Truelove is a six-part British drama series for Channel 4 starring Lindsay Duncan and Clarke Peters. The series asks the question: "is it ever right to help end a life?" and was created by Charlie Covell and Iain Weatherby for Clerkenwell Films. It premiered on 3 January 2024.
| Truelove | |
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| Created by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Alex Walsh-Taylor |
| Production company | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 3 January – 18 January 2024 |
Synopsis
editPhil (Duncan) and Ken (Peters) were teenage sweethearts, now in their seventies, who never quite managed to forget each other, and are reunited at a funeral. With three old friends, Tom, Marion and David, they attend a drunken wake in a pub named The Knot (or The Truelovers' Knot) after two lovers who hanged themselves in a suicide pact. Since Phil is ex-police, David an ex-doctor and Ken is ex-SAS they hypothesise that when their own deaths are near, and if they are in pain or losing their minds, Ken could 'bump them off' and the others cover it up or access drugs to make it possible. The aim would be to make the end comfortable so they do not face a lingering death. They make this a promise and a toast to 'true love'.
The story then explores what actually happens when Tom receives a terminal cancer diagnosis and Marion develops dementia. In addition a romance grows between Phil and Ken despite Phil being married.[1][2]
Cast
edit- Lindsay Duncan as Phil
- Clarke Peters as Ken
- Sue Johnston as Marion
- Phil Davis as Nigel
- Peter Egan as David
- Karl Johnson as Tom
- Fiona Button as Kate
- Zee Asha as Belinda
- Alison Fitzjohn as Shirley
- Kate Rutter as Barbara
- Andrea Valls as PC Harding
- Isabelle Pratt as Alexandra
- Isaac Vincent-Norgate as Albert
- Kiran Sonia Sawar as Ayesha [3]
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.K. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TBA | Chloë Wicks | Iain Weatherby | 3 January 2024 | N/A |
| 2 | TBA | Chloë Wicks | Iain Weatherby | 4 January 2024 | N/A |
| 3 | TBA | Chloë Wicks | Iain Weatherby | 10 January 2024 | N/A |
| 4 | TBA | Carl Tibbetts | Cherish Shirley | 11 January 2024 | N/A |
| 5 | TBA | Carl Tibbetts | Iain Weatherby | 17 January 2024 | N/A |
| 6 | TBA | Carl Tibbetts | Iain Weatherby | 18 January 2024 | N/A |
Production
editThe series was announced by Channel 4 in May 2022 from a script written by Iain Weatherby and produced by Charlie Covell and Weatherby for Clerkenwell Films.[4] The producer is Alex Walsh-Taylor with Emily Harrison, Andy Baker, Petra Fried, Covell and Weatherby as executive producers.[5]
Casting
editJulie Walters was attached to the project. However, after production was paused for Walters to consult with doctors over severe back pain she ultimately had to pull out due to health problems. She was replaced in the cast by Lindsay Duncan and all other cast members were able to return for filming to reconvene.[6]
Filming
editFilming got underway in Clevedon, Burnham-on-Sea, and Bristol in the summer of 2022.[7][8][9] After a hiatus filming had resumed in Bristol and Clevedon by May 2023 with Chloë Wicks and Carl Tibbetts directing.[10][11]
Broadcast
editThe series was broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 from 3 January 2024.[12]
Reception
editLucy Mangan in The Guardian praised the performances calling Lindsay Duncan "magnificent” and "perfect". She also praised Iain Weatherby’s script as "Full of great lines, but also deft, dense and….deeply moving."[13] Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph said it was "glorious” and praised the "witty" script.[14] Carol Midgeley in The Times described it as "compelling” but the subject matter was "brutal stuff".[15]
References
edit- ^ Harrison, Ellie (2 March 2023). "Julie Walters quits Channel 4 drama Truelove due to ill health". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Farber, Alex (1 March 2023). "Julie Walters pulls out of Channel 4 drama Truelove due to ill health". The Times. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Truelove". Comedy.Co.Uk. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Channel 4 commissions brand new gripping drama, Truelove, starring Lindsay Duncan and Clarke Peters". Channel 4. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Channel 4 commissions, Truelove from BBC Studios indie partner Clerkenwell Films". BBC.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (28 February 2023). "Julie Walters Pulls Out Of Channel 4 Drama 'Truelove' Due To Ill Health, Replaced By Lindsay Duncan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Kendall, Ellie (1 June 2022). "Julie Walters spotted having cup of tea at UWE during filming for Truelove". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Jenkins, Cameron (14 May 2022). "Dame Julie Walters spotted filming drama on Clevedon seafront". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Jenkins, Cameron (10 May 2022). "Film crews set up in Burnham-on-Sea for new Channel 4 drama". Somerset Live. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Streeting, Louise (9 May 2023). "Film crew takes over Bristol city centre restaurant as stars spotted on set". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Stavrou, Athena (23 May 2023). "Film crews for new Channel 4 drama spotted on Somerset coast". Somerset Live. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (6 December 2023). "Lindsay Duncan, Clarke Peters, Sue Johnston in thrilling Truelove trailer". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Mangan, Lucy (3 January 2024). "Truelove review – an exquisite drama about bumping off your best mates". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Singh, Anita (3 January 2024). "Truelove, Channel 4 review: assisted dying drama gleefully skewers old-age clichés". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Midgeley, Carol (3 January 2024). "Truelove review — brutal euthanasia drama is not an easy watch". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.