We have an update for you about the first UK screening of Running Naked in front of a live audience!
It will now take place on Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 7:00pm at the MitchellArts Centre in Stoke-on-Trent (UK). The screening will be followed by a Q&A with producers Andy Paton and Michael Knowles.
The “feel good buddy dramedy” about cancer survivors Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty) is also available on iTunes (UK, USA & Canada), Amazon Prime (UK & USA), Sky (UK) and several other streaming platforms in the USA.
Two years after the cast of Carnival Row came together in Prague to start filming Season 2 of the Amazon Prime series, it is finally a wrap!
The second installment of the neo-noir drama was first officially announced on 27 July 2019, more than a month before Season 1 premiered on the streaming platform but producton suffered some severe delays due to a change in showrunners, the Covid-19 pandemic and Orlando Bloom’s paternal leave following the birth of his daughter Daisy Dove with singer/actress Katy Perry.
Bloom, who is also one of the show’s executive producers, announced in an interview with entertainment website Collider that Season 2 would be split into 2 parts.
“To keep the momentum of the show moving forward […] they are going to release the first half of the season and add one [episode].”
“We would like to go back and polish it off a little bit. I managed to get in and out and get some stuff done so we could close out that first half of the second season…”
Season 2.1 wrapped after a short re-shoot in August 2020 and cast & crew returned to Barrandov Studois in the Czech Republic in May 2021 to film the remaining 5 episodes of Season 2.2.
On 9 September 2021 several cast & crew members took to social media to celebrate the final wrap of Season 2. Amazon Prime hasn’t confirmed a release date for any of the new episode but speculation points to early 2022 for the first half and 2023 for the second.
Judging by Andrew Gower‘s filmography on his agent’s website, it seems like he’ll reprise his role as Bonnie Prince Charlie in the upcoming 6th season of Outlander which is currently in post-production and rumoured for a release in early 2022.
Season 6 of the historical drama series is based on the 6th book of Diana Gabaldon‘s Highland saga A Breath of Snow and Ashes which is set just before the American Revolutionary War. time-travelling WW2 combat nurse Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and her 18th century Highland warrior husband Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) now live in the American colonies and try to build a life for their extended family and a number of Scottish refugees, who used to fight alongside Jamie in the Jacobite Rising of 1745 under the “Young Pretender” Prince Charles Edwad Stuart (Andrew Gower).
In August 1774, Claire and Jamie are invited to a barbecue at River Run, the plantation of Jamie’s wealthy Aunt Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy). Guest of honour for the occassion is none other than the “Heroine of the Highlands” Flora MacDonald, who famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape Government troups by dressing him up as her Irish maid Betty Burke.
When Claire meets Flora at the party she reminisces about what became of the Prince after the Battle of Culloden where his Highland army was devastatingly defeated by British forces led by Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (also known as “Butcher Cumberland”).
“Bonnie” Prince Charles Edward Suart and Flora MacDonald
Odd, that it should have been the defeat of Charles Stuart, and his ignominious flight, that made a heroine of Flora MacDonald and united these Highland exciles in a way that they could never have achieved – let alone sustained – had he actually won.
It struck me suddenly that Charlie was likely still alive, quietly drinking himself to death in Rome. In any real way, though, he was long since dead to these people who had loved or hated him. The amber of time had sealed him forever in that one defining moment of his life – Bliadha Tearlach; “Charlie’s Year,” it meant, and even now, I heard people call it that.
(Source: Diana Gabaldon – A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Chapter 54 “Flora MacDonald’s Barbecue”)
It is possible that the TV adaption will use this encounter with Flora MacDonald for a brief flashback to show the Prince’s flight from Scotland in 1746 or maybe it will give us a glimpse at the aged Prince, “quietly drinking himself to death in Rome” as the novel says.
Either way, it’ll definitely be a scene worth seeing – and dare we hope for a final (and 18th) “mark me”?
Andrew Gower as Bonnie Prince Charlie in S2 of Outlander (middle), with the Prince dressed as Betty Burke (left) and Charles Edward Stuart in 1775 (right)
On 30 August 2021, it will have been exactly two years since the first season of fantasy-noir drama series Carnival Row premiered on Amazon Prime. At that point season 2 was already in pre-production, the renewal having been confirmed a month prior to the release date of season 1.
So what’s the current status of season 2, when can fans expect to see it and what else do we know?
To try to answer some of our burning questions, we’ll take a look at the production timeline of season 1 in comparison to season 2. For further information on the “Evolution of Carnival Row” from a blacklisted spec script to being devolped into an Amazon Prime series, see our post here.
9 January 2015: Amazon signs a development deal ordering 3 scripts to be co-written by Guillermo del Torro, René Echevarria and Travis Beacham based on the latter’s spec script A Killing on Carnival Row.
6 June 2016: The production is given a pilot order.
10 May 2017: Carnival Row is given a series order. Guillermo del Torro is replaced by Paul McGuigan as director, pre-production starts at Barrandov Studios in Prague
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October 2017: Principal photography starts in the Czech Republic
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10 November 2017: Paul McGuigan is replaced by Jon Amiel
David Gyasi, Tamzin Merchant, Cara Delevingne, Orlando Bloom & Travis Beacham at San Diego Comic Con 2019
It seems like both seasons followed a similar production schedule and had it not been for the production hiatus following the change in showrunners, principal photography could have wrapped before the Covid-19 pandemic forced it to halt. At least parts of post-production could have been done during lockdown and S2 released in the fall of 2021.
Production could have resumed in the Czech Republic as soon as May 2020 but – with the exception of a quick re-shoot – the decision was made to wait another year, presumably to allow lead actor and executive producer Orlando Bloom time to be with his pregnant fiancée Katy Perry and (later) their newborn daughter. Instead S2 will be split in two parts with the first one being in post-production since August 2020.
