House of Saddam - Season 1

Igal Naor plays the ruthless dictator Saddam Hussein in a gripping, new, four-part drama series that charts the rise and fall of one of the most significant political figures in recent history.

It's March 2003 and, in the opulent presidential palace of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein watches defiantly as President Bush declares in a televised address to the Iraqi people that "the tyrant will soon be gone". The sound of bombs are heard in the distance.

Back to July 1979, again in Baghdad, during the seventh birthday party celebrations of his daughter, Hala, Deputy President Saddam and his allies force the intimidated President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to resign. Convening his first governmental congress of the Ba'ath party, Saddam exposes supposed detractors of his new leadership who are led from the courtroom and forced to "confess" to an attempted coup. Blindfolded and terrified, they are lined up against a wall and executed by members of Saddam's party in the ultimate test of loyalty to their new leader. The personality of the new president permeates Iraq: the image of a heroic and popular leader is projected to the people. When terrorist attacks tear through Baghdad, Saddam orders a full military rebuttal against the perpetrators, leading to the Iran-Iraq conflict.

As he continues to reign for almost 25 years in the face of mounting internal and external pressures the Iraqi President's ability to survive is revealed. Eventually, however, the House of Saddam begins to crumble - and its leader becomes increasingly isolated from both the international community, and his inner world.

Igal Naor plays the ruthless dictator Saddam Hussein in a series that charts the rise and fall of one of the most significant political figures in recent history.

1988. The Iran/Iraq war has ended: numerous casualties and no gain of land, and yet Saddam Hussein declares a victory. Despite the suffering in the country, his regime remains strong. Nobody dare question his leadership. His sons Uday and Qusay enjoy their status within the government and their absolute power as sons of the president. Uday in particular is uncontrollable - shooting up nightclubs, visiting prostitutes and running wild in Baghdad.

Deputy President Tariq Aziz tries to make Saddam aware of the serious economic calamity facing the nation. Kuwaiti oil production has driven down prices, promising to cripple the economy, and the UN is raising the alarm about Ali Hassan Al Majid's use of chemical weapons during the war with Iran.

But Saddam has family concerns on his mind.

Igal Naor plays the ruthless dictator Saddam Hussein in a series that charts the rise and fall of one of the most significant political figures in recent history.

It is the mid 90s. Weapons inspectors and UN sanctions threaten to crush Iraq, and Saddam Hussein must deal with treachery as members of the regime turn against him. Iraq is on its knees. The country has survived the Gulf War, but crippling economic sanctions will only be lifted if Saddam co-operates with UN weapons inspectors. He continually refuses, igniting the ire of chief UN inspector Rolf Ekeus - and thus the international community.

However, Saddam has little interest in world opinion. On the contrary, he takes a somewhat detached position from government - to the grave concern of Sajida, Uday and Qusay who wonder if he is beginning to lose his mind.

Rather than take control of his country, Saddam spends his days tracing his family lineage (obsessed he is descended directly from Allah) and orders the Koran to be written in his own blood. Meanwhile, the rivalry between Uday and Hussein has reached new heights - and looks like it will turn violent at any moment.

Hussein can stand it no longer. He fears Uday will soon snap and murder him. And he craves the kind of power he knows he will never get if he remains in Iraq.

Igal Naor plays the ruthless dictator Saddam Hussein in a series that charts the rise and fall of one of the most significant political figures in recent history.

As Western coalition forces invade Iraq in 2003, Saddam Hussein and his family are forced to flee to the rural area of Tikrit. Saying goodbye to his sons, Uday and Qusay, for the last time in a Baghdad restaurant, his entourage all disappear into the night, surrounded by loyal bodyguards. As it is now too dangerous for Saddam to remain in the town, he returns to the small secret compound in which he has been staying - far removed in the deep country.

Still believing himself actively to be the President, Saddam writes speeches to encourage the Iraqi insurgency against Allied forces Surrounded by loyal bodyguards, the possibility that he may never regain power looms large for the first time.