Christopher Eccleston and Paula Malcomson to star in COME HOME
Date Posted: September 1, 2017
From BAFTA and International Emmy award-winning screenwriter Danny Brocklehust, Come Home is a powerful, absorbing and deeply emotional family drama, told with levity, laughter and an emotional truthfulness. Produced by RED Production Company for BBC One, this compelling drama explores the messy realities of parenthood, marriage and what happens when a mother switches the reset button on her life. Set and filmed in Northern Ireland, the drama will focus on a family reeling; from mother Marie, played by Paula Malcomson (Ray Donovan, Broken) who has made the hardest decision of her life, to her bereft husband Greg, played by Christopher Eccleston (The A Word, Fortitude) and their three children.
Christopher said: “I’m very proud to be working with Danny Brocklehurst, RED Production Company, the BBC and Paula Malcomson on this challenging and provocative drama.”
Paula added: “After working in the US for 25 years I am thrilled to back home working for the second time in a year with the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen telling working class stories for a thinking, feeling audience.”
The 3×60’ series which will be distributed by Studio Canal TV asks the question, what does it take for a mother to walk out on her family, leaving her children behind? What impact does it have and how do others judge her? This is a drama about how lives cannot just be walked away from. At the heart of the series is an emotional mystery; why did Marie flee?
Writer, Danny Brocklehurst, commented: “Chris and Paula are two of the UK’s finest actors and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have them in Come Home. The drama takes Greg and Marie on a hugely emotional journey as it explores the fallout from a mother leaving her children and it requires actors of their calibre to pull it off. I’ve been a fan of Chris Eccleston ever since I first saw him in Cracker and have wanted to work with him my entire career. Paula is a stunning character actress who brings credibility and depth to every role she plays. Their combination promises to be amazing.”
Nicola Shindler, Executive Producer, RED Production Company added: “It’s a real treat to be filming in Belfast and to be working with Danny again; he always delivers something special for the viewer. In Come Home we delve into the complex mind of a mother who is driven to the extreme act of walking out on her family in the beautifully nuanced way that only Danny can. At RED we pride ourselves on working with exceptional writers who have enabled us to produce some remarkable authored dramas with stories of real life at their heart. With Come Home, Danny has found themes around parenthood that will shock yet resonate with audiences in equal measure.”
Tommy Bulfin, BBC Executive Producer and Drama Commissioning Editor for Northern Ireland, said: “I am delighted to announce that both Christopher Eccleston and Paula Malcomson will star in this raw and real family drama, taking on the roles of Greg and Marie, two emotionally charged and compelling characters that Danny has so wonderfully created. It’s a joy to welcome RED, Danny and Chris to Northern Ireland, and welcome Paula back to film in her home town of Belfast to work with some of the best local creative talent. Come Home continues the success of BBC drama production in Northern Ireland, representing Northern Ireland to audiences across the UK and internationally.”
Come Home has been commissioned by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and will be produced by RED Production Company (Happy Valley, Ordinary Lies) for BBC One. Nicola Shindler and Danny Brocklehurst will executive produce with Madonna Baptiste producing for RED Production Company. Tommy Bulfin will executive produce for the BBC.
Come Home is the first network BBC drama commission to be announced since the renewal of the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen partnership agreement in April this year. This joint agreement sees the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen work together to invest financially and creatively in developing an internationally competitive screen industry in Northern Ireland.