When can fans expect to see the first 5 episodes of S2? Please bear in mind that the following is pure speculation at this point!
With Wheel of Time, Amazon Prime has another highly anticipated fantasy series coming out this year (rumoured to be in November 2021) and it’s not unlikely that they will team up both shows to gain more viewers for both shows. Considering that Carnival Row will only have 5 new episodes, adding it to Wheel of Time‘s 6 episodes sounds like a good idea.
The question remains which series will be the lead-in: Will we see Carnival Row or Wheel of Time first?
Only time will tell, but today’s news that actor Jamie Harris (Sergeant Dombey on Carnival Row) has been promoted to series regular might indicate that more news are to follow very soon. We are ready to see more of Andrew Gower as Ezra Spurnrose and find out what happened to his sister Imogen and her fae lover Mr Agreus!
Sadly, Running Naked Film on Facebook had to announce the following this morning:
“Due to unforeseen circumstances the screening of Running Naked has been postponed. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. When the new dates for the festival are released we will let everyone know. We are all looking forward to seeing you all at the public screening and hope to see you all soon.”
“Due to unforeseen circumstances the screening of Running Naked has been postponed. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. The new date for the screening is 4th October. We are all looking forward to seeing you all at the new date. Thanks for your patience.”
The film, which launches the Stoked Film Festival at the Mitchell Arts Centre on Monday 23 August 2021 at 7:00pm, was made in conjunction with the MA in Feature Film Production at Staffordshire University and successfully brought together a crew of industry professionals who mentored students throughout the shoot.
It rejoins Mark and Ben twenty years after their friendship develops. After receiving a dramatic piece of news, the film charts the friends as they embark on an adventure that will change both their lives.
Course Leaders Andy Paton and Mike Knowles produced the film which is directed by Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Victor Buhler. Written by Victor with Mike and his wife Jennifer Knowles, the heartfelt story draws on Jennifer’s personal experience as a cancer survivor.
Andy Paton, Senior Lecturer in Film Production, explained: “We believe that it is incredibly important for students to get hands-on experience working on a professional film shoot.
“We wanted to make an independent British film with a heart and hope that Running Naked brings a positive and hopeful message to anyone whose life has been touched by the cancer.
“The project is an amazing example of how the University’s resources can be used to create a professional feature film which is now being distributed across the world – something that is invaluable to our students as they forge their careers in the industry.”
Funding came from private equity and more than 60 postgraduate and undergraduate students worked on Running Naked which was shot over 20 days in summer 2018. However, the film’s release was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Head of Department of Media and Performance Dr Rob Marsden said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Mitchell Arts Centre on Stoked Film Festival which we hope will become an annual event in our cultural calendar and an opportunity to screen both the professional and graduate work coming out of the city.”
“It’s a big night for Running Naked as it’s the first time is has screened out of lockdown and shows off the talent we have here at Staffordshire University as well as showcasing our city as a fabulous location for contemporary film. We hope people will feel confident to come out and celebrate the return of cinema to our city.”
Tickets for Running Naked (15) are £7 which includes a free drink and a free screening of Student Short Films will also be taking place on Wednesday 25 August 2021 at the earlier time of 6pm. For full programme and booking visit Stoked Film Festival.
Interested in studying a course in Film? Find out if you are eligible for an offer through Clearing by using our offer calculator, have a ‘live chat’ with Clearing experts at http://www.staffs.ac.uk/clearing/ or call our Clearing hotline on 0800 590 830.
Running Naked will finally be screened in front of a live audience and it is very appropropriate that it happens in Stoke-On-Trent at the Stoked Film Festival, where large parts of the “feel good buddy dramedy” were filmed in 2018.
Stoked Film Festival, which runs from 23 – 26 August 2021 at the Mitchell Arts Centre and is described as a “season of work that promotes the theme of hope, as well as promoting a healthy and sustainable city post-Covid”, will open on Monday at 7:00pm with the film about cancer survivors Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty).
Tickets for Running Naked (15) are £7 which includes a free drink and a Q&A with the “directors and actors”. Andrew’s attendance is not confirmed but we will let you know as soon and if we find out.
“It’s a big night for Running Naked as it’s the first time is has screened out of lockdown and shows off the talent we have here at Staffordshire University as well as showcasing our city as a fabulous location for contemporary film. We hope people will feel confident to come out and celebrate the return of cinema to our city.”
Concluding their rewatch of S1 of Miss Scarlet & The Duke, SanditonSisterhood hosted a Twitter Q&A with the show’s creator, head writer and show runner Rachael New. We’ve collected all questions and answers for those not on Twitter and to prevent them from getting lost.
@Scarleteers: 30°C in Belgrade today 🥵 How are you keeping cool? 🧊 Free ice-cream for the actors? 🍦 😋
Yes it’s hot here. Very hot. But unlike our brave cast who will be wearing 19th century costumes in the heat, I get to wear shorts and sandals. And yes ice cream most definitely helps. Pistachio and Choc Chip does the trick.
@AndrewGowerF4ns: Can you tease a little about our dear Rupert’s storyline in S2? 🙏🙏🙏 Just 3 words? We cannot wait to see more of @TheAndrewGower as Eliza’s best friend!
Hi Isabel. We love Rupert but the talented Andrew Gower is in great demand and sadly we just couldn’t get his and our schedules to work. But we have some amazing new characters and cast. It’s going to be a cracking season so watch this space! (sorry that was more than 3 words!)
@outlanderfan_nl: Can you share a bts sneak peek from S2 since you are now filming S2?
I would love to and I certainly will once we’re up and running. In fact myself and our uber talented director @moviegoblin will be regularly sharing lots of lovely bts pics and tweets and on Instagram too so please feel free to follow me over there on @rachjnew19
Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower)
@LynnyBright: Is there a scene you wrote that turned out better then you imagined on screen?
