91Èȱ¬

Live Aid changed the world, and it happened When Harvey Met Bob. This new single drama for 91Èȱ¬ Two follows one of the most iconic moments in 20th-century history, Live Aid – the biggest televised international charity event in history.

The film is produced by Great Meadow Productions for 91Èȱ¬ Two for transmission this Christmas.

Janice Hadlow, Controller 91Èȱ¬ Two, says: "To mark the 25th anniversary of Live Aid, 91Èȱ¬ Two celebrates with an ambitious single drama which tells the story behind the biggest televised international charity event in history and the two inspiring men that made it happen."

This one-off drama stars Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows) as Bob Geldof and Ian Hart (Backbeat, Five Daughters) as Harvey Goldsmith – the two men who, together, changed the politics of international aid for ever.

In October 1984, Bob Geldof arrives home to find his wife, Paula, watching the legendary 91Èȱ¬ broadcast by Michael Buerk from the feeding camps in Eritrea province. Bob takes his eyes from the screen only once to see Paula holding their baby and weeping.

Deeply affected, Bob moves into action. First he persuades a host of rock stars to give their name and talent free to the Band Aid record – Do They Know It's Christmas? – which sells millions of copies.

But when he goes to Ethiopia to ensure the proceeds from the record will reach the starving people, he realises that so much more needs to be done. He needs to raise even more money to fulfil his promise that every penny from the record will get there. It is at this point that he conceives the idea of a global music event to feed the world.

Enter Harvey Goldsmith, the famous and well respected music promoter. This is the start of the rollercoaster ride that is the humorous, warm, tension-filled and ultimately deeply moving story of the relationship between the odd couple, as they go from a madcap idea and a list of unconfirmed acts to the biggest televised international charity event in history.

About the drama, Kate Triggs of Great Meadow Productions, said: "We were inspired by this story because it has, at its heart, a fantastic relationship that is funny and moving and born out of the real drama of trying to achieve something huge and unprecedented. It's a film about two men who are prepared to think the unthinkable and achieve the seemingly impossible."

When Harvey Met Bob is a Great Meadow Production for 91Èȱ¬ in association with ¸é°ÕÉ. Great Meadow Productions' other recent credits include the award-winning Margaret for 91Èȱ¬ Two, Margaret Thatcher – The Long Walk To Finchley for 91Èȱ¬ Four, Bradford Riots for Channel 4, and the hugely popular series Messiah for 91Èȱ¬ One.

When Harvey Met Bob is written by Joe Dunlop, directed by Nick Renton and produced by Catherine Magee. The executive producers are Robert Cooper and Kate Triggs for Great Meadow Productions and Stephen Wright and Bethan Jones for 91Èȱ¬.

It was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, 91Èȱ¬ Two and Ben Stephenson, Controller, 91Èȱ¬ Drama Commissioning.

JC3