Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become known globally as a key figure in Ukraine's response to the Russian invasion.
He was elected president of Ukraine in 2019, but before then he was better known in the entertainment world as a TV satirist and comedian.
He starred in Servant of the People, a series following a high school teacher as he accidentally becomes president.
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The programme began airing in 2015 on Ukrainian channel 1+1 and became hugely popular, racking up three series and a feature film.
Servant of the People won the best feature series award at the Teletriumph Awards in Ukraine and also the Gold Remi Award for Television Comedy at the 2016 WorldFest in Houston.
After the show was a hit with the Ukrainian public, Zelensky, 44, ran for and won a large majority in the 2019 presidential election.
He also voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian dubbing of the 2014 and 2017 films, and won the country’s version of Dancing With The Stars in 2006.
And Zelenskyy created the production company Kvartal 95, which produced the comedy.
Countries are snapping up the rights to the Servant of the People, with Eccho Rights, who distributed the programme, reporting that sales have increased 'dramatically.'
The company’s managing partner Nicola Soderlund called interest in the programme 'remarkable.'
“It’s quite an old show already,” he said. “But, of course, given the circumstances, it’s become very, very, very interesting for everybody.”
Eccho Rights also reported deals with MBC in the Middle East, Greece’s ANT 1 and PRO TV in Romania, as well as broadcasters in Bulgaria, Moldova, Estonia, France, Finland and Georgia.
The company has donated 50,000 euros (£41,500) to the Ukrainian Red Cross, which Mr Soderlund said should offset the money it has made from selling the show.
What happens in Servant of the People?
Zelenskyy plays Vasiliy Petrovich Goloborodko, a high school teacher propelled to the presidency after a student’s video of him denouncing official corruption in Ukraine goes viral on social media.
Goloborodko sets about running the country while refraining from the perks of being leader by keeping hold of his normal life.
Zelenskyy mined the humour of an ordinary man in a corrupt society, riding his bike to the presidential palace, forgoing a pay rise and living at home with his mother.
Where can I watch Servant of the People?
Three episodes of Servant Of The People will air on Channel 4 at 10.35pm on Sunday 6 March.
Series one and two of Servant Of The People will be available in full on All 4 at a later date.
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