United: Extra Time

Duncan Edwards (Sam Claflin) and Mark Jones (Thomas Howes)

“THE following story is based on real events.”

It was a freezing cold day in January when I visited the cast and production team on their final day of filming for BBC2 drama United.

The location was Seven Kings Park in Ilford, east London, which contains a number of relatively isolated football pitches.

Plus a small sports pavilion, including changing rooms, straight out of the 1950s.

It was here, in the space of one day, that many of the training scenes (both before and after the crash) featured in United were filmed.

With the production wrapping just before the fading afternoon winter light turned to darkness.

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United: David Tennant

united1500 — Jimmy Murphy (David Tennant) and Bobby Charlton (Jack O'Connell)

“ME and Jimmy here, we’re men of grass and boots and beauty.”

Manchester United manager Matt Busby (Dougray Scott) is sitting next to his assistant Jimmy Murphy (David Tennant).

Leaving Football League Secretary Alan Hardaker (Neil Dudgeon) in absolutely no doubt as to who is the boss.

You don’t need to be a football fan to appreciate BBC2 drama United, which tells the story of the Busby Babes, the Munich Air Crash and the months that followed.

My second feature on the film is in today’s Manchester Evening News – and below – ahead of a preview screening at The Lowry in Salford tonight.

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The Saint: Dougray Scott

HE stars tonight – and the next three nights – in Father and Son.

One of the best dramas you’ll see on ITV1 this year.

I met up with Dougray Scott on the banks of the Thames in London at the end of April to talk about his role as reformed gangster Michael O’Connor.

Having also spoken to him at BAFTA last year for Day of the Triffids.

You can read more about Father and Son in my MEN feature here.

We also chatted about the future, including Dougray’s reported involvement in a revival of ITV’s classic 1960s series The Saint.

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Day Of The Triffids Extras

triffidsblog500 — Dougray Scott (Bill) and Joely Richardson (Jo)

SO what did you make of The Day Of The Triffids part one last night?

“We filmed in some amazing locations,” said Dougray Scott, who plays Dr Bill Masen.

Earlier this year, I took part in round table interviews with Dougray and Eddie Izzard (Torrence).

During which Dougray gave his opinion on why this story, first published in 1951, still captures our imagination.

And Eddie spoke about his very first visit to Pinewood Studios, where part of this drama was filmed.

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