Introduction
David Morrissey, Sarah Parish, David
Tennant and John Thomson star in Peter Bowker's
darkly comic six-part thriller with musical numbers for 91热爆 ONE, due
for transmission in November.
Jane Tranter, 91热爆 Controller of Drama Commissioning, says: "Blackpool
is Pete Bowker at his best - it is a truly inspired and startling original
serial, which is a clever mix of entertaining storytelling and a thriller
narrative, intertwined with familiar musical numbers.
"It complements Sandy Welch's Victorian love story North And South,
an adaptation of the Elizabeth Gaskell novel which is also on screen
later in November."
Ripley Holden (David Morrissey) is a flawed hero; a charismatic family
man who trained at the school of hard knocks.
Ripley is poised to make top dollar as the seaside town reinvents itself
as the Las Vegas of the Lancashire coast.
As he struggles to keep his chaotic family in check, Ripley hangs on
to one hope - the good life is just around the corner.
But family life begins to take its toll, and when the body of a young
man is found in his showpiece arcade, he finds himself brought down
by a series of events that are out of his control.
The cast also includes Sarah Parish as Ripley's neglected wife Natalie,
whose attention is drawn elsewhere when Ripley becomes distracted by
his money-making ventures.
John Thomson plays Terry Corlette, Ripley's close associate; Georgia
Taylor (Coronation Street) is Shyanne, Ripley's teenage daughter whose
taste in men leaves a lot to be desired; League Of Gentleman star Steve
Pemberton plays Adrian Marr, Ripley's accountant; and David Tennant
(He Knew He Was Right) plays DI Peter Carlisle, the investigating officer
who is convinced that Ripley is involved in the mysterious death.
Carlisle is determined to get to the truth, no matter what it takes.
Blackpool is produced by Kate Lewis (The Alan Clark Diaries); the directors
are Julie-Anne Robinson (Cutting It, No Angels) and Coky Giedroyc (Carrie's
War, Silent Witness).
The executive producers are Sally Haynes and Head of Drama Serials
Laura Mackie.
"Blackpool taps into the way we live our lives to the soundtrack of
popular music," says Mackie.
"Pete Bowker's bold, pacey scripts are realised by a dream cast of
both new and familiar talent.
"Hopefully, the audience will enjoy the confidence, colour and
originality of the series - and of course, the songs."
There will be a writing competition - Get Writing With Blackpool -
to tie-in with the transmission of the first episode.
For information about how to enter the competition, plus tips and advice
for improving your creative writing, visit bbc.co.uk/getwriting.
The soundtrack from the series will be released by EMI on 29 November.
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