In any given year, British TV can be relied on to provide plenty in the way of crime drama, and 2023 was no different. Between these returning series and newcomers A Town Called Malice, Blue Lights, Marlow, Payback, Rebus, Steeltown Murders, The Gold, The Sixth Commandment, Wolf and more, crime continued to flourish on the small screen.
Happily though, that was far from all that UK TV offered this year. There was fantasy too, in the form of Netflix’s South London super-powers drama Supacell, ghost detective series Lockwood & Co., Greek and Roman mythology series Kaos, and sci-fi in Prime Video’s The Rig.
Add to all those the romances, dramas inspired by real-life, and several other book adaptations, period and otherwise plus music-based dramas Champion and This Town, and it was a pretty full slate.
January Stonehouse
Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen and Crossfire‘s Keeley Hawes star in this three-part ITV drama,...
Happily though, that was far from all that UK TV offered this year. There was fantasy too, in the form of Netflix’s South London super-powers drama Supacell, ghost detective series Lockwood & Co., Greek and Roman mythology series Kaos, and sci-fi in Prime Video’s The Rig.
Add to all those the romances, dramas inspired by real-life, and several other book adaptations, period and otherwise plus music-based dramas Champion and This Town, and it was a pretty full slate.
January Stonehouse
Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen and Crossfire‘s Keeley Hawes star in this three-part ITV drama,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Stonehouse, Britbox’s newest TV drama, is about the disgraced life and bizarre fake death of John Stonehouse, a 1970’s Labor British politician.
Emer Heatley, who plays Stonehouse’s mistress Sheila Buckley, sat down with uInterview’s founder Erik Meers to discuss what it’s like to play an unsympathetic character.
“There are definitely parts where you think ‘how could she possibly do that,’ but there are also moments where you see that there’s a real, genuine love and affection that she has for John to stick with him throughout all of this chaos,” Heatley said. “So I suppose that’s what really helped me as an actor to show how much she kind of loves him, and that’s what drives her to do all of these slightly crazy things.”
Heatley also revealed what working with Matthew Macfayden and Keely Hawes was like.
“Being with them on set,...
Emer Heatley, who plays Stonehouse’s mistress Sheila Buckley, sat down with uInterview’s founder Erik Meers to discuss what it’s like to play an unsympathetic character.
“There are definitely parts where you think ‘how could she possibly do that,’ but there are also moments where you see that there’s a real, genuine love and affection that she has for John to stick with him throughout all of this chaos,” Heatley said. “So I suppose that’s what really helped me as an actor to show how much she kind of loves him, and that’s what drives her to do all of these slightly crazy things.”
Heatley also revealed what working with Matthew Macfayden and Keely Hawes was like.
“Being with them on set,...
- 8/23/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
There’s a British invasion happening at Comcast! British-specialty streaming service BritBox has signed a multi-year with Comcast that will make the platform available in 20 million households in the United States via Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and Xumo TV.
7-Day Free Trial $7.99 / month via Amazon Prime Video
Xfinity subscribers will be able to add BritBox to their subscription plans at $7.99 per month, or $79.99 per year, the same as other markets, including Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Roku. However, the benefit of signing up through Comcast is that the subscription will be included in the customers’ cable and internet bills.
“BritBox is a great addition to our entertainment platforms…all seamlessly integrated in one experience alongside their other entertainment,” Comcast VP Sudhir Muralidhar said.
The BBC Studios and ITV Studios streamer has had a strong start since its U.S. launch in 2017, reaching 3 million global subscribers in the U.S., United Kingdom,...
7-Day Free Trial $7.99 / month via Amazon Prime Video
Xfinity subscribers will be able to add BritBox to their subscription plans at $7.99 per month, or $79.99 per year, the same as other markets, including Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Roku. However, the benefit of signing up through Comcast is that the subscription will be included in the customers’ cable and internet bills.
“BritBox is a great addition to our entertainment platforms…all seamlessly integrated in one experience alongside their other entertainment,” Comcast VP Sudhir Muralidhar said.
The BBC Studios and ITV Studios streamer has had a strong start since its U.S. launch in 2017, reaching 3 million global subscribers in the U.S., United Kingdom,...
- 6/15/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Tetris is a biographical film directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton and Toby Jones.