Hello Lynny. There are so many. The one that comes to mind is when Duke is teaching Eliza how to boil an egg in the finale of Season 1. Who knew boiling an egg could be that seductive!
There are so many ways, but if someone asks me advice on how to become a writer my number one tip would be practice your craft. The more you write, the better you get and that’s when you write a spec script and secure an agent. So write, write, write!
@finestseaside: Are any of the cases inspired by true stories? Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions.
Myself and my writing partner Ben Edwards do a lot of research when we are plotting out the stories. The actual cases are all made up but the historical context that acts as a backdrop is generally true to the period.
@megan_koerber: Hi Rachael! Do you keep up with fan theories, fanfiction or any of the headcanon #Scarleteers come up with? If so, any hints as to what fans may have gotten right in regards to future seasons?
Hi Megan, I’m a bit of a technophobe. You’re more likely find me with my head in a book than on internet. But through my teenage children I’m very aware of the online love there is for the show & the idea that anyone takes time to write fanfiction about it is lovely!
@outlanderfan_nl: Did you start writing S1 with the idea of a S2 in mind?
Great question. In one word, yes. You always have the future of your characters in your mind. I love thinking about what’s in store for Eliza, Duke, Moses, Ivy and the rest. I can’t wait to share it with you all when you finally get to watch season 2
@VicsTiara: Will S2 pick up right where we left off in S1 or will there be a time jump? Thanks!!!
There’s a time jump of a couple of months.
@madame_mim: I honestly don’t really have a question. I enjoyed your series very much and am happy that it will continue. Well, maybe one question: Is there a possibility that there will be more after Season 2?
That’s lovely to hear. Yes there will be more.
@LynnyBright: Has it been good to have so much time to write season 2 or have you been as desperate to film it as we are to watch it?
It’s been wonderful for Ben & I to have the space to actually write all the scripts before shooting. That doesn’t happen often. Covid did delay things somewhat and that was a little frustrating. I’m not the most patient of people, a flaw that I channel into my heroine
@FinestSeaside: Do you hope viewers will view Eliza as a feminist?
I do. Eliza is a woman who wants financial independence, to pay her own bills and make her own decisions. Unfortunately it’s the 19th century and a male dominated society, so she has to work out the most productive way to operate within the limits of the time. But I think these constraints only make her an even smarter operator.
On set: Eliza Scarlet
@VicsTiara: My carpe diem question: Any chance Eliza & William will kiss in S2?
Haha! I thought this question might pop up. You’ll just have to wait and see…
@katesanditon: What is your favorite scene in season 1? Thank you so much for joining us
I think it has to be in ep 4 when Duke exits the city mortuary and wants to get rid of Eliza for fear that the journalist inside will be more interested in her than him. It makes me laugh every time. Kate Phillips & @stueymartin86 are such a joy to watch & work with.
@FinestSeaside: In contrast to Jane Austen’s “inside job” approach to commenting on English society, you’ve put together quite the band of outliers across various dimensions. What motivated you to include such a range of characters?
A truly watchable character is one you can relate to. You don’t have to like them but if you can understand their choices and identify with them, you often find yourself cheering them on. I think most of us at some point in life have felt like an outsider, I certainly have, and relating to these characters is what’s made the show so successful.
@sararipple: I am fascinated by Moses. His character is so dark and mysterious, but deep down has a good heart. Was he always supposed to be a mysterious character throughout his storyline? It seems like Eliza sees through Moses tough dark walls. Talk about their character arcs.
I love writing the character of Moses and Ansu Kabia who plays him is such a lovely, talented man. When I was a girl I would watch all the old spaghetti westerns with my dad and brothers, my favourite was “The Outlaw Josey Wales”. So I very much had that type of character in mind when I created Moses. He’s got some cracking storylines in Season 2!
@FinestSeaside: The “hallucinated” conversations between Eliza and Mr. Scarlet are both touching & amusing. (How) do they link to her mourning and will they continue in S.2?
In season 1 Eliza wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her father. His death was unexpected and sudden, so she is hit with the full force of grief. Talking to him helped her work through that grief and once she solved the case of who killed him she found closure. So Henry Scarlet finally rests in peace and in creative terms his story came to end, so he won’t be appearing in Season 2.
@megan_koerber: Both Stuart and Kate are PERFECT in their roles and I think I remember you saying they were your first choices. What made you want to choose each of them?
They are both warm, funny, incredibly talented people and they bring that sparkle to the screen. Myself, Ben and the team of execs were always determined to have a happy show with a real team ethos. Kate and Stuart are hugely collaborative so they fitted right in.
@izzie907: On a scale from 10 to 10, how awesome is Mr Moses / Ansu Kabia? 😁
Haha! 11.
@NunyaB127: The breakout star for S1 had to be the Duke’s glorious beard. Did you have that look planned outfrom the beginning? Also, do you need a beard wrangler for S2? Thanks!
A “beard wrangler”? What a genius idea! Yes I had a very clear picture of what I wanted Duke to look like. Stuart would send me photos of how the beard was coming on. I banned all razors from his house.
On set: Stuart Martin and Rachael New
@tammyr72: The lighting in the series is quite dark til we get to episode 6 then it becomes lighter brighter, is this because Eliza and William start to trust one another? Thank you for joining us, excited for season 2 of Miss Scarlet and The Duke 🥰
Yes, they have been on a journey together. That little bit of lightness is the balance they finally found. But that’s not to say there won’t still be plenty of that lovely bickering banter to come. Duke is a 19th century man. He will never agree with a woman having a job as a private detective and that discord between them is what makes the show sizzle and fizz.
@sheppardster: In an interview you mentioned that you knew you wanted Kate & Stuart for Eliza & William from the start. I’d love to know which pivotal role you saw each of them in that made them stand out to you?
