point, Jane expresses her desire to leave their home, saying she wants to be around life, not death.
It’s not just Jim’s family that wants to move on. A journalist helping him points out that most people just want to forget about Megrahi and the tragedy.
The screenwriter made sure to show the anger many families felt towards Jim, as some viewed him as a conspiracy theorist. It was important to present different perspectives, not just Jim’s.
The drama is based on Jim’s book, Lockerbie: A Father’s Search for Justice, but it has faced criticism from a US campaign group worried it might spread a “false narrative.”
This divide has made Jim’s grief even lonelier. Jane struggles with flashbacks and nightmares, and there’s a powerful scene where she counts the seconds Flora might have been aware of her fate.
Firth noted how that moment shifts the scene dramatically, cutting through the tension. McCormack studied footage of Jane to capture her strength and vulnerability.
Lockerbie left a lasting mark on Scotland. The tragedy affected many lives, and there’s a risk of it being forgotten. At one point in the drama, Jim realizes a young woman doesn’t even know about the disaster.
The creators hope this series will bring Lockerbie back into the conversation. It’s set to air a year after the impactful Mr Bates vs The Post Office. They believe drama can offer a fresh perspective on such a complex issue.
‘Lockerbie: A Search for Truth’ premieres at 9pm on Sky Atlantic on January 2.
