Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

Bill Douglas: My Best Friend

The story of the extraordinary friendship between the celebrated and much-admired Scottish director Bill Douglas and his lifelong companion and collaborator Peter Jewell.

The story of the extraordinary friendship between Scottish film-maker Bill Douglas and his lifelong companion and collaborator Peter Jewell.

Bill Douglas was Scotland鈥檚 finest director. In his short career, he made four films: autobiographical trilogy My Childhood, My Ain Folk and My Way Home about his appalling childhood, and Comrades, an epic about a momentous moment in English history. Bill is celebrated by other great film-makers such as Lynne Ramsay, Lenny Abrahamson, Satajit Ray and Yuliya Solntseva.

Bill's life was transformed when he was on national service in the Egyptian desert and met Peter Jewell, the man who would become his lifelong friend. The two men had very different backgrounds, but they formed a unique bond that channelled a tremendous creative energy.

In this film, Peter reminisces about the life he shared with Bill in their tiny Soho flat filled with cinema memorabilia. Their love of the movies leads them to start experimenting with an 8mm camera. Peter鈥檚 memories and musings about the legacy Bill left behind are illustrated with these never-before-seen short films.

Release date:

1 hour, 16 minutes

On TV

Saturday 21:15

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Brian Cox
Director Jack Archer
Producer John Archer
Executive Producer Clara Glynn
Executive Producer Mark Thomas
Production Company Hopscotch Films
Production Manager Mhairi Valentine
Production Manager David Brown

Broadcast