A new TV drama exploring Prime Minister Boris Johnson's handling of the coronavirus crisis is thought to be in development.

Johnson put the UK into an unprecedented state of lockdown on March 23 due to the spread of the deadly disease, just weeks before he was admitted to intensive care after catching it himself.

According to Broadcast, a dramatisation of the saga is being worked on by production company Fremantle, with 24 Hour Party People director Michael Winterbottom overseeing the project.

The series does not yet have a broadcaster attached and is being developed in consultation with Tim Shipman, political editor of The Sunday Times, who has in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of government.

"There are rare moments in history when leaders find their private lives uniquely connected to national events, where personal experience and official role collide in an unusual way," said Andrea Scrosati, Fremantle's global COO. "The last few months in the life of the prime minister clearly mark one of these moments."

The UK remains in a state of high alert to the risk of COVID-19, although lockdown restrictions are gradually being eased over the coming weeks.