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Last night I attended a preview screening of Channel 4’s new drama Mo starring Julie Walters which tells the story of Mo Mowlam, Tony Blair’s first Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who negotiated the terms of the historic Good Friday Agreement.

The screening was introduced by Harriet Harman with friends and colleagues who knew Mo in attendance, including Charles Clarke, Chris Mullin and Mo Mowlam’s Minister for Northern Ireland Adam Ingram.

The drama follows Mowlam from the diagnosis of her malignant brain tumour up to her sad death, focusing mainly on her incredibly successful role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Mowlam refused to tell the world the truth about the seriousness of her condition admitting only that she was receiving medical treatment for a benign brain tumour as not only was she not “going to let it beat” her, she was fully aware to “tell the world I’ve been treated for a brain tumour — its political suicide”. She carried on her pretence to everyone including her family, friends and even her boss Tony Blair, only her doctor and devoted husband Jon Norton were aware of the truth.

Although this is a drama it does shine light on not only the tribulations and difficulties with the peace process and Mowlam’s drive to see it succeed, as Adam Ingram said afterwards Mowlam “made a massive difference and she will ring through history, everyone else are just bit players”. But it also illustrates how Blair’s early Labour government operated with that “silly old queen” Peter Mandelson who does not come out of this at all well.

Also depicted is Mowlam’s incredible ability to read and connect with people as we see her use her knack of diffusing situations to hilarious effect by taking her wig off or by splaying her legs during talks with Sinn Fein and David Trimble.

Harriet Harman remarked “how great for Julie Walters to be playing Mo, I’m sure if she could see it that’s exactly who she would of chosen” and Walters does give an outstanding and spot on performance as Mo conveying Mowlam’s dogged determination, passion and commitment not only in her role as secretary of state but also in her relationship with her husband. The rest of the cast is superb with strong performances from all including David Haig as Jon Norton and Gary Lewis as Adam Ingram.

It’s a brilliant drama which shows why Mowlam was one of the most popular politicians, as Tony Maudsley playing Peter Kilfoyle says “if Diana was the people’s princess then Mo is the people’s politician”.

By the end I was in complete agreement with Harman — it had been an “emotional night” as I wasn’t the only one misting up, Chris Mullin too seemed to have something in his eye.

Mo is on Channel 4, January 31 at 9pm.