Drama
Archangel
British-born actor Daniel Craig stars in a major adaptation
of Robert Harris's compelling best-seller, Archangel.
Adapted by award-winning writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (Auf
Wiedersehen, Pet) and filmed entirely on location in Moscow and Latvia,
Archangel follows Oxford historian Fluke Kelso (Craig) on a dangerous
and thrilling race to uncover the dark mystery behind the alleged secret
diaries of Josef Stalin.
Set in contemporary Moscow and the frozen northern town of Archangel,
the drama revisits the stark landscape of Communist Russia and takes
place over four days in Kelso's life.
His fateful meeting with a former Stalinist bodyguard of the NKVD secret
police leads to the uncovering of one of the world's most dangerous
and best-kept secrets.
He is led unwittingly through murder and intrigue towards Josef Stalin's
secret legacy - a legacy that could change the face of Russian history
for ever.
Daniel Craig starred in the 大象传媒's Our Friends In The North as well
as the feature films Road To Perdition, The Mother, Sylvia, Layer Cake
and the forthcoming Enduring Love.
Robert Harris is the author of Pompeii, Enigma and Fatherland.
Drama Publicity
Fingersmith
Imelda Staunton, Rupert Evans, Charles Dance,
Sally Hawkins and Elaine Cassidy star in Peter Ransley's
adaptation of Sarah Waters' Booker nominated novel, Fingersmith.
Set in 19th century London, Fingersmith (the Victorian slang for pickpocket)
is the story of a con man, Rivers, who embarks on the most ambitious
scam of his career.
Passing himself off as a gentleman, Rivers gains employment with Mr
Lilly, while befriending his young niece Maud, who stands to inherit
a fortune when she marries.
However, Maud's maid has recently left her service and, without a chaperone,
Rivers' access to her is limited.
Rivers' elaborate scheme is to seduce Maud into eloping with him and,
once married, to commit her to an asylum while taking her fortune for
himself.
To achieve this he enlists the help of Sue. An orphan brought up by
Mrs Sucksby in a world of petty thievery and charlatans, Sue is a "fingersmith
with a heart of gold".
The promise of a share in Maud's fortune is enough to persuade her
to join in with Rivers' deception - and before long she is appointed
as Maud's new maid.
Rupert Evans plays Rivers, Charles Dance plays Mr Lilly, Elaine Cassidy
plays Maud, Sally Hawkins plays Sue and Imelda Staunton plays Mrs Sucksby.
Drama Publicity
Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee
Childhood friends Tania, Sunita and Chila are now in their thirties
and at a crossroads in life but their friendship still holds them together.
Tania is the ambitious career girl who left her family and her 'community'
behind; Sunita dropped out of university to marry her sweetheart but
feels trapped by two kids and an unfulfilling job; while Chila is getting
married to Deepak, the man of her dreams.
But is he the man of Tania's dreams too?
Adapted from Meera Syal's acclaimed novel, Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee
Hee, it stars Laila Rouass, Meera Syal, Ayesha Dharker,
Sanjeev Bhaskar and Ace Bhatti.
Drama Publicity
Doctor Who
Acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston plays Doctor Who in a
new series for 大象传媒 ONE next year.
Billie Piper, who made her acting debut in the critically acclaimed
Canterbury Tales - The Miller's Tale, stars alongside Eccleston as the
Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler.
Travelling through time and space, the Doctor and Rose come face to
face with a number of new and exciting monsters - as well as battling
with the Doctor's arch-enemy, the Daleks.
The series, which promises to surprise and entertain a new generation,
also features Penelope Wilton, Noel Clarke, Annette
Badland, Camille Coduri and John Barrowman, Bruno
Langley and celebrated theatre, film and television actor Simon
Callow.
Filming in Cardiff until 2005 for transmission on 大象传媒 ONE, Doctor
Who is written by Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Paul
Cornell and Robert Shearman.
AF/MO
Faith
Christine Tremarco, Maxine Peake, Adrian Bower,
Jamie Draven, Jason Flemyng and Clive Russell star
in Faith.
William Ivory's moving and passionate story of two sisters' struggle
for survival during the year-long conflict between the Thatcher government
and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which began in March 1984.
Michelle is married to Gary, a young miner who comes out on strike
as soon as the dispute begins, and Linda's husband Paul is a local policeman;
two sisters on either side of the community divide.
As the weeks turn to months and bitterness and hardship become the
norm, everyday life begins to change.
While Michelle suddenly finds herself wanting to get more involved
in the miners' struggle, Gary begins to wonder whether he has the same
passion as those with whom he stands on the picket line.
Paul becomes more and more voluble in his opposition to the strike
and Linda looks around her at the women of her community who have suddenly
found a voice and independence.
The scene is set for political and personal conflicts which will change
their lives for ever.
Christine Tremarco plays Michelle, Jamie Draven plays Gary, Maxine
Peake plays Linda and Adrian Bower plays Paul.
