The Stage

Stars line up for BBC Poliakoff dramas

Published Thursday 9 November 2006 at 12:10 by Liz Thomas

Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Rupert Penry-Jones and David Walliams are among the stars set to appear in two new films written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff for the BBC.

The first drama, which has the working title Poliakoff 2006, explores the relationship between two central characters, a reclusive billionaire, played by Gambon and the son of a cleaner who takes care of a neighbouring house, played by recent Lamda graduate Danny Lee Wynter. Penry-Jones features as a high flying politician having a clandestine affair. This piece will be for BBC1 while the second, entitled Capturing Mary, is for BBC2 - both are made by Talkback Thames.

Jane Tranter, controller of fiction, said: “It takes a major piece of work and a unique auteur to deliver a project that straddles two BBC channels. Stephen Poliakoff is such a talent and with the depth and breath of the amazingly gifted cast assembled across Poliakoff 2006 and Capturing Mary, I am certain that the finished product will be awe-inspiring.”

Ruth Wilson, fresh from the success of Jane Eyre, will star in the BBC2 film alongside Smith. The drama, set in the same location, focuses on a once brilliant writer and critic reflecting on her younger self. She is haunted by the memory of a supremely charming but subtly evil man, Greville - played by David Walliams - who feigned friendship, but actually brought destruction.

Lorraine Heggessey, chief executive of Talkback Thames, added: “Poliakoff attracts the very best talent in the business, both in front of and behind the camera, and these films are no exception. They are beautiful, compelling stories which have been impeccably cast and will of course be directed in Stephen’s inimitable way which makes these pieces so exceptional.”

The productions are being shot in succession in locations in central London, with filming expected to complete by January 2007. Poliakoff has made a string of shows for the BBC in recent years including Gideon’s Daughter, Friends and Crocodiles, The Lost Prince and Shooting the Past.Ê

“I am delighted to be reunited with Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith and Rupert Penry Jones, whom I have been fortunate enough to work with before, and also to have the opportunity to work with some of the very best emerging talent in Britain today. It’s very exciting to have such an exceptional cast,” commented Poliakoff.