The story of Henk Rogers who developed a video game that was quite successful which maybe some of you remember: Tetris, a game so simple, exciting and addictive that “some of us” have played… a couple of quick games.
Excellent production and with a very intelligent script: good cinema.
Tetris (2023) Movie Review
Tetris takes everything it can get out of the history of the video-game, and also, with style and personality, knows how to bring out that “something more” that turns a good movie into an excellent movie.
First of all (and I will end up being right after repeating it so much): with a good script, things go better. This one has an excellent script, good dialogue and a solid structure. Moreover, it doesn’t limit itself to developing mechanically, it knows how to stamp humour and,...
The story of Henk Rogers who developed a video game that was quite successful which maybe some of you remember: Tetris, a game so simple, exciting and addictive that “some of us” have played… a couple of quick games.
Excellent production and with a very intelligent script: good cinema.
Tetris (2023) Movie Review
Tetris takes everything it can get out of the history of the video-game, and also, with style and personality, knows how to bring out that “something more” that turns a good movie into an excellent movie.
First of all (and I will end up being right after repeating it so much): with a good script, things go better. This one has an excellent script, good dialogue and a solid structure. Moreover, it doesn’t limit itself to developing mechanically, it knows how to stamp humour and,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in Pride & Predudice, Succession and Stonehouse.
Matthew MacFadyen Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Matthew Macfadyen was born on October 17, 1974 (Matthew Macfadyen: age 48) in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. His parents are Meinir and Martin Macfadyen, a drama teacher and an oil engineer respectively. He attended schools in England, Scotland and Indonesia before being accepted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London when he was 17. He finished his schooling in 1995 before taking to the British theatre.
Matthew MacFadyen Biography: Career
Macfadyen started his career on the stage with the company Cheek by Jowl where he had roles in The School for Scandal, Much Ado About Nothing and The Duchess of Malfi. He then went on to play roles in television, such as Hareton Earnshaw in a TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights (1998), Daniel Symon in Perfect Strangers (2001) and...
Matthew MacFadyen Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Matthew Macfadyen was born on October 17, 1974 (Matthew Macfadyen: age 48) in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. His parents are Meinir and Martin Macfadyen, a drama teacher and an oil engineer respectively. He attended schools in England, Scotland and Indonesia before being accepted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London when he was 17. He finished his schooling in 1995 before taking to the British theatre.
Matthew MacFadyen Biography: Career
Macfadyen started his career on the stage with the company Cheek by Jowl where he had roles in The School for Scandal, Much Ado About Nothing and The Duchess of Malfi. He then went on to play roles in television, such as Hareton Earnshaw in a TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights (1998), Daniel Symon in Perfect Strangers (2001) and...
- 3/8/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
Stonehouse, the new true crime series debuting on BritBox, tells the bizarre story of John Stonehouse, a member of the British Parliament in the 1970s. Most true crime stories feature murder, but Stonehouse’s story is about a man whose desire for success, fame, and power turned him into a spy who faked his own death. It sounds serious, but Stonehouse is actually a hilarious story that has disturbing parallels to our modern politics. With a stellar cast of actors and top-notch creators, this is a unique three-episode limited series worth checking out (read our review).
I got the chance to discuss Stonehouse with the cast and creators of the series. Writer John Preston (A Very British Scandal) talked to me about the inspiration for the story and how he adapted it when the stars were cast. Director John S. Baird talked about the approach to telling this insane story...
I got the chance to discuss Stonehouse with the cast and creators of the series. Writer John Preston (A Very British Scandal) talked to me about the inspiration for the story and how he adapted it when the stars were cast. Director John S. Baird talked about the approach to telling this insane story...
- 1/19/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Stonehouse, a three-part drama, follows the true story of British politician John Stonehouse as he decides to fake his own death.
Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen, who plays John Stonehouse, and Kevin McNally, who plays Harold Wilson, recently sat down with uInterview founder Erik Meers to discuss the parallels between Stonehouse and New York Rep. George Santos (R).
“That’s a really good example,” Macfadyen said. “He won’t resign. There’s a sort of implacable, demented optimism.”
“[Politics have] always been bad, but it hasn’t always been as bad as it is today,” McNally continued. “In both of our countries, I personally think, but it’s always been there. Power corrupts absolutely, and it seems to be something we have to live with. The very notion that someone wants to be a politician should probably disqualify you from being one!”
