91热爆

The writer and producer talk about the inspiration for Blackpool

Blackpool, one of Britain's oldest seaside resorts, renowned for its illuminations, Pleasure Beach, Tower and Golden Mile, provides the backdrop for Peter Bowker's colourful, bold and witty six-part drama serial for 91热爆 ONE.

"We tried to break the mould a bit. We wanted to tell a story that had people on the edge of their seats, but also felt really fresh and entertaining," explains producer Kate Lewis.

"Early on Pete (Bowker) and I talked about Trollope and Dickens, and a story in which a number of characters' fates were all bound up in that of a compelling anti-hero. A bit like Melmotte in The Way We Live Now," says Lewis on the inspiration behind Blackpool.

"But we also wanted it to feel really energetic and colourful."

Writer Peter Bowker, whose credits includes Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale and Flesh & Blood, explains: "It was three things coming together really.

"Kate (Lewis) had been sending me articles about the gambling laws changing in Blackpool.

"I'd wanted to write something about northern seaside towns in particular for quite a while, as well as something about this larger-than-life, slightly monstrous individual who the audience would end up liking.

"So the three things came together all at once and kind of fell into the place.

"My first eleven holidays were spent in Blackpool," Bowker continues.

"We'd go for a week in August and again for three days for the illuminations, so I felt that I knew Blackpool well.

"As anybody will tell you who has been there, it is unlike anywhere else in Britain.

"I was also interested in the way Blackpool has tried to reinvent itself again and again, and the Vegas industry seems to be another of those attempts. Whether it succeeds or not remains to be seen."

In a departure from his more serious roles in dramas including Channel 4's The Deal and 91热爆 ONE's State Of Play, acclaimed actor, David Morrissey plays Bowker's brash, all-singing-all-dancing arcade owner.

"I worked with David a few years ago on a series called Out Of The Blue and I always knew there was a sense of humour in there," Bowker says with a smile.

"I think he brings out brilliantly that very dark humour of the character.

"He also brings an immense energy which is a very hard thing for an actor to do whilst simultaneously coming up with a subtle and nuanced performance, but it is to David's immense credit that he achieves that.

"Once I started writing about a place like Blackpool it seemed perfectly natural that people would burst into song whilst walking down the street!" continues the Stockport-born writer.

"It just lent itself to those kinds of exuberant karaoke moments. The music just fitted.

"Blackpool is a big, heightened drama which is not entirely realistic, and the music underlines that point.

"We were also very keen that the music moved the story on each time, and I think the director and the actors and everybody involved have really made it work.

"A lot of the music is from the Seventies and Eighties - the period when I was in to pop music.

"Some of the titles were found by flicking through the Guinness book of records for hit singles, other times I would hear something on the radio and think, 'Well, that could work'.

"It's songs with fairly mysterious lyrics or songs with very blatant lyrics, like The Gambler by Kenny Rogers from episode two, which just seemed to fit very well.

"The truth is if I was a wedding DJ, the songs featured in the series would be on my play list!" laughs Bowker.

Blackpool owes a little inspiration to the late Dennis Potter as well as to Moulin Rouge and Rock Follies.

Bowker says Potter was a good starting point to draw inspiration from: "As far as I am concerned Dennis Potter is the greatest television writer there has ever been.

"But it seems to me that in Britain, at least, we are very hesitant about using music in this way since Potter's death, because he used it so superbly well everybody is a little bit frightened about giving it a try.

"Potter invented a new television language and none of us are using it. It seemed such an opportunity, and so right for this particular story and I thought, why not?

"I'm not here to compare Blackpool to anything like The Singing Detective - it would be suicidal to talk in those terms.

"The Singing Detective was a central part of television history, and you don't go out to do that. You just go out to write a good story and the material lends itself to this musical style.

"The other thing that influenced me was watching an episode of Six Feet Under where Nate imagined himself as a rock star at his own funeral.

"What was interesting about it was that it struck me that maybe American television has been less scared of using this musical device and maybe that is because they are not labouring under the shadow of Dennis Potter."

Kate Lewis says: "Pete creates a really original vision of the world in his drama.

"The obvious similarity between Blackpool and Potter is that the characters break into song but that for me is where the similarities between the two end.

"Blackpool has its own unique style and tone; it's energetic, entertaining and will hopefully have an audience dying to know what happens next."