Category: TV Drama; Daytime
Date: 13.12.2005
Printable version
Film and television actor Stephen Tompkinson will be turning his talents to the other side of the camera as part of an exciting line-up of new quality drama for Â鶹Éç Daytime.
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Jay Hunt, Controller for Â鶹Éç Daytime, today revealed that Tompkinson will be the first famous actor to share his emotional journey of getting to grips with the art of directing in Director's Debut, a new occasional two-part series for Â鶹Éç ONE.
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The first programme in the series will be a documentary following the challenges he faces along the way, in making this brave and dramatic move; the second will be the play itself, The Mild Bunch (working title).
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Speaking about the project, Stephen Tompkinson said: "I was thrilled to get the call - it has opened up a new direction for me and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to direct.
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"It's going to be a real delight to come up with something special for the daytime audience which so appreciates drama on the Â鶹Éç."
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The series will be joined by more high-quality drama for Â鶹Éç Daytime, which has gained a reputation for attracting top talent and delivering fantastically engaging plays.
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The critically acclaimed and award-winning Afternoon Play returns to Â鶹Éç Daytime for a fourth series, which will include a celebration of English eccentricity in Alan Plater's Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds, starring James Bolam.
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The other plays continue to attract a wealth of high-calibre talent, including Angela Lonsdale, Rosemary Leech, Noah Huntley and Georgia Taylor.
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Â鶹Éç Daytime will also give be giving a platform to up and coming writers with Brief Encounters, a series of ten short dramas - starring, amongst others, Ralf Little, Keith Barron, Frances Barber and Imogen Stubbs.
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These new writers have developed their scripts with well-known mentors including Willy Russell, Tony Jordan, Russell T Davies, William Ivory and Andrew Davies.
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Jay Hunt said: "I'm so pleased that Stephen has agreed to share with us his first, tentative steps into the art of directing - which is a brave thing for anyone to do. It's going to be a real treat to see the play when it's finished.
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"Â鶹Éç Daytime has rightly earned an impressive reputation for bringing high-quality drama to its audience, who we know absolutely love it.
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"The Afternoon Play returns early next year with another strong run, and I'm glad we're able to give new talent a break with our short plays, Brief Encounters."
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Notes to Editors
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The Mild Bunch (working title)
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Terry is forty years old and just hasn't grown up. His family deteriorates when his obsession with the Wild West threatens to overtake his life.
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His young son - caught between two parents unable to swallow their pride - runs away.
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With his son's life in danger, Terry will have to overcome his fears to become a father to his son and rediscover his love for his wife.
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Daytime Publicity
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