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Miranda
Richardson, Michael Gambon and Gina McKee head the cast of Stephen
Poliakoff's The Lost Prince for 大象传媒 ONE
Miranda
Richardson, Michael Gambon and Gina McKee head the cast of award-winning
writer/director Stephen Poliakoff's The Lost Prince, a two-part
drama which is now in production for 大象传媒 ONE, it was announced today
by Jane Tranter, 大象传媒 Controller of Drama Commissioning.
Following
the triumphant success of his 大象传媒 TWO dramas Perfect Strangers and
Shooting The Past, Poliakoff tells the little-known story of Edwardian
royal, Prince John, the youngest child of George V and Queen Mary,
whose short life spanned one of the most momentous periods in history
聳 the political build-up to the First World War and the machinations
of European royalty in the early part of the 20th century.
Set
against a backdrop of unprecedented upheaval in Britain, The Lost
Prince tells the very human story of a unique family and an extraordinary
boy.
Diagnosed
as an epileptic, and suffering from autistic-like learning difficulties,
Prince John was unable to participate in public life and became
increasing isolated from his family.
Miranda Richardson plays Queen Mary, who tries to understand the
needs of her youngest child; Gina McKee is Prince John's devoted
nanny, Lalla; Tom Hollander plays George V, whose blood ties to
his cousins, the Emperor of Germany and the Tsar of Russia, cannot
prevent his country entering a calamitous world conflict.
Michael
Gambon is Prince John's grandfather, Edward VII, with veteran Bergman
film actress, Bibi Andersson, as his wife, Queen Alexandra.
John
Sessions plays the young royal's exasperated tutor, Mr Hansell.
Bill Nighy plays Stamfordham, King George's socially and politically
adept Private Secretary. Frank Finlay and Ron Cook also star.
More
than 600 boys were auditioned for the part of Prince John before
Matthew Thomas, who had a small role in 大象传媒 Films' Billy Elliot,
was chosen for the role. Daniel Williams will play the same part
at an earlier age. Rollo Weeks and Brock Everitt-Elwick play his
ever-loving brother, Prince George.
Producer
John Chapman says: "Stephen Poliakoff has written for the first
time about events inspired by a true story and like everything with
him his research was meticulous and included time spent at the Royal
Archives at Windsor.
"From
this he has created an extraordinarily poetic screenplay in his
unique style which offers a fascinating insight about this traumatic
period in history, much of which is virtually unknown."
Poliakoff
says: "Prince John had epilepsy and autism, and became a forgotten
boy. We saw past events through the eyes of a child in Perfect Strangers
and, in this drama, that happens on an epic scale. It is history
seen through a half-open door on the eve of the First World War."
Jane
Tranter says: "Following the success of Shooting the Past and
Perfect Strangers, both of which were shown on 大象传媒 TWO, it's brilliant
to have Stephen working on 大象传媒 ONE, and for his new piece of work
to be tackling such a little known piece of history with all Stephen's
usual perspicacity, originality and skill as a dramatist.
"This
is a big and ambitious drama for early next year on 大象传媒 ONE, which
continues the themes of the previous two in that it examines how
much children are influenced by their parents."
Notes to Editors
The
Lost Prince is a TalkBack production for 大象传媒 ONE. The executive
producers are by TalkBack's Peter Fincham (TalkBack) and David M.
Thompson (大象传媒).
The
Lost Prince marks producer John Chapman's third collaboration with
Stephen Poliakoff.
Previous
credits are Royal Society of Television and Prix Italia winning
Shooting The Past and Perfect Strangers, which won this year's RTS
awards for Best Serial and Single Drama and Best Writer for Stephen
Poliakoff.
At
the recent BAFTA 2002 ceremony, Stephen Poliakoff received the prestigious
Dennis Potter Award and Michael Gambon received Best Actor for his
role as Raymond in Perfect Strangers.
The
Lost Prince began filming on 6 May and shoots until late July on
locations spanning several counties including Suffolk, Norfolk,
and Greater London.
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