Programme Information (PI)

The information contained herein is embargoed from all Press, online, social media, non-commercial publication or syndication - in the public domain - until  Wednesday 6 December 2023.

Mr Bates vs the Post Office

Series overview

Toby Jones, Monica Dolan, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Lia Williams, Alex Jennings, Ian Hart, Katherine Kelly, Shaun Dooley, Will Mellor, Clare Calbraith, Lesley Nicol, Amit Shah, and Adam James star in the new ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, written by acclaimed screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes (Tom Jones, Honour, Vanity Fair) and produced by ITV Studios  and Little Gem.

The drama tells the story of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history. Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting due to a defective IT system. Many of the wronged workers were prosecuted, some were imprisoned for crimes they never committed, and their lives were irreparably damaged by the scandal.

Episode 2

Alan and his friends meet Sam Kaur, due to stand trial and suffering mentally, and Michael Rudkin, who has inside knowledge of Horizon. Jo and Alan take their cause to James Arbuthnot MP in Westminster, who persuades the Post Office to hire an independent investigator. As Bob Rutherford starts work, he finds evidence of faults in the IT system, and becomes convinced of the honesty of the subpostmasters. Bob’s explosive report rattles Post Office boss, Paula Vennells, who approaches Alan personally to find a solution. But can Alan trust Paula to pursue the truth at any cost?

Cast:

Alan Bates - TOBY JONES
Suzanne Sercombe - JULIE HESMONDHALGH
Jo Hamilton - MONICA DOLAN
Paula Vennells - LIA WILLIAMS
James Arbuthnot - ALEX JENNINGS
Lee Castleton - WILL MELLOR
Michael Rudkin - SHAUN DOOLEY
Bob Rutherford - IAN HART
Jasgun Singh - AMIT SHAH
Saman Kaur - KRUPA PATTANI
Angela Van den Bogerd - KATHERINE KELLY
Kay Linnell - ISOBEL MIDDLETON
Gina Griffiths - CLARE CALBRAITH
Martin Griffiths - COLIN TIERNEY
Mr Justice Fraser - PIP TORRENS
Lisa Castleton - AMY NUTTALL
Noel Thomas - IFAN HUW DAFYDD
Pam Stubbs - LESLEY NICOL
James Hartley - JOHN HOLLINGWORTH
Patrick Green QC- ADAM JAMES

The information contained herein is embargoed from all Press, online, social media, non-commercial publication or syndication - in the public domain - until  Wednesday 6 December 2023.

Mr Bates vs the Post Office

Series overview

Toby Jones, Monica Dolan, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Lia Williams, Alex Jennings, Ian Hart, Katherine Kelly, Shaun Dooley, Will Mellor, Clare Calbraith, Lesley Nicol, Amit Shah, and Adam James star in the new ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, written by acclaimed screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes (Tom Jones, Honour, Vanity Fair) and produced by ITV Studios  and Little Gem.

The drama tells the story of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history. Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting due to a defective IT system. Many of the wronged workers were prosecuted, some were imprisoned for crimes they never committed, and their lives were irreparably damaged by the scandal.

Episode 1

After a new computer system called Horizon is rolled out across the country, mysterious financial losses start to appear in village Post Office tills. But when subpostmasters Alan Bates, Jo Hamilton, Noel Thomas and Lee Castleton seek help, the Post Office insists that each of them is the only one having problems. Alan refuses to believe it. And when the Post Office goes on to accuse, harass and even prosecute subpostmasters for the shortfalls, Alan leads the fight back. Their lives, livelihoods and good names destroyed, his little band decide to try to clear their names.

Cast:

Alan Bates - TOBY JONES
Suzanne Sercombe - JULIE HESMONDHALGH
Jo Hamilton - MONICA DOLAN
Paula Vennells - LIA WILLIAMS
James Arbuthnot - ALEX JENNINGS
Lee Castleton - WILL MELLOR
Michael Rudkin - SHAUN DOOLEY
Bob Rutherford - IAN HART
Jasgun Singh - AMIT SHAH
Saman Kaur - KRUPA PATTANI
Angela Van den Bogerd - KATHERINE KELLY
Kay Linnell - ISOBEL MIDDLETON
Gina Griffiths - CLARE CALBRAITH
Martin Griffiths - COLIN TIERNEY
Mr Justice Fraser - PIP TORRENS
Lisa Castleton - AMY NUTTALL
Noel Thomas - IFAN HUW DAFYDD
Pam Stubbs - LESLEY NICOL
James Hartley - JOHN HOLLINGWORTH
Patrick Green QC- ADAM JAMES