“I’d agree with that,” Macfadyen added. ” Even looking at Kevin McCarthy...
Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen, who plays John Stonehouse, and Kevin McNally, who plays Harold Wilson, recently sat down with uInterview founder Erik Meers to discuss the parallels between Stonehouse and New York Rep. George Santos (R).
“That’s a really good example,” Macfadyen said. “He won’t resign. There’s a sort of implacable, demented optimism.”
“[Politics have] always been bad, but it hasn’t always been as bad as it is today,” McNally continued. “In both of our countries, I personally think, but it’s always been there. Power corrupts absolutely, and it seems to be something we have to live with. The very notion that someone wants to be a politician should probably disqualify you from being one!”
“I’d agree with that,” Macfadyen added. ” Even looking at Kevin McCarthy...
- 1/18/2023
- by Rose Carter
- Uinterview
Plot: A three-part drama, based on the extraordinary rise and fall of MP John Stonehouse. As a high-flying member of Harold Wilson’s Labour government and a seemingly devoted family man, Stonehouse’s perfect life spirals out of control in the early 1970s amid rumors of fraud and espionage.
Review: There is no shortage of true crime stories that can be adapted into television dramas, but it takes a unique tale that can make such a series funny. Murder and death don’t tend to work well in humorous adaptations, but when a bizarre series of events is so bafflingly strange and involves no one dying, it can appease many audiences. Coming from the United Kingdom, Stonehouse is a darkly hilarious true crime story that was big news in the 1970s but remained a relatively unknown curiosity in the States. This new three-part limited series adapts the exploits of John Stonehouse,...
Review: There is no shortage of true crime stories that can be adapted into television dramas, but it takes a unique tale that can make such a series funny. Murder and death don’t tend to work well in humorous adaptations, but when a bizarre series of events is so bafflingly strange and involves no one dying, it can appease many audiences. Coming from the United Kingdom, Stonehouse is a darkly hilarious true crime story that was big news in the 1970s but remained a relatively unknown curiosity in the States. This new three-part limited series adapts the exploits of John Stonehouse,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
The story of John Stonehouse may be little known stateside, but you almost wouldn’t believe the tale told in BritBox‘s three-part drama Stonehouse spins if it wasn’t based on true events. Following the rise and fall of MP John Stonehouse’s (Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen) career, the ’70s-set tale examines his climb up the political ladder as a member of Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s (Kevin R. McNally) cabinet through which he forges secret relationships not only with shifty figures in Prague but with his secretary Sheila Buckley (Emer Heatley). These secrets begin to pile up in unfathomable ways to the point where John just can’t take it anymore and he decides to fake his own disappearance by traveling to Miami and continuing on to Melbourne, Australia. Of course, not all will go according to plan. As part of the Labor Party, Macfadyen tells TV Insider,...
- 1/17/2023
- TV Insider
Spoiler Warning: This feature contains spoilers for the whole series of Stonehouse
When it comes to the battle of the best 2023 dramas, ITV has come out swinging with Stonehouse, its gripping retelling of the true crime antics of MP John Stonehouse. Stonehouse has everything: an outrageous true story full of twists and turns, a stellar cast including Matthew Macfadyen as Stonehouse, Keeley Hawes as his wife Barbara, and Kevin McNally as Harold Wilson, plus an unexpected lightness of touch that provides proper laugh-out-loud moments.
Macfadyen is captivating, at times hilarious and – against all odds – very likeable as the bumbling, petulant cheat Stonehouse. Not only does this drama cover him famously faking his own death and fleeing to Australia, we also see his other career lows, including accidentally being recruited as a Czech spy, stealing the identity of a recently-dead constituent, and making a disastrous job of representing himself at his own trial.
When it comes to the battle of the best 2023 dramas, ITV has come out swinging with Stonehouse, its gripping retelling of the true crime antics of MP John Stonehouse. Stonehouse has everything: an outrageous true story full of twists and turns, a stellar cast including Matthew Macfadyen as Stonehouse, Keeley Hawes as his wife Barbara, and Kevin McNally as Harold Wilson, plus an unexpected lightness of touch that provides proper laugh-out-loud moments.
