Top Telly

►Inside Men

BBC 4-part drama about three men working a security depot and decide to rob it.

►One Night

Set over one blisteringly hot summer's night when nerves are frayed and tensions ride high, the BBC’s One Night is the story of four ordinary people whose fates are linked by a seemingly inconsequential event.

Buy the DVD of the programme from Amazon

Pages on popular quality drama television series and one-off dramas:

Bouquet of Barbed Wire

Crimzon Petal & The White

Inspector George Gently

Lark Rise to Candleford

Series currently on telly: Call The Midwife Eternal Law Hustle Law & Order: UK Sherlock Wild At Heart

The Suspicions of Mr W

Taggart

Torchwood: Miracle Day

Mobile version

Quality new UK television drama

Angels practicing law - Whatever next?

The Inside Men are after the money

The con is on again in the new series of Hustle

Danny Trevanion and Du Plessis are still chasing the dream

Shows coming soon

Check out our blog!

“Telly

Surfer”

All the very latest telly programme news - Just click here

Homepage ► Joe Maddison’s War

Joe Maddison’s War - ITV has announced the commissioning of a new period drama written by multi-award winning writer, Alan Plater. Starring Kevin Whatley and Robson Green, Joe Maddison’s War will be produced by Mammoth Screen and will take the form of a one-off two-hour film filmed on location in Newcastle.

Kevin Whatley joins the Home Guard

Set in Newcastle in 1939, Joe Maddison’s War features shipyard worker Joe (Kevin Whatley) who feels emasculated and past his prime; too old to serve in the war, and he’s shocked when his wife leaves him for a younger naval officer. Needing a new challenge, Joe and his friend Harry (Robson Green) reluctantly volunteer to join the Home Guard. A decision which leads Joe on a journey of self discovery, on which he will learn lessons of heroism and friendship, and also finds love...

Historical drama in the North-East

Joe Maddison’s War splices three elements: solid historical research (the Home Guard in the North-East was one of the few to engage in direct contact with the enemy, mainly anti-aircraft and rocket batteries): half-remembered family folklore and gossip: and a lot of simple old-fashioned invention. Add them together and it’s a love letter to a remarkable generation of ordinary folk .

The cast

Kevin Whately will star alongside, Robson Green (Wire In The Blood, Northern Lights), Derek Jacobi (The Old Curiosity Shop, Cadfael), Melanie Hill (Stardust, The Street), Trevor Fox (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Emmerdale), and John Woodvine (Vanity Fair, Z Cars).

This is a one off two-hour drama.

Alan Plater

A recipient of the Dennis Potter BAFTA Award in 2005, Alan Plater explained why Joe Maddison’s War is a drama project that means so much to him: “My family background is strictly Tyneside – the earlier generations worked in and around the shipyards, my favourite uncle was in the Home Guard, and my head is still full of family anecdotes from the period.”

He added: “Joe Maddison’s War splices three elements: solid historical research (the Home Guard in the North-East was one of the few to engage in direct contact with the enemy, mainly anti-aircraft and rocket batteries): half-remembered family folklore and gossip: and a lot of simple old–fashioned invention. Add them together and it’s a love letter to a remarkable generation of ordinary folk – the good, the bad and the gorblimey – who proved their amazing ability to be extraordinary and heroic. I owe them everything.”

Alan’s credits go back almost half a century and include: "Z Cars", "The Beiderbecke Affair", “Fortunes of War", “A Very British Coup” and “The Last of the Blonde Bombshells”.

Production

Joe Maddison’s War has been commissioned for ITV by Drama Commissioners Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes.

“Alan very sadly passed away in June and this is a very fitting tribute to his memory and a personal piece for ITV,” said Sally. “It’s a poignant and witty script and it’s fantastic to bring Kevin and Robson together onscreen for the first time.”

Joe Maddison’s War is set in Newcastle and was executive produced by Michele Buck and Damien Timmer and produced by Howard Ella.

“Joe Maddison's War is a beautiful script, full of comedy, sadness and joy - it's Alan Plater at the top of his game.” added Damien.

ITV series Joe Maddison’s War starring Kevin Whatley

War time drama involving the Home Guard in the North-East

Starring Kevin Whatley, Robson Green, Derek Jacobi, Melanie Hill, Trevor Fox & John Woodvine

Photograph of Joe Maddison’s War cast - Robson Green, Kevin Whatley & Derek Jacobi

Photograph of cast Joe Maddison's War Robson Jerome, Kevin Whatley & Derek Jacobi