Also watch:

Mr Bates vs the Post Office: The Real Story
 

[Full series drop available on ITVX]

Nolly

Series Overview

Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning actor Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown, Enola Holmes 1 and 2, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter, Burton and Taylor) stars as Noele (or Nolly to her friends) who was a legend in her own lifetime. As flame-haired widow Meg Richardson in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, she was one of the most famous people in Britain. Then in 1981, at the height of the show’s success and the peak of Nolly’s fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation. With the boss’s words “all good things must come to an end” ringing in her ears, Noele Gordon found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.

Episode 3:

To save her career, Nolly returns to the stage in one of theatre’s hardest roles. Riddled with self-doubt and unable to escape her brutal firing, can Nolly prove her doubters wrong?

[Full series drop available on ITVX]

Nolly

Series Overview

Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning actor Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown, Enola Holmes 1 and 2, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter, Burton and Taylor) stars as Noele (or Nolly to her friends) who was a legend in her own lifetime. As flame-haired widow Meg Richardson in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, she was one of the most famous people in Britain. Then in 1981, at the height of the show’s success and the peak of Nolly’s fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation. With the boss’s words “all good things must come to an end” ringing in her ears, Noele Gordon found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.

Episode 2:

With exit day looming, Nolly is desperate to know how she’ll be killed off from Crossroads… But her farewell is so shocking nobody in the cast could have predicted it.

[Full series drop available on ITVX]

Nolly

Series Overview

Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning actor Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown, Enola Holmes 1 and 2, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter, Burton and Taylor) stars as Noele (or Nolly to her friends) who was a legend in her own lifetime. As flame-haired widow Meg Richardson in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, she was one of the most famous people in Britain. Then in 1981, at the height of the show’s success and the peak of Nolly’s fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation. With the boss’s words “all good things must come to an end” ringing in her ears, Noele Gordon found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.

Episode 1:

Noele Gordon is at the height of her success, with her famous soap opera Crossroads riding high in the ratings. Then she’s suddenly sacked overnight - but why?

The Winter King

[Full series drop on ITVX on Thursday 21 December]

Arthurian legend re-imagined. A bold and revisionist take on the well-loved Arthurian Legends, The Winter King follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader. 

The Winter King is set in the 5th century long before Britain was united. In a land of warring factions and tribes when the World was brutal and lives were often fleeting.

Featuring an exciting range of established names and new talent the cast includes:

IAIN DE CAESTECKER (The Control Room, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) as a young Arthur, who begins as an exiled bastard before becoming the greatest hope for Britain.

STUART CAMPBELL (SAS Rogue Heroes, Clique) is Derfel who transforms from left-for-dead orphan to the truest of all warlords.

ELLIE JAMES (Giri/Haji, I May Destroy You) is Nimue a priestess saved by Merlin because she can see the gods - he gives her power, wisdom and learning.

EDDIE MARSAN (The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe, Deceit) is Uther, High King of all Dumnonia, old and battle tested. He commands incredible authority, over almost all, bar Merlin.

NATHANIEL MARTELLO-WHITE (Small Axe, I Hate Suzie) is Merlin, a politician, powerful, enlightened, and absolute. Fearless in the face of a King’s wrath he follows his connection to his Gods in all things.

DANIEL INGS (I Hate Suzie, The Crown) is Owain one of Arthur’s closest childhood friends and like a son to High King Uther.

VALENE KANE (The Fall, Gangs of London) is Morgan, Arthur’s half-sister and another bastard child of King Uther. She is a sharp-tongued and independent minded pagan and student of Merlin.

SIMON MERRELLS (Good Omens, Knightfall) is Gundleus, King of rival kingdom Siluria. Imposing and savage, Gundleus is prepared to slaughter whoever he needs to secure power.

Produced by Bad Wolf in association with One Big Picture and distributed by Sony Pictures Television.