Kate it was ”The Crown” and Stuart “Babylon”. They are the type of actors that you instantly engage with. They’ve just got that special something.
@scarleteers: From #Scarleteer Trina: Ha, just thought of a question for #askRachael. What threat did Eliza use with Mr. Potts in Cell 99 that he refused to repeat to William? I’d love to know…
Hi Trina, great question. The answer is it was so unspeakable that it cannot be repeated!
That was fun! I hope you love season 2 as much as we did writing and making it. I will keep you posted on all the comings and goings on the Scarlet set. Until then thank you for having me!
ETA (9 August 2021):
In a follow up question, Rachael New confirmed that neither Andrew Gower nor Matthew Malone (who plays PC Clarence Honeychurch) will be returning to the show “in the foreseeable future”.
ReFrame, the gender equity coalition founded by Women in Film and the Sundance Institute, and IMDbPro, announced the 117 TV and streaming shows that earned the ReFrame Stamp for the years 2020 to 2021. Among the honorees are FX’s Pose, Netflix’s Bridgerton, HBO’s Lovecraft Country, and Disney+’s WandaVision.
The stamp is intended as a mark of distinction for projects that have demonstrated success in gender-balanced film and TV productions that hire female-identifying people in four out of eight critical areas of production: writer, director, producer, lead, co-lead, speaking parts, department heads, and crew. Additional points are awarded to content that features women of color in key positions.
“The significant increase in Stamped TV content tells us that we are beginning to see the impact of years of advocacy for more equitable hiring in Hollywood,” said Andria Wilson Mirza, Director, ReFrame. “These Stamped shows not only entertained, inspired, and united audiences as we navigated a global pandemic, they also demonstrated that a commitment to inclusion behind the scenes translates to commercial success. As we celebrate this milestone, our advocacy doesn’t stop at 51% — our goal is for 100% of TV and film productions to commit to equitable hiring and earn the ReFrame Stamp.”
Also among the shows rewarded the ReFrame Stamp was Victorian crime drama Miss Scarlet & The Duke!
We would like to send our congratulations to all the amazing women in cast and crew, who worked in a multitude of areas across the show, led by the show’s creator Rachael New, Executive Producer Patty Ishimoto, lead actress Kate Phillips and head of costume Leonie Prendergast!
It appears that some of the cast and crew of Carnival Row threw a little wrap party for Andrew Gower who recently finished filming his scenes for season 2 of the Amazon Prime series. Make-up artist Federico Carretti shared this cute video of them singing and dancing in the streets of Prague (Czech Republic). Also seen in the background can be cast members David Gyasi (Mr Agreus) and Ariyon Bakare (Darius).
It was reported that Carnival Row, starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, will continue filming at Barrandov Studios in the Czech capital until September 2021. However, Andrew Gower is also needed on the set of Miss Scarlet & The Duke which is currently in the finale stages of pre-production for season 2. Principal photography will begin in Belgrade (Serbia) in August.
The event will now take place from 19 – 21 November 2021 at Olympia London.
Andrew Gower was announced as a guest for the convention in December 2019 for its originally scheduled date in July 2020 before the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic made large gatherings impossible. He was re-confirmed as a guest when the event was moved to a date in November 2020 but not since then.
However, he is still listed on the London Film & Comic Con Official website as a guest, which – according to a previous statement by Showmasters – means he hasn’t cancelled his appearance. Please be aware that he will only be there for one day on Saturday.
Showmasters were able to release a limited amount of entry tickets for Saturday again after they had sold out. Photo op tickets (£20) for Andrew are also available on the website. Autograph tickets (£20) can be purchased at the event itself.
Tickets already purchased will automatically roll over to the new dates. If you can’t make them or have further questions regarding your tickets, please contact Showmasters directly.
Andrew is now a re-confirmed guest and will attend London Film & Comic Con on Saturday, 20 November 2021. This will be your unique chance to wish him a (slightly belated) happy birthday!
First of all, thank you very much, Mr Daniels, for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to answer our questions!
Everyone just really loves the soundtrack, so the most asked question is: where can I buy, download or stream it? Are there any plans to release it?
Yes!! As part of the planning for S2, I had a chat with the wonderful Jeanette at Avant Music Publishing the other day. A soundtrack album with The Theme, Closing Credits Track and some favourite cues from S1 should be available to download and stream before S2 airs.
What is the song called that is played during the opening credits?
It’s based on a pre-existing library track the guys at Phase had done for Cratedigger Music called ‘Going Places’. When I played Rachael, Declan and all the other execs in the USA pieces that me and the team at Phase had done in the past to try and find the right tone for The Opening Theme, they fell in love with it. I shaped it and gave it the Scarlet sound and Cratedigger were good enough to allow it to reach its destiny as The Scarlet Theme.
During the theme song / opening credits, is there a female voice singing or vocalizing sounds? If so, what is the name of the singer?
There is a great company called Output who make brilliant synths and audio software for the computers that I use in my studio. They make a wonderful vocal plug in called ‘Exhale’. The vocalized sounds are from that.
Suzanne Lau: The main theme tune for Miss Scarlet & The Duke is one of my favourites. What inspired you to create the theme tune the way you did in relation to the show? I really love the rock music element to it.
The Execs wanted the theme to sound like current commercial music mixed into the ‘The Scarlet Band’ (which was the instrumentation we’d decided upon to deliver the score – all organic sounds that, although you couldn’t record them back in Victorian London, you could hear them back then…)
Lucy Feekins: Really love the whole soundtrack you’ve created (would love to be able to listen to it somewhere!) Were you influenced by anyone/thing in particular, and did you have to do any specific research for the show in relation to instrumentation/ ideas?
For the score, Dec & Rachael gave me the guidance that we wanted the sounds to be organic and believable from the past – no synths or electric guitars. I’ve been influenced by so many great composers, producers and arrangers along the way. They’ve all helped!
