Brief Encounters: Interviews

“IT was extraordinary.

“All the men in the crew went very quiet.”

Penelope Wilton talking to me about glorious new ITV drama Brief Encounters.

Starting in 1982, the six-part series begins at 9pm next Monday (July 4) and is just the tonic we need after the turmoil of recent times.

Sophie Rundle (Steph), Angela Griffin (Nita), Sharon Rooney (Dawn) and Penelope (Pauline) give compelling performances in this Sheffield filmed and set production.

Four women linked by the emergence of Ann Summers’ party planning, providing hope, confidence, ambition and a chance of independence.

As well as its fair share of laughter and tears along the way at a time when attitudes to women and sex were very different to today.

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Happy Valley: Sarah Lancashire

“I’LL make a note of the fact that you apologised profusely…in tears.”

Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in tonight’s Happy Valley episode three. (BBC1 9pm)

Sally Wainwright’s brilliant script matched, yet again, by Sarah’s work on screen.

In a series reminding us that Sally’s writing CV includes dramas like Unforgiven, as well as Last Tango In Halifax, Scott and Bailey and At Home With The Braithwaites.

Back in March I attended the London launch of this six-part drama, followed by a Q&A.

A few hours later I wrote the story further down this page, which has not gone online – so best put that right now.

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The Bletchley Circle 2: Interviews

“I gather there was a lot of excitement online.

“We trended on Twitter as #ladynerds – which I love.

“Bletchley and these girls represent everything that is brilliant about Britain.

“They’re eccentric, non-conformist and think outside the box.”

Rachael Stirling talking to me about series one of The Bletchley Circle and reprising her role as Millie in the second series.

Which begins on ITV at 9pm on Monday (January 6).

I was delighted to be asked to write the cast interviews for the new series, as I had done for the first one.

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The Bletchley Circle: Interviews

bletchley8 — Millie (Rachael Stirling), Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin), Lucy (Sophie Rundle) and Jean (Julie Graham).

The Bletchley Circle is an intriguing three-part drama which begins on ITV1 at 9pm this Thursday (Sept 6).

And also the second of the four ITV Drama press packs I worked on this summer.

Including my interviews with lead cast members Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael Stirling, Sophie Rundle and Julie Graham.

Plus producer Jake Lushington, writer Guy Burt and costume designer Anna Robbins.

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