The Damned United

The Damned United is a fact‑based drama that follows the turbulent and controversial 44‑day spell Brian Clough served as Leeds United manager in 1974. The series examines the intense challenges and opposition he faced during that brief period. It also portrays the internal club politics and media scrutiny that marked his short tenure.

The Damned United is presented as a programme in the form of a movie‑style drama. It falls squarely within the drama genre and is built around real events, offering a factual account of a specific episode in English football history. The title alone signals that the story will focus on a turbulent period, and the format promises a cinematic treatment of those events. At the heart of the narrative is Brian Clough’s brief, 44‑day spell as manager of Leeds United. Set in 1974, the drama charts this fraught and controversial stint, highlighting the tension that arose from Clough’s appointment and the rapid unraveling of his tenure. The storyline concentrates on the clash of personalities and the intense atmosphere that characterised those six weeks. The programme features a trio of well‑known performers: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall and Jim Broadbent. Each actor takes part in bringing the real‑life figures to life, contributing to the depiction of the events surrounding Clough’s time at the club. Their involvement anchors the factual material in a recognizable on‑screen presence. Overall, The Damned United delivers a fact‑based portrait of a short but highly charged chapter in football management. By concentrating on the specific dates, the controversial nature of the appointment and the key personalities involved, the drama offers a concise look at a moment that still sparks discussion among supporters and historians alike.