Drama Publicity
The Murder Room
A gruesome murder sets Commander Adam Dalgliesh on a trail to the House
of Lords as Martin Shaw returns as the taciturn detective and
poet.
The Murder Room is classic PD James - a family at war, a secret society
for sexual favours that involves lords of the realm and a murder case
which mimics the crimes from the Murder Room, a chilling exhibition
in the Dupayne family museum, dedicated to the most gruesome real-life
murders between the two world wars.
When the lease on the museum comes up for renewal, the three Dupayne
family siblings have to sign it, according to their father's will, or
it will be closed.
Adopted brother Neville refuses and he becomes the first murder victim
to die in a grisly killing that is a replica of one of the exhibits
in the Murder Room.
Janie Dee (Emma Lavenham), Michael Maloney (Neville Dupayne),
Samantha Bond (Caroline Dupayne), Sian Phillips (Marie
Strickland), Kerry Fox (Murial Godby) and Jack Shepherd
(James Calder-Hale) also star.
FP
Down To Earth
Ricky Tomlinson and Denise Welch are back as the fun-loving
northern duo Tony and Jackie Murphy in the rural drama Down To Earth.
Tony has been released from prison and the comedic pair buy Silverdale
when it falls into receivership following the departure of Frankie and
Matt Brewer.
The peace and quiet of the village is soon shattered by the arrival
of new pub landlord Nick Christy (played by newcomer Rob Collier).
He quickly sets hearts a-flutter amongst the female contingent, but
it soon becomes obvious that he is attracted to Kerry Jamil (Shelley
Conn), a beautiful yet inexperienced vet.
However, his boyish charm and constant flirting soon rub her up the
wrong way.
Down To Earth also stars Zara Dawson and Melanie Kilburn.
CP
The Afternoon Play
A third series of the highly acclaimed, award-winning plays comes to
大象传媒 ONE Daytime.
The five self-contained dramas offer variety, quality and great entertainment
to brighten the cold winter afternoons.
From contemporary Shakespearian drama The
Hitch to a story of escape, idealism and practicality in The
Good Citizen.
From very dark humour in The Trouble With
George by Matthew Parkhill to a story of grief, childhood and
magical realism in The Singing Cactus
and an Asian 'meet the parents' in Reverse
Psychology, written by Harwant Bain of 大象传媒 THREE's Grease Monkeys
fame.
The plays have again attracted a wealth of high calibre and popular
talent including Lisa Faulkner, Samantha Janus, Jason
Merrells, Claire Goose, Hugh Quarshie and Koel
Purie.
CP
Cherished
Sarah Lancashire and Timothy Spall star in the true story
of Angela Cannings, the mother wrongfully convicted of killing two of
her babies.
Angela spent two years in prison battling for justice before her conviction
was quashed, creating a landmark in legal history and resulting in a
change of the law.
A review into other possible miscarriages of justice is ongoing.
Developed in close collaboration with 大象传媒 Current Affairs and Angela
and Terry Cannings, Cherished is a powerful, moving story which tells
of the devastating impact of the case on the family.
Reeling from the incredible anguish of losing her third child, Angela
found herself under suspicion of murder.
She was forced to move out of the family home and access to her daughter,
Jade, was severely limited.
Branded a child killer, she was attacked in prison and husband Terry
had to leave his job and sell their home to prevent Jade being taken
into care.
Angela was eventually released following new evidence of a genetic
predisposition to cot death in her family which came to light following
a 大象传媒 documentary on her case.
SA/JDR
Sea Of Souls
Exploring the strange and unexplained, Dawn Steele and Iain
Robertson join Bill Paterson to make up the new parapsychology
team in the second series of Sea Of Souls.
Monaghan's two new assistants - PhD student and single mother Justine
McManus and research fellow Craig Stevenson - are drawn into a world
of restless poltergeists, deathly premonitions and psychic healers.
From the natural to the supernatural, the normal to the paranormal,
the Sea Of Souls team attempts to explain the inexplicable.
Bill Paterson plays Monaghan, Dawn Steele plays Justine McManus and
Iain Robertson plays Craig Stevenson.
The six-episode series, featuring three two-part storylines, also stars
Nigel Terry, James Fleet, Barbara Flynn, Colin
Salmon and John Hannah.
Drama Publicity
Beaten
Robson Green stars in a powerful film for 大象传媒 Daytime about
love struggling for survival in a climate of fear and violence.
Michael is a Newcastle docker, and a man haunted by a tormented past
and childhood betrayal.
When violence erupts in his home, Michael's whole family fights to
stop their world from crumbling.
Michael goes on the run with Jamie, his young son, and his wife, Stephanie,
finds her own painful childhood history repeating itself.
The family are reunited in an emotional conflagration that reveals
both the power of a child's love and the clarity of his vision.
AA
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