Macfadyen is captivating, at times hilarious and – against all odds – very likeable as the bumbling, petulant cheat Stonehouse. Not only does this drama cover him famously faking his own death and fleeing to Australia, we also see his other career lows, including accidentally being recruited as a Czech spy, stealing the identity of a recently-dead constituent, and making a disastrous job of representing himself at his own trial.
- 1/4/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Jon S Baird’s miniseries opens in 1960s Westminster, where John Stonehouse (Matthew Macfadyen) is an up-and-comer in the Labour Party. “What do we know about him?” asks prime minister Harold Wilson. “Working-class boy. Parents both trade unionists. Served in the Raf during the war.” Naturally, he’s made aviation minister – a role that takes him to Prague and into the arms of an obvious honey trap. “We would like you to become an unofficial representative of our country in Great Britain,” he’s told, in a smoke-filled Soviet interrogation room, as the film of his tryst is slid across the table. And so begins the decade-long unravelling of his life, a process that will end with him leaving his folded clothes and passport on a Florida beach and swimming out to sea.
Macfadyen is one of Britain’s finest actors, and his performance as Stonehouse rounds out a trilogy...
Macfadyen is one of Britain’s finest actors, and his performance as Stonehouse rounds out a trilogy...
- 1/2/2023
- by Nick Hilton
- The Independent - TV
On 20 November, 1974, a man left his clothes in a neat pile on a Miami beach, walked into the sea, and never returned. Later that day, a waiter at a nearby hotel found the man’s clothes and the police were alerted. A search began, but the man could not be found. That man was John Stonehouse, Labour MP for Walsall North and a former Postmaster General in Harold Wilson’s government.
Stonehouse had been a rising star in Wilson’s government of 1964, with his sights set on high office. But things didn’t go as swimmingly as he’d hoped, and within a few years he was in financial ruin, his marriage was over, he had been questioned by MI5 on suspicion of being a spy for the Czech secret service, and he ended up faking his own death in Miami.
In the new ITV drama, Stonehouse, written by John Preston,...
Stonehouse had been a rising star in Wilson’s government of 1964, with his sights set on high office. But things didn’t go as swimmingly as he’d hoped, and within a few years he was in financial ruin, his marriage was over, he had been questioned by MI5 on suspicion of being a spy for the Czech secret service, and he ended up faking his own death in Miami.
In the new ITV drama, Stonehouse, written by John Preston,...
- 1/2/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
Sometimes, an on-screen couple is simply that – actors convincing their audience of burning passion through sheer talent.
On other occasions, the performance ends up sparking real-world romance that leads to wedding bells and the pitter-patter of small feet.
And then, there are some TV and film pairings that began in reality, long before they transferred to our screens.
ITV’s Stonehouse offers one of 2023’s first examples of an on-screen relationship being rooted in a real-life connection. Based on the true story of Labour MP John Stonehouse, who faked his own death in 1974, the drama stars Matthew Macfadyen in the title role, while Keeley Hawes plays his wife, Barbara.
The two actors have been married since 2004 and have two children together, as well as Hawes’ son from an earlier relationship.
Here are 10 more examples of real-life couples who have also played romantic partners.
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone (Bridesmaids)
After...
On other occasions, the performance ends up sparking real-world romance that leads to wedding bells and the pitter-patter of small feet.
And then, there are some TV and film pairings that began in reality, long before they transferred to our screens.
ITV’s Stonehouse offers one of 2023’s first examples of an on-screen relationship being rooted in a real-life connection. Based on the true story of Labour MP John Stonehouse, who faked his own death in 1974, the drama stars Matthew Macfadyen in the title role, while Keeley Hawes plays his wife, Barbara.
The two actors have been married since 2004 and have two children together, as well as Hawes’ son from an earlier relationship.
Here are 10 more examples of real-life couples who have also played romantic partners.
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone (Bridesmaids)
After...
- 12/30/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
While Emmy-winner Matthew Macfadyen may entertain viewers as the power-hungry Tom Wambsgans on Succession, he’s taking on a whole different kind of corrupt in BritBox’s upcoming three-part drama Stonehouse and we have your exclusive first look at the new trailer. Based on the rise and fall of Labour Minister John Stonehouse (Macfadyen), Stonehouse follows the high-flying member of British Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s Labour government who on the outside appears to be a devoted family mad, but descends into chaos as his perfect life spirals out of control in the early 1970s amid rumors of fraud and espionage. (Credit: BritBox) Set to premiere on BritBox beginning Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the series is inspired by the extraordinary true story of events surrounding Stonehouse’s vanishing from a Florida beach in 1974. It is written by John Preston (A Very English Scandal) and directed by Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie), both...
