TELLY TREAT
EastEnders, Death in Paradise and Line of Duty star unite as BBC drops first look at new drama Mr Loverman
A heart-warming tale about family, love, and being true to who you are is coming to BBC One.
THE BBC has released first-look pictures for the upcoming drama series Mr Loverman, starring former Line of Duty star Lennie James in the lead role.
The brand-new series boasts an all-star cast that has appeared in some of Britain's best TV series and films.
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Filming for the BBC’s new drama series Mr Loverman has concluded and the broadcaster has now revealed further names of the cast members joining Lennie in the forthcoming new drama based on Bernardine Evaristo’s hit novel.
New snaps of James in character, as well as new cast members Doctor Who’s Sharon D Clarke as Carmel and His Dark Materials actor Ariyon Bakare as Morris, have been released.
Show bosses have also revealed that Time's Tamara Lawrance and Small Axe's Sharlene Whyte will be taking on the roles of Barrington and Carmel's daughters Maxine and Donna with Death in Paradise's Tahj Miles as their grandson Daniel.
Black Dog star Keenan Munn-Francis and The Suspect actor Gabin Kongolo will portray the younger versions of Barrington and Morris in flashbacks, while Whitstable Pearl's Lauren Akosia will be playing the younger version of Carmel.
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Also set to be starring in Mr Loverman is EastEnders star Suzette Llewellyn, Joyride's Lochlann O'Mearáin, Boiling Point's Hopi Grace, Top Boy's Llewella Gideon, Sex Education's Doreene Blackstock, The Doctor's Juliet Garricks and Black Mirror's Clint Dyer.
The eight-part series follows a 74-year-old Antiguan-born man in Hackney called Barrington 'Barry' Jedidiah Walker, a well-known ladies' who is known for his buoyant personality and stylish dapper suits.
His wife of 50 years, Carmel, soon starts suspecting he has been cheating on her with other women.
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However, she is completely unaware that he has secretly been having a passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris.
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As he starts facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has big choices that will force his whole family to question their futures.
Mr Loverman has been described as ‘a life-affirming story about family, love, and being true to yourself.’
Speaking about the upcoming show, James said: "I can't wait to get Barrington's swagger on and help tell this crucial and complicated love story. As funny as it is sad. As full of heart as it is heartache."
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Novelist Bernardine added: "I am thrilled that Mr Loverman is being adapted into television drama. I love the idea of them stepping beyond the pages of the novel and into people's living rooms and lives."
The series has been adapted for TV by The Outlaws' Nathaniel Price and directed by Alice and Jack's Hong Khaou.
Mr Loverman will air on BBC One later this year.