The BBC and Fable Pictures (Hullraisers, Rocks, Wild Rose, Stan & Ollie) has announced further casting for Mr Loverman, a brand-new eight-part drama based on Booker prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo’s best-selling 2013 novel of the same name. The series will air later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Alongside the previously announced Lennie James (Save Me, Line of Duty) as the exuberant protagonist Barrington Jedidiah Walker will be three time Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke (Doctor Who, Informer), who joins the cast as Carmel Walker, Barrington’s wife of five decades. Ariyon Bakare (Life, His Dark Materials) plays Barrington’s best friend and soulmate, Morris De La Roux, and Tamara Lawrance (Get Millie Black, Time Series 2) and Sharlene Whyte (Small Axe, Stephen) star as Barrington and Carmel’s daughters, Maxine and Donna. Tahj Miles (Small Axe, Death in Paradise), will play Daniel, Donna’s son and Carmel and Barrington’s grandson.
Keenan Munn-Francis (Black Dog, Passing Strange) will star as a young Barrington opposite Gabin Kongolo (Bariau, The Suspect) as a young Morris. Lauren Akosia (Whitstable Pearl, The Slaves) also joins the cast as a young Carmel, known as Carmelita.
The series will also feature Suzette Llewellyn (EastEnders, Vera), Lochlann Ó Mearáin (Joyride, Holding), Hopi Grace (Boiling Point, The Book of Clarence), Llewella Gideon (Top Boy, Small Axe), Doreene Blackstock (Sex Education, The Colour Room), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (The Split, His Dark Materials), Juliet Garricks (Murder They Hope, The Doctor) and Clint Dyer (Mine, Black Mirror) across the series.
Barrington Jedidiah Walker, Barry to his mates, is a seventy-four year old, Antiguan born, exuberant Hackney personality, renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women. Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris.
Now facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their futures.
Bringing to life Bernardine Evaristo’s ground-breaking exploration of Britain’s older Caribbean community, 'Mr Loverman’ is a life-affirming story about family, love, and being true to yourself.
Faye Ward, Executive Producer for Fable Pictures, says: “We are so excited to bring together this tremendous wealth of acting talent across the board. It’s a dream come true and we can’t wait for audiences to see Bernardine's story brought to life.”
Mr Loverman (8x30’) is adapted by Nathaniel Price (The Outlaws, Noughts + Crosses) and directed by Hong Khaou (Alice & Jack, Baptiste, Lilting, Monsoon). Irma Inniss (Grime Kids, The Bay) is the producer. It will be executive produced by Faye Ward, Hannah Farrell and Hannah Price for Fable Pictures, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. Lennie James and Hong Khaou will also executive produce and Nathaniel Price will associate produce. Fable Pictures is a SPT-backed company. Sony Pictures Television are distributing the series internationally.
Mr Loverman was filmed in and around London and also in Antigua. The series is due to be released on BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
EJ