- 12/21/2022
- TV Insider
On 20 November, 1974, a man left his clothes in a neat pile on a Miami beach, walked into the sea, and never returned. Later that day, a waiter at a nearby hotel found the man’s clothes and the police were alerted. A search began, but the man could not be found. That man was John Stonehouse, Labour MP for Walsall North and a former Postmaster General in Harold Wilson’s government.
Stonehouse had been a rising star in Wilson’s government of 1964, with his sights set on high office. But things didn’t go as swimmingly as he’d hoped, and within a few years he was in financial ruin, his marriage was over, he had been questioned by MI5 on suspicion of being a spy for the Czech secret service, and he ended up faking his own death in Miami.
In the new ITV drama, Stonehouse, written by John Preston,...
Stonehouse had been a rising star in Wilson’s government of 1964, with his sights set on high office. But things didn’t go as swimmingly as he’d hoped, and within a few years he was in financial ruin, his marriage was over, he had been questioned by MI5 on suspicion of being a spy for the Czech secret service, and he ended up faking his own death in Miami.
In the new ITV drama, Stonehouse, written by John Preston,...
- 12/17/2022
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
Matthew MacFadyen returns to screens to tell the true story of one of the most bizarre scandals in British politics.
The ‘Succession’ star will play John Stonehouse, a charismatic, high-flying politician who vanished from a Miami beach in 1974, leaving behind a neatly folded pile of clothes as well as his wife and their three children.
He was presumed drowned but a month later, he was arrested in Australia living under a false name with his mistress Sheila Buckley.
Read More: Nicholas Braun And Matthew Macfadyen’s Off Screen Bromance Is The Secret Behind Being ‘Succession’’s Power Couple
The Emmy winner will be joined in the ITV three-part drama, airing early next year, by his real-life wife Keeley Hawes, who plays Stonehouse’s wife Barbara.
“What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend,” said Macfadyen, 48 who takes on the lead role.
“I’ve always been intrigued by what...
The ‘Succession’ star will play John Stonehouse, a charismatic, high-flying politician who vanished from a Miami beach in 1974, leaving behind a neatly folded pile of clothes as well as his wife and their three children.
He was presumed drowned but a month later, he was arrested in Australia living under a false name with his mistress Sheila Buckley.
Read More: Nicholas Braun And Matthew Macfadyen’s Off Screen Bromance Is The Secret Behind Being ‘Succession’’s Power Couple
The Emmy winner will be joined in the ITV three-part drama, airing early next year, by his real-life wife Keeley Hawes, who plays Stonehouse’s wife Barbara.
“What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend,” said Macfadyen, 48 who takes on the lead role.
“I’ve always been intrigued by what...
- 12/5/2022
- by Monica Walton
- ET Canada
Succession star Matthew Macfadyen, who stole the rug from under the warring Roys by betraying wife Shiv last season, has got the seal of approval for his performance in upcoming drama Stonehouse from his real-life wife and co-star Keeley Hawes.
Macfadyen has earned plaudits worldwide and been twice Emmy nominated for his portrayal of seemingly spineless Tom Wambsgans in HBO’s award-winning comedy-drama. Next he will appear on screen playing another wriggly character, the 1970s-era British politician John Stonehouse, who famously faked his own death in Florida in 1974, leaving a pile of clothes on the beach in Miami, only to turn up in Melbourne, Australia, where he was spotted by police, arrested and shipped back to the UK.
Macfadyen will co-star with Hawes – one of the UK’s most recognisable actresses with roles in It’s A Sin, Bodyguard and The Durrells – as Stonehouse and his wife, and Hawes has revealed...
Macfadyen has earned plaudits worldwide and been twice Emmy nominated for his portrayal of seemingly spineless Tom Wambsgans in HBO’s award-winning comedy-drama. Next he will appear on screen playing another wriggly character, the 1970s-era British politician John Stonehouse, who famously faked his own death in Florida in 1974, leaving a pile of clothes on the beach in Miami, only to turn up in Melbourne, Australia, where he was spotted by police, arrested and shipped back to the UK.
