BBC ONE’s second series of THE VILLAGE And life moves into the roaring twenties (original) (raw)

28th March 2014

Shooting starts this week in Derbyshire on the second series of THE VILLAGE, BBC ONE's critically acclaimed drama, with six more episodes for broadcast later this year. PETER MOFFAT's epic story charts the life and turbulent times of one English village through the 20th Century. Series two of THE VILLAGE starts in 1923 and life post The Great War - but what kind of England has won? THE VILLAGE is seen through the prism of Bert Middleton’s eyes - the young man who never leaves the village but sees the world transform around him. 23 year old newcomer TOM VAREY has been cast as the adult Bert, the son of John and Grace Middleton played by JOHN SIMM and MAXINE PEAKE. Now in a world of boom and bust, motor cars and the Charleston, the twenties bring a blast of energy and freedom to the village; as the outside world continues to break down barriers, bringing with it the big dramas that change will always generate. New faces arrive in the village as Lord Kilmarnock (JULIAN SANDS - 24, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), causes upset to all he encounters; and the station master’s daughter Phoebe (PHOEBE DYNEOVER - Prisoner’s Wives, Waterloo Road), falls for Bert who never notices because of his infatuation with Martha. Harsh landowner Alf Rutter (BEN BATT - Scott & Bailey, Shameless) continues his family’s battle with his neighbours The Middleton’s; whilst Grace (PEAKE) fights for her rights and for her community – and meets her match in ex miner and Labour candidate Bill Gibby (DEREK RIDDELL – No Angels, Ugly Betty). Joy Dangerfield (JULIET AUBREY - The White Queen, Primeval) brings the world of Marie Stopes to the village; and Robert Read (ALEX ROBERTSON - London Wall) rocks Edmund Allingham’s world. Bert’s likeable mate Gilbert Hankin (ANDREW GOWER - Monroe, Being Human) is not his father’s son; and then the professional touring boxer Ghana Jones, DANIEL EZRA, discovers village life… THE VILLAGE is an ensemble piece with all the village regulars returning including: the Allingham family headed by Clem (JULIET STEVENSON) and her children, the politically hungry Edmund (RUPERT EVANS), unstable daughter Caro (EMILY BEECHAM) and war scarred George (AUGUSTUS PREW) now married to the headstrong Martha (CHARLIE MURPHY); school teacher Gerrard Eyre (MATT STOKOE); the self-made Arnold Hankin (ANTHONY FLANAGAN) and wife Norma (AINSLEY HOWARD); land agent Bairstow (JOE ARMSTRONG); the buxom Margaret (ANNABELLE APSION); naive Agnes (CHLOE HARRIS); housemaid Polly (AMELIA YOUNG); Methodist minister Robin (SCOTT HANDY); pub Landlord Peter (JIM CARTWRIGHT); and introducing eleven year old CHLOE ROWLEY as Mary Middleton. An event piece of television that belongs firmly on the BBC, THE VILLAGE sees PETER MOFFAT's extraordinary lives of the villagers into the roaring twenties. THE VILLAGE was re-commissioned by Danny Cohen, former Controller BBC One and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning. THE VILLAGE is made by Company Pictures (Wolf Hall, Shameless, New Worlds) - part of ALL3MEDIA Group. The series is executive produced by Polly Hill for the BBC, John Yorke and George Faber for Company Pictures and Peter Moffat; produced by Tim Whitby (Shameless, The Best Of Men); with directors Luke Watson (eps 1&2 – Criminal Justice, Random Quest); and first time television drama director Jamie Stone (eps 3&4 – BAFTA (2014) nominated short Orbit Ever After, Screen International Star of Tomorrow 2012). Writers: Peter Moffat (eps:1,2,5,6), Amy Roberts/Loren Mclaughlan (ep:3), Mick Collins (ep:4). THE VILLAGE is licensed internationally by ALL3MEDIA International. Filming on location in Derbyshire until early July 2014. For further information, set visits and interviews please contact: Deborah Goodman @ DGPR on 00 44 (208) 959 9980 or publicity@dgpr.co.uk