The Street - a new drama by Jimmy McGovern
for 91Èȱ¬ ONE
Starts Thursday 13 April 2006 at 9.00pm
Introduction
Jimmy McGovern, one of British television's most prolific and
influential writing talents, returns to 91Èȱ¬
ONE with a major new drama series - The
Street - starring Jim
Broadbent, Jane Horrocks, Sue
Johnston and Timothy Spall.
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The creator of the multi award winning series Cracker, and critically acclaimed feature films Priest and Liam, makes a return to 91Èȱ¬ ONE for the first time since The Lakes.
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Lucy Richer and John Yorke, joint Head of 91Èȱ¬ Independent Drama say: "The Street is 91Èȱ¬ ONE's ambitious drama series featuring stories which are embedded in how we live.
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"A modern play for today – each story is truthful, gritty
and real - this is Jimmy McGovern at his best."
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Set in the North of England, each emotionally-powerful episode concentrates on a different house in The Street.
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Each story is distinctive and individual but linked by community
and shared experience.
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Sita Williams, Executive Producer for ITV Productions, says: "Jimmy has wanted to do a series like this for a long time. His generosity and experience have been inspirational to everyone involved."
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In the opening episode Jane Horrocks plays Angela Quinn, a mother of three, whose 15-year-old marriage to builder Arthur (Daniel
Ryan) is growing stale.
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An affair with her neighbour provides much-needed excitement
- until Angela's world is turned upside down by events which leave her
locked in warfare with her lover.
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Jimmy McGovern says: "The extraordinary lives of ordinary people from the backstreets are the stories I am trying to tell. Behind every door in every street there's a story waiting to be told."
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There are mothers and daughters; fathers and sons; a wife and her lover; a husband and wife falling in love all over again 40 years on; an unexpected friendship that turns the life of an ordinary taxi driver upside down; and two sisters, long at war, drawn back together by the breakdown of a marriage.
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McGovern, renowned for hit TV dramas Gun Powder, Treason And Plot, The Lakes, and Hillsborough, is Lead Writer and Executive Producer of the series.
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Working with some of Britain's top new writing talent to
create this unique series, he tells stories with universal appeal, exploring
the darker side of human nature, but never losing sight of its abiding
humanity.
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The cast includes Timothy Spall as taxi-driver Eddie; Neil
Dudgeon as teacher, Brian; Lindsey Coulson as Ann, Brian's wife; Christine
Bottomley as sparky Yvonne, who is married to the dangerous, mercurial Sean, played by Lee
Ingleby.
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Joanne Froggatt plays Yvonne's sister Kerry. Shaun
Dooley is Peter Harper, Angela's neighbour and lover, and Liz
White plays his
unknowing wife, Eileen.
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Jody Latham plays Billy, a gifted footballer who
gets drawn into a life of crime, and David Schofield plays Billy's
dad.
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An ITV Production for 91Èȱ¬ ONE, the producer is Ken
Horn and executive producer is Sita Williams. The Street is
directed by David
Blair (The Lakes; Malice of Forethought) and Terry
McDonough (11th Hour; Vincent).
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AF