Helen Collins: I think there are tambourines and cymbals there? Could you tell me what other instruments are used in this amazing music?
I augmented the band with a chamber orchestra and sometimes a symphony orchestra too – for the ‘glamour cues’!
How did you come to be a composer?
My Mum forced me to have piano lessons. She used to say “you’ll thank me when you’re older” – she was SO RIGHT! I was very lucky and was given a few opportunities with the Phase guys. I delivered and they came to trust me.
Was Miss Scarlet & The Duke your first time composing for TV?
No, BUT it was my first time out on my own – scary, but thrilling, I loved it so much and am so proud that my first solo gig is a show that philosophically I truly believe in. Rachael has created characters that I love and a show that helps the world get better by showing us the folly of sexism and prejudice. It’s an honour to be part of that.
Final question: Will you be back composing the soundtrack for season 2?
Yes!! I can’t wait. It’s going to be even better!!!
Thanks for asking me to answer these questions Isabel. I’ve really enjoyed it!
Thank you so very much again, Mr Daniels! It was a pleasure talking to you and we look forward to hearing more of your amazing music!
Miss Scarlet & The Duke will return to our screens in 2022! Follow / join Scarleteers on Facebook (Page & Group), Instagram and Twitter for more information.
This submission is an important first step to be considered to receive a nomination. Voting for the 2021 Emmy Awards will be held between 17 June and 28 June 2021 and the nominations will be announced on 13 July 2021. Eligible to vote are the members of the Television Academy, who are all industry professionals. You can find more information on the process here.
IndieWire reported the “surprising news” (according to Rachael New and Kate Phillips) in their article and they conclude:
It’s part of the fun that is Miss Scarlet and the Duke, a show that can comprise mystery, murder, romance, and the fun of discussing relationships. If there was any silver lining to the pandemic, it was being able to enjoy not just watching Miss Scarlet, but seeing how much joy it brings to those working on it.“
Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) and William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin)
Andrew Gower was submitted for an Emmy nomination in 2016 for his role as Bonnie Prince Charlie on Starz’s Outlander and in 2020 for playing Ezra Spurnrose on Amazon Prime’s Carnival Row.
Both leads, Kate Phillips, who plays Victorian London’s first female detective Eliza Scarlet, and Stuart Martin, who plays family friend and “potential love interest” William “The Duke” Wellington, are both confirmed to reprise their roles. Andrew Gower will also return as Rupert Parker as Eliza’s best friend and investor in her private detective agency.
“Miss Scarlet and The Duke has built a massive following since it first aired on Alibi last year, so we are thrilled to have it back for another series. Rachael New has created a wonderful range of characters and mixes the gritty scenes of Victorian London with a brilliant light-hearted side, making it a firm favourite for our viewers.”
Congratulations to Scarleteers for this shout out! Scarleteers are the original fan page for Miss Scarlet & The Duke, established in September 2019. You can now find them on Facebook (Page & Group), Instagram and Twitter.
Following the US release of Running Naked, we reached out to Michael Knowles, one of the producers and writers of the comedy drama about two cancer survivors starring Matthew McNulty, Andrew Gower, Tamzin Merchant and Rakhee Thakrar. We’re extremely grateful he took the time to answer a couple of our questions while wrapping up his latest filming project in Mexico.
Michael Knowles is an English film producer, writer and musician. Having been mentored by Andrew Eaton through the UK’s Guiding Lights scheme, he has produced several full feature length films including the award winning drama Best Laid Plans and mystery horror film The Messengerstarring Robert Sheehan and Tamzin Merchant. He’s also produced a series of short films, among them one of British acting legends Pete Postlethwaite’s last films Waving at Trains. In 2004 he received a BAFTA nomination for his short film Talking with Angels.
He’s also the lead vocalist of the Manchester based band WinterGreen who recently released their 4th album Framed.
Ben (Andrew Gower) & Mark (Matthew McNulty)
First of all, congratulations to a truly beautiful and heartfelt film! I really enjoyed attending the virtual screening of Running Naked on World Cancer Day. For touching on such serious subjects like cancer and mental health, it is a surprisingly uplifting film.
Many thanks that’s very much appreciated.
You recently mentioned in an interview that “life is about living, not dying” and that it would be a great slogan for Running Naked. Could you explain how it relates to the film?
We are all dying at different rates. The film touches how reflecting on this can positively affect how we live our lives. We need to be present in the moment and sometimes bad thing happening make you focus on this. I know when my wife went through this, we really focused on what was important to us and what was a stressful time became strangely a positive one.
My friend is a survivor of teenage cancer. I know she would love to watch Running Naked but she’s hesitant it might trigger some unwanted memories. What would you tell her?
We were keen that the presentation of cancer was both true but also positive. With that in mind we screened the film to young cancer patients through the teenage cancer trust. Their feedback was both moving and overwhelmingly positive. See below:
Firstly, when I found out it was a movie about two young lads going through treatment. Straightaway I thought “oh no” this might be too close to home and thought I might need to keep tissues ready for the emotional scenes. However, with that being said, my reaction was actually quite the opposite. This movie highlighted friendship during tough times and how they had each other to support but also how important it is to be there for one another.
For me personally, I never thought you could put comedy and cancer in the same genre, but the Running Naked team made it happen. Keeping it light-hearted and making me grin rather than cry just shows it was well put together. From the script, the cast, the whole movie storyline was brilliant. I laughed throughout because I could relate to the scenes.
I always avoided cringe cancer type of movies only because it was emotionally distressing but this movie I highly recommend, it’s a good watch. The writer’s message was to highlight friendship aspects during tough times and how the main characters Ben and Mark are just trying to live their lives to the fullest which as a viewer was so inspiring. They do things out of the ordinary especially for Ben because he has OCD. Highly recommend this movie and I’m sure you’ll reach out to your friends after watching if you haven’t in a while, especially during the current situation, as this movie just give you a pure warm fuzzy feeling inside. I know I’ll be recommending this movie to my friends.