Macfadyen will co-star with Hawes – one of the UK’s most recognisable actresses with roles in It’s A Sin, Bodyguard and The Durrells – as Stonehouse and his wife, and Hawes has revealed...
- 9/3/2022
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Judging from the buzz around 2022 dramas like Inventing Anna, The Staircase and The Girl from Plainville, our appetite for true crime series isn’t going anywhere. From grisly murder to exquisite scams, these powerful stories based on real-life events have us hooked.
Most of the year’s biggest true crime dramas have so far focussed on tales from the USA, but if you’re looking for unbelievable criminal cases from the UK, there’s plenty of must-watch series depicting some of the country’s most notorious criminal scandals coming later this year and beyond. Here’s a few to add to your watch list.
The Reckoning (BBC – later in 2022)
Actor, comedian and Alan Partridge creator Steve Coogan is set to portray the life-long sexual predator and disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile.
After the disturbing and harrowing Netflix documentary Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story aired earlier this year, many have...
Most of the year’s biggest true crime dramas have so far focussed on tales from the USA, but if you’re looking for unbelievable criminal cases from the UK, there’s plenty of must-watch series depicting some of the country’s most notorious criminal scandals coming later this year and beyond. Here’s a few to add to your watch list.
The Reckoning (BBC – later in 2022)
Actor, comedian and Alan Partridge creator Steve Coogan is set to portray the life-long sexual predator and disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile.
After the disturbing and harrowing Netflix documentary Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story aired earlier this year, many have...
- 8/11/2022
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
Commission
U.K. broadcaster ITV has commissioned real-life drama “Stonehouse,” from “A Very English Scandal” writer John Preston, directed by BAFTA-nominated Jon S. Baird (“Stan & Ollie”). The three-part drama, produced by Snowed-In Productions and Clearwood Films, with BritBox International as co-production partners, follows the life and times of disgraced Labour politician John Stonehouse, a high-flying minister of Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s government vanished from the beach of a large luxury hotel in Florida in Nov. 1974, leaving a neatly folded pile of clothes as he swam into the sea, intent on faking his own death.
Matthew Macfadyen stars as Stonehouse with Keeley Hawes (“It’s A Sin”) as his wife Barbara. Macfadyen said: “What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend. I’ve always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career.
U.K. broadcaster ITV has commissioned real-life drama “Stonehouse,” from “A Very English Scandal” writer John Preston, directed by BAFTA-nominated Jon S. Baird (“Stan & Ollie”). The three-part drama, produced by Snowed-In Productions and Clearwood Films, with BritBox International as co-production partners, follows the life and times of disgraced Labour politician John Stonehouse, a high-flying minister of Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s government vanished from the beach of a large luxury hotel in Florida in Nov. 1974, leaving a neatly folded pile of clothes as he swam into the sea, intent on faking his own death.
Matthew Macfadyen stars as Stonehouse with Keeley Hawes (“It’s A Sin”) as his wife Barbara. Macfadyen said: “What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend. I’ve always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career.
- 2/23/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes are to play the leads in an ITV/BritBox U.S. drama about a disgraced British politician who faked his own death.
Stan & Ollie director Jon S. Baird is behind Stonehouse from The Dig writer John Preston, in which Succession star Macfadyen will play John Stonehouse and Keeley Hawes his wife Barbara.
Stonehouse was a high-flying politician in the Labour Party in the 1970s but was involved in an extramarital affair, had financial problems and had acted as a spy for the Czech Secret Service, which took its toll and led to him faking his death and fleeing to Australia. He was eventually found and brought back to England by British detectives.
The drama represents a return to ITV for Macfadyen who also starred in Quiz as a former soldier accused of cheating on popular ITV gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.
Stonehouse is...
Stan & Ollie director Jon S. Baird is behind Stonehouse from The Dig writer John Preston, in which Succession star Macfadyen will play John Stonehouse and Keeley Hawes his wife Barbara.
Stonehouse was a high-flying politician in the Labour Party in the 1970s but was involved in an extramarital affair, had financial problems and had acted as a spy for the Czech Secret Service, which took its toll and led to him faking his death and fleeing to Australia. He was eventually found and brought back to England by British detectives.
