ITV Commissions Drama ‘Flesh and Blood’ Starring Imelda Staunton, Francesca Annis, Russell Tovey and Stephen Rea
ITV has commissioned a new “darkly witty and gripping” four-part drama titled ‘Flesh and Blood’ starring Imelda Staunton (Maleficent’, ‘Paddington’, ‘Harry Potter’), Francesca Annis (‘Home Fires’, ‘The Little House’, ‘Cranford’), Russell Tovey (‘Years and Years’, ‘Quantico’) and Stephen Rea (‘Dickensian’, ‘War & Peace’, ‘The Honourable Woman’), written by Sarah Williams and directed by Louise Hooper.
‘Flesh and Blood’ is a modern story of three adult siblings – Helen (Claudie Blakley – ‘Manhunt’, ‘Grantchester’), Jake (Tovey) and Natalie (Lydia Leonard – ‘Gentleman Jack’, ‘Absentia’, ‘Apple Tree Yard’) – who are thrown into disarray when their recently widowed mother Vivien (Annis) declares she’s in love with a new man, Mark (Rea).
As she nears her 70th birthday, the siblings’ suspicions are heightened when retired GP Mark sweeps their mother off her feet, shifting her priorities away from her children. The happiness of her 45-year marriage to their father, Terry, is called into question, which sends a seismic shock through the lives of the siblings. Years of secrets, lies, rivalries and betrayals come to the surface and threaten to blow apart everything they’ve held dear.
With their large family home overlooking the Sussex coast, their inheritance and the happy memories of their childhood all suddenly threatened by the arrival of Mark, the siblings attempt to find out more about him. But will their long-buried grudges and complicated personal lives allow them to pull together?
Then there’s Mary (Staunton), who has lived next door to Vivien for 40 years. Despite not being family, Mary appears unhealthily attached to Vivien and her family’s unfolding drama.
Also joining the ensemble cast are Sharon Small (London Kills, Trust Me, Born to Kill), Lara Rossi (‘Cheat’, ‘Crossing Lines’), Keir Charles (‘Man Up’, ‘Love Actually’, ‘Green Wing’), Vincent Regan (‘Victoria’, ‘The Royals’, ‘Atlantis’), David Bamber (‘Valkyrie’, ‘Doctors’, ‘The Bourne Identity’), Stephanie Langton (‘Ransom’, ‘Law & Order UK’) and Clara Indrani (‘Vera’, ‘The Rebel’, ‘EastEnders’).
The drama, which explores family dynamics and modern relationships as they spiral towards a tragedy and possible crime, is created and written by Sarah Williams (‘The Long Song’, ‘Case Sensitive’, ‘Poppy Shakespeare’), and directed by BAFTA nominee and Grierson award winner Louise Hooper (‘Cheat’, ‘Vera’, ‘Cold Feet’).
Filmed on location in London and along the Sussex coast, Flesh and Blood is produced by Letitia Knight (‘Dark Heart’, ‘Vera’). Silverprint Pictures’ Creative Director Kate Bartlett (‘Dark Heart’, ‘Shetland’, ‘Vera’) executive produces the series with Sarah Williams. Silverprint Pictures is part of ITV Studios. ITV Studios Global Entertainment distributes Flesh and Blood internationally.