Director Victor Buhler on the set of Running Naked
Let’s go back to the beginning: the script for Running Naked was developed over a longer period of time until you and Victor Buhler decided to finally make it into a film. You called it a “leap of faith”. Are you glad you took it or would you have hoped for different circumstances?
I think films have a moment when they will or won’t happen. I am glad we took the leap of faith when we did as otherwise it wouldn’t have happened. I know when people find the film, they generally love it. Particularly if they have been through any of the experiences related in the film. My hope is over the years people will discover it and it will gain a following.
The script for Running Naked draws on some very personal experiences dealing with your wife’s own battle with cancer. Would you say it made it easier or more difficult to write?
Whilst the film doesn’t directly touch on the same experiences, having a pool of emotions and reflections based upon similar events did help. Particularly at a distance from those events.
Can you talk us through the casting process a little? How did Andrew (and the rest of the talented cast) become a part of Running Naked?
Andrew Gower came through an introduction from Tamzin Merchant (who I had worked with previously and who was cast as Sara) who was working with Andrew on Carnival Row. Matthew McNulty came through Andrew’s agent. Emma Stansfield and Sacha Parkinson I had both worked with before. Rahkee Thakrar also came through Tamzin (thank you Tamzin).
The young Ben (James Senneck) and Mark (Samuel Bottomley) came through contacts with Matthew McNulty. Andrew and Matthew cast their youngers selves effectively.
Ben (Andrew Gower) and Sara (Tamzin Merchant)
This needs to be followed by the unfortunately inevitable question: how was working with Andrew Gower?
He was great and gave so much to the role of Ben. He is a fab actor and we are looking to work together in the future.
Running Naked was filmed in summer 2018. Since then the world has changed quite fundamentally and in quite an unpredictable way. Do you think this has also changed people’s reception of the film?
It’s strange in the film the character of Ben washes his hands a lot with gel. This was meant to be unusual but now is the new norm!
Hopefully the hope and positivity in the film chimes even more now.
Stoke-on-Trent seems an unusual choice for a filming location. Why did you choose it? I personally liked the contrast between the more “clinical” look of the city and the lush English countryside, just like the film itself balances a very serious matter with heart and humour.
We shot there because it hadn’t been seen on screen before but also because I teach film at the university of Staffordshire and the university (and the students there) helped in the making of the film.
What would you say was the biggest challenge in making Running Naked?
I would say making what is such an ambitious film on a pretty micro budget.
Do you have a favourite scene?
There is a scene towards the end of the film when the two leads reflect on their friendship that I love and that echoes what I feel about friendship. However lots of great scenes and special moments in the film.
Running Naked is now available in the UK and in the USA digitally and as VOD. Are there any plans for releases in more countries, more theatrical screenings? I’m quite old fashioned and like physical copies of my favourite films. Any plans for a DVD release maybe?
No plans for DVD but looking at potential cinema screenings post covid. Working through sales agents to release in other territories.
You’re currently filming in Mexico. Is there anything you can share about your new project? Or any other projects we should look out for?
Thank you so very much again, Mr Knowles, for your time and patience. Hopefully many people will have the chance to experience Running Naked soon, on the big or small screen, and we’re looking forward to seeing your future work, especially if it involves our Andrew Gower!
According to The Prague Reporter, the production team of Carnival Row is headed back to Prague (Czech Republic) later this month to finish filming its second season.
The Amazon fantasy series is currently slated to begin production from late May, with filming scheduled to run through September.
Production of season 2 had been halted amid the on-going Covid-19 pandemic in mid-March 2020. Later that year, the decision was made to split season 2 which was explained by Orlando Bloom, lead actor and executive producer on the show, in an interview with entertainment website Collider:
“To keep the momentum of the show moving forward […] they are going to release the first half of the season and add one [episode].”
“We would like to go back and polish it off a little bit. I managed to get in and out and get some stuff done so we could close out that first half of the second season…”
In recent days Czech production service company Stillking Films had already shared some images on their Instagram account teasing a return of Carnival Row and confirming the presence of director Andy Goddard and make-up/special effects designer Nick Dudman at Barrandov Studios, where the popular Amazon Prime series is filmed.
Hair designer Francesco Pegoretti, who received an Oscar nomination for his work on Pinocchio this year, also shared a photo of himself on a plane heading to the Czech capital.
Following up on this article, we had it confirmed by show creator Rachael New that Miss Scarlet & The Duke will start filming its second season in Belgrade (Serbia) in August 2021. The change had become necessary due to a scheduling conflict with the locations in Ireland.
We are filming in Serbia in August because Ireland schedules didn’t work out. We’re super excited. Belgrade is beautiful and the crews are fabulous. Can’t wait to get cracking!
(Quote: Rachael New)
Regarding to release date, there can be only speculation at this point. Season 1 of the Victorian mystery show began filming in early July 2019 and wrapped 2 months later in early September. The episodes premiered on Alibi channel (UK) on 31 March 2020. If Season 2 follows a similar path, we might be looking at a release date in April or May 2022. With PBS now helming productions, it is possible that the episodes will be shown on the American network first, or at least simultaneously to the UK and other countries.
The good news for Andrew Gower fans is that 4 months should be enough time to wrap filming on Carnival Row‘s Season 2.2. Czech production service company Stillking Films currently seems to be preparing for a Covid-safe return to the set of the Victorian noir series. The first half of Carnival Row Season 2 is scheduled to be released on Amazon Prime later this year and the second half can probably be expected in 2022.
There is a lot of Ezra Spurnrose and Rupert Parker to look forward to in the next 1 1/2 years!
