Emma Thompson Joins Stellar Cast Of Russell T Davies’ BBC Drama ‘Years And Years’
Emma Thompson is the latest cast member to join the already impressive line up of Russell T Davies’ upcoming BBC One drama ‘Years And Years‘ the broadcaster has announced.
As Britain is rocked by unstable political, economic and technological advances, we follow the Lyons family as their complex lives converge on one crucial night in 2019. Then, over the next 15 years, the twists and turns of everyday life are explored as we find out if this ordinary family could ever change the world.
Thompson stars as Vivienne Rook, an outspoken celebrity turned political figure whose controversial opinions divide the nation. She’s a new breed of politician, an entertainer, a rebel, a trickster, and her rise to power leads us into an unknown future.
The Two-time Oscar-winner joins the already announced cast which includes Rory Kinnear (‘Spectre’, ‘Peterloo’) who plays Stephen Lyons, a financial advisor and the family’s peacekeeper who is married to Celeste (T’Nia Miller – ‘Obey’, ‘Marcella’), an ambitious and opinionated accountant.
Russell Tovey (‘The History Boys’, ‘Quantico’) plays Daniel Lyons, a hard-working housing officer and Stephen’s brother. Their sister Edith, played by Jessica Hynes (‘Paddington 2’, ‘W1A’), is radical, dangerous and calculating with a secret life. Completing the siblings is heavily pregnant Rosie, played by Ruth Madeley, (‘Cold Feet’, ‘Don’t Take My Baby’). Anne Reid (‘Last Tango In Halifax’, ‘The Mother’) presides over the family as Muriel, imperial grandmother to the Lyons.
“This is a dream cast, put together by Andy Pryor, the man who found Jodie Whittaker to be Doctor Who,” comments creator Russell T Davies. “I’m very lucky, and very excited to start filming.”
The drama will be the 9th collaboration between screenwriter Russell T Davies (‘A Very English Scandal’, ‘Doctor Who’) and Red’s Nicola Shindler, whose working relationship spans over 20 years. The partnership is known for producing relevant and timely emotionally charged dramas having previously created hit series including ‘Queer As Folk’, ‘Casanova’, ‘Cucumber’, ‘Bob & Rose’ and ‘The Second Coming’.
“No other writer could have written such an original, important and entertaining state-of-the-nation drama, with a family at its centre that an audience will want to spend time with,” adds Shindler, CEO StudioCanal UK and exec producer for the production company, Red. “I’m thrilled a cast of this calibre will bring them to life.”
The 6×60-minute drama is created, written and executive produced by Russell T Davies, with Nicola Shindler and Michaela Fereday as executive producers for Red Production Company and Lucy Richer for the BBC. Series producer is Karen Lewis (‘Happy Valley’, ‘Last Tango In Halifax’). The drama is a Red Production Company production, in co-production with BBC One, HBO and Canal+, commissioned for BBC One.
Production commences this week on ‘Years And Years‘ in Manchester with Simon Cellan Jones (‘Our Friends In The North’, ‘Jessica Jones’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’) as director and exec producer. No news on a broadcast date yet, but we’ll let you know when we hear more.