***

Episode 1

High King Uther rages at his bastard son Arthur and exiles him. Arthur finds a young boy, Derfel, close to death. He leaves Derfel in the care of Merlin and his prodigy Druidess, Nimue. Eight years later, Uther has a new heir. Merlin sees a vision of terrible destruction in newborn baby Mordred’s future. Derfel is shocked to re-encounter the man who attacked him as a child, Gundleus.

Episode 2

Uther dies. Merlin finds Arthur and asks him to return to Britain. Gundleus arrives at Avalon, and kills the baby King and Queen Norwenna. His men destroy Avalon and kill its inhabitants. Nimue is raped by Gundleus. Nimue and Derfel escape and find other survivors, who reveal that the Edling King is still alive. The survivors are surrounded, and all appears lost, when Arthur and his men arrive.

Episode 3

Arthur takes Gundleus prisoner. Nimue struggles with the trauma of her rape and plans to kill Gundleus. Arthur learns that Gundleus’ uncle Gorfydd is preparing for war. Nimue tries to pull Derfel into her plans, but Derfel can’t betray Arthur. Nimue is furious and decides to leave Caer Cadarn. Arthur releases Gundleus on the condition that he brings Gorfydd to Mordred’s naming ceremony.

Episode 4

Nimue returns to Avalon, where she is found by Merlin. Derfel and Owain travel to collect taxes from King Cadwys, but he convinces Owain to raid a nearby mine to settle the debt instead. The raid turns violent. Merlin discovers that Nimue is pregnant but refuses to help her perform an abortion – she runs away from Avalon. Finally, Gundleus returns with Gorfydd to Caer Cadarn.

Episode 5

Derfel feels uncomfortable about the attack on the mine – which Owain is keeping a secret. Nimue aborts her pregnancy, and then is discovered by Merlin who helps heal her. Tristan, prince of Kernow, arrives demanding retribution for the raid at the mine but Owain denies his guilt. Derfel reveals the truth and Arthur fights Owain on Tristan’s behalf – tragically killing his best friend.

Episode 6

Arthur and the tribe kings enter peace talks. Arthur suggests that as a show of faith, he marry Gorfydd’s daughter, Ceinwyn. She is horrified by the news. Arthur and Derfel travel to Powys and rest for the night by a lake. Arthur meets Guinevere, Ceinwyn’s lady-in-waiting, but he doesn’t know who she is. They arrive in Caer Dolforwyn and Arthur and Ceinwyn are betrothed.

Episode 7

A line-up of activities are set for the nights before Arthur and Ceinwyn are married. Arthur is increasingly drawn to Guinevere; they meet secretly and kiss. Gundleus attacks Derfel but Derfel prevails. Arthur breaks the betrothal with Ceinwyn. She tells him that Gorfydd will kill Guinevere. They need to escape now, which they do. Arthur and Guinevere marry in the countryside.

Episode 8

Arthur believes that Bedwin will be able to negotiate peace with Gorfydd. However, when Morgan and Derfel arrive in Powys, they discover Bedwin being crucified. Morgan is heartbroken. Sansum persuades Arthur into allowing him to build his new church near Avalon, which horrifies Nimue. She curses Sansum. A Christian mob accuses Nimue of poisoning them. They demand justice from Arthur.

Episode 9

Derfel and Morgan take Bedwin’s body back to Arthur. Ceinwyn reveals that Gorfydd is allying with the Saxons. Derfel discovers that the Christians died of natural causes, but Arthur reveals he has exiled Nimue to the Isle of the Dead. Derfel leaves to find Nimue. Arthur is in his darkest hour but regains his conviction thanks to Guinevere and Excalibur.

Episode 10

Derfel makes his assault on the Isle of the Dead and finds Nimue. Arthur meets the Saxon King Aelle and hands over information which will benefit their advance into Britain. In return, the Saxons will not attack Dumnonia for an agreed period of time. Arthur follows Derfel to the Isle of the Dead, and narrowly rescues him and Nimue by breaking the cave wall with Excalibur. Arthur has reconciled with his friends. He will need them in the battles ahead. Guilt ridden by the deal he’s been forced to make with the Saxons, Arthur vows to fight to save Britain.

