Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane will play a comedian and celebrity broadcaster accused of historic sex offences when new TV drama National Treasure premieres tonight.

Robbie plays Paul Finchley, a star whose life falls apart after he is accused of the crimes, in the show inspired by Operation Yewtree.

Actor Robbie Coltrane during the opening of Glasgow School of Art's new £30 million Reid building.Robbie Coltrane (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The trailer for the Channel 4 programme shows Robbie’s character say: “They think I’m Jimmy Savile,” as he is interviewed by police, hounded by photographers and a tabloid declares his “sex shame”.

The four-part series was written by screenwriter and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child playwright Jack Thorne, and stars Julie Walters as Finchley’s wife and Andrea Riseborough as his daughter.

Julie Walters attending the EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House, Bow Street, LondonJulie Walters (Yui Mok/PA)

Jack has previously said: “National Treasure is a piece about doubt, about the smell of abuse, about how we as a society live in Yewtree times.

“Paul is a man who could be innocent or guilty. We’re going to examine him from all sides and ask that big question – how well do we know the people closest to us?”

National Treasure begins on Channel 4 at 9pm.