A new drama about the discovery of Viagra, in which a Kent laboratory played a pivotal role, is hitting TV screens this month.

The BBC One feature Men Up follows the lives of five Welshmen who sign up for the first clinical trials for an unknown drug which would later become Viagra.

The drug was invented by Pfizer scientists Peter Dunn and Albert Wood at the firm's research lab in Sandwich.

Pfizer’s presence in the town has been significantly reduced since bosses first announced in 2011 that they were leaving the site.

The firm remained in Sandwich, but on a much smaller scale, and last month announced its intention to discontinue all laboratory and manufacturing operations at the site, and axe 500 jobs.

Viagra’s initial use was for high blood pressure and angina, a symptom of heart disease, but it was soon discovered it could be used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Medical trials were then held at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital, Wales, in 1994, which inspired new drama Men Up, about five men who see the drug as a solution to their impotence.

Following their success, the drug, which is medically known as Sildenafil, was approved for medical use in the EU and the United States in 1998.

Written by Matthew Barry and produced by Russell T Davies, the one-off programme tells the story of the new group of friends who met on the trial and the effects the revolutionary pill has on their relationships.

The drama stars Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page, Game of Thrones’ Iwan Rheon, Gangs of London actor Mark Lewis Jones and Killing Eve’s Alex Roach.

Men Up will be air on BBC One on Friday, December 29, at 9pm, and will be available on BBC iPlayer.

The show was filmed earlier this year in Swansea.