Archie

Full series drop on ITVX on Thursday 23 November

Series overview

Four-part drama starring Jason Isaacs  about the life of Hollywood’s leading man, launching on the streaming platform in November. Written by award-winning screenwriter, Jeff Pope, and produced by Etta Pictures, Pope’s ITV Studios label, BritBox International is the co-production partner.

The series is directed by BAFTA winning Paul Andrew Williams, who also serves as an Executive Producer, and produced by BAFTA winning Rebecca Hodgson.

Born in Bristol, England in 1904, to parents Elsie and Elias, Archie narrates the story of a young Archibald Alexander Leach’s troubled childhood and how extreme poverty, his father’s adultery and the loss of his older brother, John, tore the family apart and sent his loving mother into a downward spiral of grief and depression.
 
Jeff Pope’s scripts reveal how deceit, cruelty and one, overpowering lie shaped Archie’s life.
 
At 14 he auditioned for the music hall act, the Bob Pender Troupe, a band of acrobats, stilt walkers, clowns and comedians after seeing them perform at the Bristol Hippodrome.  Lean and athletic, he learned the art of stilt walking, and when the troupe went on tour to the US, teenage Archie was intoxicated by the land of opportunity. Believing he was not wanted by his family in the UK, he decided to stay in the US to try to make his way in showbusiness.
 
With no thoughts of acting, a chance meeting with the comedian George Burns helped him find his first footing on the acting ladder and a contract with a movie studio who felt he needed to change his name, and Cary Grant was born.
 
The drama intercuts with scenes from 1961 when at the height of his fame, living in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, the legendary actor was breaking all box office records, but desperately unhappy in his private life. 
 
With two failed marriages behind him, he began to woo an actress he’d seen on a TV show, Dyan Cannon. Thirty-three years his junior, Dyan, didn’t initially fall for his charms turning down his attempts to meet, because she didn’t feel they could ever be a match. 
 
Dashingly handsome, suave and sophisticated, Cary continued to pursue her, with introductions to his famous friends, until they eventually wed in Las Vegas in 1965.

The series also stars Laura Aikman (Not Going Out, Gavin and Stacey) as Cary’s formidable ex-wife, actress and filmmaker Dyan Cannon, with Harriet Walter (Succession, Ted Lasso, Killing Eve) as Elsie Leach, Cary’s mother.

Dainton Anderson (Patrick Melrose), Calam Lynch (Bridgerton) and Oaklee Pendergast (Home) play young versions of Archie Leach, and Kara Tointon (Mr Selfridge, The Halcyon, Sound of Music Live) plays young Elsie.

Archie is a 4 x 60 mins drama commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill for ITVX. With the blessing of Cary Grant’s daughter, Jennifer Grant, and ex-wife Dyan Cannon, the pair serve as Executive Producers. Jeff Pope executive produces the series for Etta Pictures with Diederick Santer for BritBox International. The series will air on ITV in the UK, and on BritBox in all its territories: North America, Australia, South Africa and the Nordics.

ITV Studios are responsible for the international distribution of Archie.

Episode 1

58-year-old Cary Grant is lonely in Los Angeles and on his third divorce. We flash back to his troubled childhood as Archie Leach in Victorian Bristol with a bullying father and a mother grieving for the loss of his older brother.

After Archie’s father, Elias, tells him his mother is dead and sends him to live with his grandmother, Archie finds a new ‘family’ with the Pender Troupe - acrobats playing at the Bristol hippodrome. We follow teenage Archie as he journeys to New York with the Pender Troupe and his thrill at performing to an audience.

He falls in love with the vibrancy of America and its people and when it’s time to go home, he refuses because he has nothing to go back for.

Meanwhile in 1962, Cary Grant, now the most famous film star in the world, is captivated by a beautiful young actress called Dyan Cannon, who he first sees on television. Enlisting the help of his agent Stanley Fox to find her, he finally persuades Dyan to meet him at his bungalow on the Universal Studios lot. Dyan provides the breath of fresh air he needs with her infectious laughter and beautiful smile.

While filming ‘North by Northwest’ with Alfred Hitchcock, Cary confesses that he has fallen in love again. Cary invites Dyan to his house in Benedict Canyon where they laugh and sing a duet - and she experiences his idiosyncratic dining habits. But she is taken back when he announces he doesn’t want children, he wouldn’t want to bring them into his world.