The radio play is the “first family friendly piece (and trans-Atlantic collaboration)” and penultimate audio play of the eight part series Written in the Waves. Andrew Gower plays a character named Guy, with the rest of the cast including Adjoa Andoh (Emma), Sam Crerar (Ilya), Amita Suman (Priya) and Manjinder Virk (Seema).
Andrew Gower and Manjinder Virk have previously worked together on Andrew’s acting debut Monroe and short film Out of Darkness, which was written and directed by Manjinder Virk.
The Giant Pacific Octopus Maritime School is available on the 45North website for free on Monday, 12 April 2021. If you liked the programme, please consider making a donation to this small, independent company.
Running Naked, the “feel good buddy dramedy” starring Andrew Gower and Matthew McNulty as cancer survivors Ben and Mark, is available to rent or buy digitally or as VOD on several streaming sites in the UK and the USA.
Please consider leaving a positive review if you liked the film to support this micro-budget independent production!
[…] a feel good buddy comedy titled Running Naked […] From Emmy-winning director Victor Buhler, comes a heartfelt and moving tale that draws upon writer Jennifer Knowles personal experience as a cancer survivor. The story follows cancer survivors Ben and Mark, whose friendship is tested when some news forces them to change their perspectives. […] Looks like quirky, heartfelt fun.
Sometimes it takes the specter of death to bring light into life. Running Naked, from director Victor Buhler, is a feel-good dramedy that helps us see the beauty in life, even if we know that life is finite. Perhaps that finitude helps us see the meaning of it all.
The film serves as a reminder that we too often get bogged down in the vanities of life when we are meant to be seeking the beauty and joy that surrounds us—even in seemingly dark times.
7 April 2021: Tracey Petherick for Common Sense Media
Serious themes are handled with a light touch in this comedy drama that manages to find humor in a story that hinges on some of the toughest subject matter — terminal illness and mental health. Often emotional, sometimes bleak, but also punctuated by moments of joy, Running Naked is carried along at a pleasing pace by Gower and McNulty as Ben and Mark. From the way they bond as teens to the shift in their relationship as they hit their 30s, this archetypal “odd couple” maintain a friendship that is as unlikely as it is touching.
Like many of the best British indie movies, this production is not flashy or glamorous, but it feels real. Skillful cinematography finds the beauty in an ordinary world with clever scene setting, careful camera angles, and characters who are genuine and compelling. And while at times the narrative is unrefined, there is plenty of empathy and a strong sense of the value of human relationships. Fundamentally this movie is a journey of self-discovery for two people, both of whom just want to help a friend to live their best life.
Emmy-winning director Victor Buhler’s feelgood comedy Running Naked is released [in the USA digitally and as VOD] this coming week, and we have an exclusive clip from the film for you below courtesy of distributor Trinity Creative Partnership.
Scarleteers are celebrating the first anniversary of Miss Scarlet & The Duke by sharing their favourite moments from the show or pictures of their own private viewing parties on social media by using the following hashtags:
Gesa Power House Theatre released this new poster art for Running Naked, “the feel-good indie movie that’ll restore your faith in just about everything” (Buzz Feed) which they will screen on Friday, 2 April 2021 and Wednesday, 7 April 2021 at 7:00pm. You can buy tickets for each screening, which will be followed by an exclusive pre-recorded interview between Director of Film Programming Warren Etheredge and filmmakers Victor Buhler and Michael Knowles.
“I’m absolutely thrilled at the news that Miss Scarlet & The Duke will be back for a season two. I have so much in store for Duke, Eliza and her crew. With even more action, adventure and of course a nice big dollop of romance, it’s going to be a cracking season. The fans are going to love it.”
In a recent interview with Salon, show creator further added about her plans for Season 2: “I would have lots of things in store for Rupert and how he’d navigate his domineering mother, and try and have some semblance of a happy life.”
We are happy to say that Andrew Gower will reprise his role as Rupert Parker in Season 2!
However, the news come with a bittersweet tang as it was also confirmed that fan favourite Declan O’Dwyer (who directed Season 1) had to leave the project due to a scheduling conflict. He will be replaced by Steve Hughes.
Also dropping out are A&E International, which launched the series as its first global scripted co-production in 2019. Season will be co-produced by Element 8 Entertainment and PBS Masterpiece with PBS overseeing international distributions.
“Miss Scarlet & The Duke was an instant fan favorite. Our audience couldn’t resist its light-hearted tone and the appealing characters so wonderfully portrayed by Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin. We’re delighted the show will return for a second season.”
Andrew Gower as Rupert Parker, Miss Scarlet’s friend and investor
Ahead of its American VOD premiere, Running Naked will be screened at the Gesa Power House Theatre in Walla Walla (Washington, USA) on Friday, 2 April 2021 at 7:00pm with an encore screening on Wednesday, 7 April 2021 at 7:00pm. Each screening will be followed by a pre-recorded conversation between Director of Film Programming Warren Etheredge and filmmakers Victor Buhler and Michael Knowles.
General admission seating ($15 Adults, $10 Students) are available online. Seating for each screening is capped at 100 persons, so don’t wait too long to purchase your ticket!
Running Naked tells the story of Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty), who met at a cancer ward when they were teenagers and became lifelong friends despite all their differences. Mark becomes a successful doctor but the ghosts of his past stop him from retaining a lasting relationship with the woman he loves (Rakhee Thakrar). Ben has turned into a social recluse whose life is a series of obsessive habits. A piece of news forces both of them to reassess their lives and make some changes. Tamzin Merchant (Carnival Row,Ark) and Kira Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror, Humpty Fu*king Dumpty) also star in this a story about friendship and about how, in life, we sometimes need to unbutton our shirt collars, kick off our shoes, and streak through life unabashed.