The drama represents a return to ITV for Macfadyen who also starred in Quiz as a former soldier accused of cheating on popular ITV gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.
Stonehouse is...
- 2/23/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
John Preston Teams With BBC For Stonehouse
John Preston, the author of the book behind Golden Globe-winning BBC/AMC series A Very English Scandal, has been commissioned to pen a BBC drama about a British politician who faked his own death. Stonehouse, named after John Stonehouse who staged his death on a Miami beach in 1974, is a three-part series co-produced by UK indies Clearwood Films and Snowed-In Productions, with Banijay Rights handling international distribution. Clearwood founder Ellie Wood (Decline And Fall) and Ruth Kenley-Letts (Mrs Wilson) are executive producing, marking Preston’s second collaboration with Wood after they teamed on The Dig for Netflix, a feature starring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James and Johnny Flynn. “There has never been a more bizarre true-life story than that of John Stonehouse, who miraculously came back to life a month after his own ‘death.’ I am thrilled to have the chance to...
John Preston, the author of the book behind Golden Globe-winning BBC/AMC series A Very English Scandal, has been commissioned to pen a BBC drama about a British politician who faked his own death. Stonehouse, named after John Stonehouse who staged his death on a Miami beach in 1974, is a three-part series co-produced by UK indies Clearwood Films and Snowed-In Productions, with Banijay Rights handling international distribution. Clearwood founder Ellie Wood (Decline And Fall) and Ruth Kenley-Letts (Mrs Wilson) are executive producing, marking Preston’s second collaboration with Wood after they teamed on The Dig for Netflix, a feature starring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James and Johnny Flynn. “There has never been a more bizarre true-life story than that of John Stonehouse, who miraculously came back to life a month after his own ‘death.’ I am thrilled to have the chance to...
- 8/6/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
In one of this week’s Intl. TV Newswires, Dr, a classic European drama series producer, announces its plans for 2019 and competing with major international streamers; the U.K. government implements its plan to promote growth in kids TV; Banijay and Clearwood team up, unveiling a new series from “A Very English Scandal” author John Preston; and All3Media joins with MIPCancun on a new format pitching competition for Latin American content creators.
Dr’S Ambitious Local Content Plan, New Series
Danish public broadcaster Dr has announced an evolved drama strategy, and a host of accompanying programs. The objective of the plan is to load up on high-end local content as a means of competing with the global streamers moving in on the territory.
It’s been just over a year since Christian Rank took over as drama director at the company, and he will spearhead the task of developing and implementing the strategy.
Dr’S Ambitious Local Content Plan, New Series
Danish public broadcaster Dr has announced an evolved drama strategy, and a host of accompanying programs. The objective of the plan is to load up on high-end local content as a means of competing with the global streamers moving in on the territory.
It’s been just over a year since Christian Rank took over as drama director at the company, and he will spearhead the task of developing and implementing the strategy.
- 4/2/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Seeking to diversify and bolster its scripted output, Banijay Rights has signed a first-look development deal with Ellie Wood (“Bleak House”), a veteran British producer who founded and runs the independent production company Clearwood Films.
Under the pact, Banjiay Rights and Wood will work together to develop and produce all of Clearwood Films’ TV series for the U.K. and international markets. Banijay Rights will also handle international sales on the shows.
Caroline Torrance, the head of scripted at Banijay Rights, said this “new partnership further bolsters Banijay’s commitment and expertise in scripted programming, and capitalizes on the continued growth we are witnessing in the drama market.”
The first drama to be co-developed by both companies is “Stonehouse,” a spy thriller series based on an idea by John Preston, the author of “A Very English Scandal.”
The series will revolve around the true story of John Stonehouse, the former...
Under the pact, Banjiay Rights and Wood will work together to develop and produce all of Clearwood Films’ TV series for the U.K. and international markets. Banijay Rights will also handle international sales on the shows.
Caroline Torrance, the head of scripted at Banijay Rights, said this “new partnership further bolsters Banijay’s commitment and expertise in scripted programming, and capitalizes on the continued growth we are witnessing in the drama market.”
The first drama to be co-developed by both companies is “Stonehouse,” a spy thriller series based on an idea by John Preston, the author of “A Very English Scandal.”
The series will revolve around the true story of John Stonehouse, the former...
- 3/28/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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