Episode 2

Twenty-something Archie Leach is struggling to make his way in New York when a chance encounter with comedian George Burns leads him to audition for a play starring screen actress Fay Wray. After receiving rave reviews on Broadway, Archie travels to Hollywood with his girlfriend Virginia Cherril. Virginia is the one with the screen test but Archie’s good looks soon get attention. He signs a deal with Paramount Studios and is given a new name – Cary Grant. Strolling through the studio, he is spotted by screen icon Mae West and on-the-spot she chooses him to play opposite her in ‘She Done Him Wrong’.

Years later, the now successful movie star Cary Grant wakes up with a hangover and an unexpected call from his father. Elias summons him to Bristol where he finally confesses that his mother Elsie, is not dead. She’s been in Fishponds lunatic asylum all this time after he’d committed her and run off with another woman. Cary is beyond furious that his father could have done such a thing to both him and his mother. Cary goes to Fishponds where his mother has become an old lady with no idea that her son is now a famous movie star.
Meanwhile in the 1960s, Cary’s relationship with Dyan Cannon falters. When he takes her to a party at the Hitchcock mansion, Dyan tells him she wants commitment - marriage and children - and she doesn’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want that. With the help of some relationship advice from Grace Kelly, Cary persuades Dyan to join him at his place in Palm Springs and romance finally starts to blossom.

Episode 3

Cary takes Dyan to the beautiful apartment he has bought for his mother in Clifton, Bristol, and introduces her to Elsie – now in her 70s. He has purchased a completely new wardrobe for Dyan full of tasteful but slightly middle-aged designer clothes. But Elsie does not take to Dyan, deliberately calling her Betsy, the name of Cary’s previous wife, and humiliating her when Dyan tries to paint Elsie’s nails. Elsie is clearly jealous of Cary having another woman in his life. The encounter brings Cary and Dyan closer together and they make love for the first time, but Cary doesn’t want to take any chances with pregnancy. 

Back in Los Angeles, Dyan moves in with him but their relationship falters as he finds fault with her dress sense and love of partying. She also hates his use of LSD as a form of therapy and the way he encourages her to take it with him. Dyan appears on the Danny Kaye television show, where she is well received and performs a beautiful song. However, Cary is not impressed and not happy with the afterparty in his home. Dyan overhears Cary and his agent Stanley Fox discussing whether he is too old to be in a movie with Audrey Hepburn, but Dyan says Audrey is older than her! Cary says his screen persona and real life are different, but Dyan is starting to feel oppressed by his lifestyle in comparison to hers. She leaves him.
This is the wakeup call Cary needs and when she refuses to answer his calls, he makes a very public proposal of marriage during her acting class. She accepts but a few months later, she has a different surprise for him: He’s going to be a father.

Episode 4

Cary is still worried about commitment but he and Dyan get married and he is thrilled with the arrival of his first and only child – Jennifer. However, he is still trying to control Dyan and cracks begin to show in their marriage as she wants to pursue her own acting career. After one final clash, Dyan leaves him – for good this time – taking Jennifer with her. But as the pain of the break-up finally settles down, Dyan is offered a play on Broadway and she asks Cary if he will look after their daughter while she is away. Spending time with Jennifer provides the family security he always craved and he retires from his stellar acting career to become a stay-at home dad. 
Several years later he is on business in London working as the face of a friend’s perfume and make-up company, when he meets Barbara Harris, who is helping him with PR. Cary and Barbara bond over their love of fish and chips and a quiet life and as their loves grows, after much soul-searching he asks his now teenage daughter Jennifer whether it would be ok if he and Barbara got married.

Meanwhile 82-year-old Cary Grant is performing a series of theatre shows where he tells the audience about his life and answers their questions. He admits his ‘Audience with Cary Grant’ is turning into a therapy session as he talks about later life with his domineering mother, how he loved Dyan Cannon as best as he could and how he never knew whether Elsie accepted the person he had become. Looking back on his life he realises that it was fatherhood that gave him a purpose. Archie Leach made up Cary Grant, the perfect movie star. But Cary Grant didn’t know how to be happy away from his film sets. He tells the audience that Jennifer has provided the peace and security he has been craving all his life, and that he has finally introduced Archie Leach to Cary Grant and the two of them ‘get along just fine’.