The 47-year-old actor will focus on a recreation of the colonel's tsirring eve-of-war speech to troops before the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The Belfast commander's rousing rallying cry, "We go to liberate not
to conquer - if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous
in victory", has been likened to the stuff of Shakespeare.

Some pundits compared it with the Agincourt address given by Shakespeare's Henry V, so it seems fitting that Branagh landed the role.

Branagh gained two Oscar nominations for his 1989 portrayal of Henry V, in which he starred and directed.

The colonel's oration – made without notes – won praise from the Prince of Wales and was admired by President George W Bush, who is said to have ordered a copy for the Oval Office.

The colonel, who was awarded the OBE for his leadership, was pictured at the start of the invasion, with Ray-Ban sunglasses and fat cigar.

But in 2004 he quit the Army after 22 years of service after being accused of maltreating Iraqi prisoners of war.

Before he was cleared of all charges, the former commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, was subjected to a three-month military investigation.

Now his rallying cry, which made headlines around the world, will be marked in a BBC series which starts 10 days before the anniversary
of the speech on March 19.

He has reportedly met Branagh, and lent the actor his desert combats and dog tags to help the actor.

The colonel, who is the same age as Branagh, told a Sunday newspaper:
"I was first approached about the project in November and I met Kenneth Branagh between Christmas and New Year.

"At the time of the speech, people referred to it as Shakespearean and Branagh is the foremost Shakespearean actor of his generation, so he is the right man for the job.

"The tone of my words was said to resemble those of Henry V at the
battle of Agincourt – although of course that was never my intention."

The colonel delivered the words to a 1,000-man Royal Irish battlegroup
at their Kuwati desert Army camp, just hours before they were thrust into the frontline.

He has always maintained it was completely improvised and seems amazed at the impact it made.

The almost Biblical speech contained such fire and brimstone lines as: "There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam.

"He and his forces will be destroyed for what they have done to the people. As they die, they will know it is their deeds which have brought them to this place. Show them no pity."

Col Collins, a father of five, has since written a book, is available
for after-dinner speeches, and has worked as a consultant for private
military companies.

Ten Days to War starts tonight at 10.30pm on BBC2 and will run for eight episodes.