“WHEN we shot the first scene in the Land Rover I was horrified to notice that all the […]
Northumberland
“THE North East is the best kept secret in the country. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Vera star Brenda Blethyn talking to me ahead of series seven, which begins on ITV at 8pm this Sunday (March 19).
It’s always a pleasure to talk to Brenda. This encounter was for the Vera production notes, with a link to the full ITV interview further down this page.
I’ve seen all four, two-hour films in the new series and can confirm we’re in for some more top class drama from Vera and co.
The superb regular cast joined by a number of notable guest actors, some you will know and some you will not.
With a classic final few scenes in the last episode to delight all those both in the UK and around the world who love Vera.
The opening story – Natural Selection – takes her to the Farne Islands and Craster, just two of many wonderful Northumberland locations in this series.
Later episodes featuring Newcastle’s Quayside, Tynemouth, Gateshead, the historic Groverake mine headframe in Weardale and more of Northumberland and the wider North East.
“SOME say heroes are born. Others…they’re made.”
Beowulf: Return To The Shieldlands begins on ITV at 7pm next Sunday (Jan 3).
Kieran Bew leading a huge cast as the title character in this epic 12-part series.
I was lucky enough to spend a few days on location earlier this year with Kieran and co in County Durham / Weardale.
Interviewing both the cast and those behind the camera for ITV’s Production Notes.
With other interviews completed later in the year including William Hurt, who plays Hrothgar.
And honoured to host the on stage Q&A after the first episode, directed by Jon East, was screened at BAFTA in London in December.
August 2014 and I’m sitting on a London sofa with Robson Green.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve interviewed him.
We seem to have been meeting up for decades to discuss his various TV projects.
And it’s always a pleasure to talk to a canny lad who was born not far away from me.
Someone who has done much to put something back into the place he came from.
With a real heartfelt appreciation for his homeland and how it shaped him and his family.
Life of Wylie 