Derek Jacobi (The King’s Speech; Borgias; My Week With Marilyn) and Anne Reid (Upstairs, Downstairs; Marchlands) lead the cast in a new romantic comedy series, Antony and Cleopatra, made by Red Production Company for BBC One.
Joined by Sarah Lancashire (Five Daughters; Rose and Maloney), Nicola Walker (Spooks; Being Human), Tony Gardner (My Parents are Aliens; Fresh Meat), Dean Andrews (Life on Mars; Ashes to Ashes; Marchlands) and Ronni Ancona (Skins; Big Impression) this six part drama sees would-be childhood sweethearts Alan (Jacobi) and Celia (Reid) reunited after sixty years. As their lives collide for a second time, Alan and Celia lament over what might have been as they take us on a life-affirming journey of what can still happen!
Written and created by Sally Wainwright (Scott & Bailey; Unforgiven; At Home with the Braithwaites), Antony and Cleopatra sees Alan and Celia unexpectedly but instantly reignite the feelings they’d had as teenagers. In this uplifting tale the path of true love is anything but smooth and the pair are surprised to find it’s their own families who create some rather bumpy obstacles.
Both widowed it’s Alan and Celia’s daughters whose dysfunctional lives bring drama at every turn. Caroline (Lancashire), a career focused head teacher, is worried that her mum is rushing into things with Alan, but with her adulterous husband John (Gardner) back on the scene having left his alcoholic mistress (Ancona) and with relationship issues of her own she’s happy to let things run their course.
Gillian (Walker) works hard on the family farm as well as in the local supermarket and she’s pleased her dad has found a companion. But she’s currently having her head turned in the wrong direction whilst also dealing with her dead husband’s brother (Dean Andrews), as he looks to turn her son Raff (Josh Bolt) against her, meaning she has little time to concentrate on her father’s love life.
Writer and creator Sally Wainwright said ‘I can't remember being this excited about writing a TV series. It's everything good; uplifting, life-affirming, funny. It's a joy to write. I'm bowled over by the stunning cast we've assembled, and thrilled to be working with Nicola, Karen and Euros again.’
Executive Producer Nicola Shindler added ‘I am delighted to be working with Sally again on such glorious scripts and with such a great cast. ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ is funny and sharp and we have assembled a cast that will bring it to life with an energy and real joy. This is going to look and feel like a timeless love story in a very modern setting.’
Antony and Cleopatra was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning and Danny Cohen, Controller BBC One. The executive producers are Nicola Shindler and Sally Wainwright for Red Production Company and Matthew Read for BBC. The Producer is Karen Lewis (Exile; Unforgiven) and the Director is Euros Lyn. (Black Mirror; Sherlock).