Category: TV Drama; Wales
Date: 05.07.2005
Printable version
Robson Green stars as a bereaved husband who dreams of sending his wife's ashes into space in Rocket Man, a new six-part family drama for 91Èȱ¬ ONE.
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Made jointly by Coastal Productions and Touchpaper Television for 91Èȱ¬ Wales, the series follows George Stevenson's attempts to build a rocket, while juggling a chaotic life as a single father.
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A skilled engineer who came to South Wales to build trains, George (Robson Green) is now employed on the assembly line of a chocolate factory after the closure of the carriage works.
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Building the rocket gives George a sense of purpose and a chance to use old skills.
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The rocket is also George's last love letter to his beloved wife - a way for George and his children - young son Tom (John Rhys Halliwell) and teenage daughter Angela (Lucy Evans) - to say goodbye.
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But nothing is easy. Will the responsibilities of daily life and the sheer difficulty of finding liquid oxygen in South Wales keep the rocket earthbound?
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Rocket Man also stars Charles Dale as George's best friend and fellow inventor Barney, with Alison Newman as Barney's wife Diane, Janine Wood as scientist Mary and Kay Bridgeman as Tom's teacher Pam.
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Philip Whitchurch, Kai Owen and Dave Hill also co-star.
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The series is created and written by Alison Hume, who also wrote Coastal's drama Beaten for 91Èȱ¬ ONE.
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Writing duties are shared by Shaun Prendergast (Grafters, Soldier Soldier) and Simon Block (Trust).
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Sandra Jobling, Executive Producer for Coastal Productions, says: "We are excited to have secured Coastal and Touchpaper's first drama series commission for 91Èȱ¬ ONE.
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"Alison Hume's delightfully-written family drama has a light touch while pulling some big emotional punches.
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"It's an upbeat, moving and funny story about a man who still dares to dream."
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Rob Pursey, Executive Producer for Touchpaper TV, says: "Rocket Man is a modern tale about men who are dealing with love, loss and an uncertain future.
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"The rocket is the perfect outlet for George's engineering skills and his grief over the loss of his wife.
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"But George also has to confront the fact that this dream of his may be impossible to achieve.
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"I believe Robson Green is perfect for the role."
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Julie Gardner, Executive Producer for 91Èȱ¬ Wales, adds: "Rocket Man is a series full of heart and emotion.
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"It has warmth and humour but also deals with the realities of all our messy, busy lives.
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"91Èȱ¬ Wales is delighted to be working with Coastal and Touchpaper for the very first time on this contemporary series."
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Rocket Man is produced by Phil Leach (Wire in the Blood, Touching Evil) and directed by Jon East (Beaten, New Tricks), Jane Prowse (Between The Sheets, Green-Eyed Monster) and James Strong (Casualty).
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A Coastal Productions and Touchpaper TV Co-production for 91Èȱ¬ Wales, it is filming now for transmission on 91Èȱ¬ ONE in 2006.
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Notes to Editors
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Coastal Productions' previous credits include Wire In The Blood and Beaten.
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Robson Green's credits include Wire in the Blood, Beaten, Christmas Lights, Like Father Like Son, Unconditional Love, Take Me, Close and True, Grafters and Rhinoceros.
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Touchpaper Television's credits include NY-LON and Most Mysterious Murders. Other dramas in production include The Queen's Sister, Last Rights and The Best Man.
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91Èȱ¬ Wales is a driving force in drama with credits including Doctor Who, Casanova, Dad, The Girl in the Café and the forthcoming Life on Mars.