‘Running Naked’ follows Ben and Mark, who survived cancer as teenagers, as they search out fun and adventure, after a piece of news forces them to change their perspective on life. Their friendship is tested as old wounds are opened and they discover their true selves.
“In a world where cancer affects so many lives, Running Naked brings a positive and hopeful message to everyone and anyone whose life has been touched by the disease.”
You can rent or buy the film on these platforms in the USA & Canada:
Funny, raw and honest, ‘Running Naked‘ is an uplifting celebration of love and friendship in the face of adversity. A cracking script, combined with perfectly judged directing and wonderful performances all round, keep us thoroughly engaged throughout. Who knew how much confronting human mortality could be so incredibly life-affirming? A much needed feel-good film for everyone!
Great story of the bond formed by two young lads going through cancer treatment and how their friendship endures when both handle it in very different ways. Great performances by Andrew Gower and Matthew McNulty.
A heart warming and humorous story about a friendship formed by teenagers with cancer. The film manages to feel light while tackling a serious subject. As the boys become men it is apparent that there have been long term consequences, for both males, of having looked into the face of a potential early death. An interesting story line. Crazy action and beautifully written human interactions. A must watch!
Well! What more can I say that hasn’t been said already? Utterly fantastic, beautifully shot, and tremendous performances from all cast, especially Andrew Gower and Matthew McNulty. A very at times moving journey of true friendship and love, formed from cancer and highlights cancer and what it does and that there is much hope. I laughed. I cried. I was at times on the edge of my seat, and my stomach was in my throat! A real must watch, this film deserves to go far and wide!
Andrew Gower (Ben Taylor) and Matthew McNulty (Mark Doherty)
I work with a lot of people who suffer from OCD and it’s refreshing to have a character portrayed accurately, movingly but in a humorous way too! The actors, the story and the scenery were breathtakingly captivating. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.
The whole film was inspiring from start to finish. It was moving and uplifting, funny and full of emotion. The cast and crew have done an excellent job and I can’t wait to watch it again. Highly recommend!
This lovely film kept us glued to the screen throughout. It was about two best friends, one had terminal cancer, one did not. They had both already dealt with cancer as teenagers which had created a lasting bond between them. The antics they got up to , both in the past and in the present time was very funny and the whole story flowed between the laughter, mischief and of course, the serious problem of a life coming to a close. The acting was first rate, performed with smooth sensitivity and liveliness. A brilliant cast indeed leaving us with a long lasting impression of these beautiful people and their heartwarming story.
A difficult subject treated with warmth and humour. Even though the film deals with cancer as a central theme the tone is upbeat throughout with the laughs coming naturally from the relationships between the two leads as both adults and teenagers. [….] the film […] is about the journey the two lead character Ben and Mark make.
The OCD element of hand washing seems very prescient given the current pandemic and it is good to see the NHS central in the film – and the value of the NHS to the two leads.
It is also refreshing to see a film shot entirely in the North West. The film is shot in a documentary style which suits the road movie element of the film. A lovely score too by Craig Potter from the band Elbow.
I attended the online premiere and a portion of profits will go to two cancer related charities- Teenage Cancer Trust and Weston Park Hospital which is laudable.
Great to see films made in the UK and especially up North, Stoke, Manchester and Derbyshire. The cast did an excellent job making this film so real and moving but with comedy, their honesty and integrity made this a treat to watch again and again.
This is a warm hearted fun filled story, guaranteed to leave you in a better place by the end. The cast are excellent and the subject matter is dealt with sensitively, with some proper laugh out loud moments.
She also mentioned what might be in store for Rupert, the character played by Andrew Gower:
I would have lots of things in store for Rupert and how he’d navigate his domineering mother, and try and have some semblance of a happy life. It would be really difficult for him because she’s a very difficult woman. I love Mrs. Parker. We would have more of her in Season 2 as well.
We’re looking forward to seeing more of Rupert Parker and his mother (played by Helen Norton) and fully support the petition for season 2 of Miss Scarlet & The Duke.
Good news for Andrew Gower‘s French fans as Miss Scarlet & The Duke will finally start investigating in France! The series will be released on 5 April 2021 at 8:55pm on the French channel Polar+.
The popular period crime drama about the first female detective in Victorian London is about to conclude its run on PBS Masterpiece in the US (also available on iTunes in the USA and Canada) and is currently also shown in The Netherlands (BBC First) and Belgium (RTL Play). For a complete list of countries, networks and streaming options, please click here.
Are we missing any information or do you have any questions? Please let us know!
22 January 2021: Louise Rhind-Tutt for ILoveManchester:
Making its UK premiere on World Cancer Day (4th February), Running Naked balances humour, emotion and drama in equal measure. […]
In a world where cancer affects so many lives, Running Naked aims to bring a positive and hopeful message to everyone and anyone whose life has been touched by the disease.
“There was no chance Manchester wouldn’t feature in Running Naked, which has its heart and soul in the North.”
“We shot in the city centre at The Radisson Edwardian and in the stunning Peak District countryside just outside the city, where I’m lucky enough to live.”
“Manchester provides the perfect backdrop to some important moments in our story.”
Rakhee Thakrar, Matthew McNulty, Tamzin Merchant & Andrew Gower
4 February 2021: Sam Cleal for Buzzfeed
“Running Naked” Is The Feel-Good Indie Movie That’ll Restore Your Faith In Just About Everything
… technically the main characters Ben and Mark do run around a hospital together butt naked, but the film is so much more than its titular titillation! It’s really a film about friendship, finding love, and seizing life while you still can. […]
Basically, this film is super uplifting and will undoubtedly remind viewers to live life to the fullest every day, and to never become content with less than you deserve! And who doesn’t need that feel-good energy right now?!
4 February 2021: Michael Sales for Midlands Movies
Running Naked is very much a Midlands production, being filmed in locations such as Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton. And whilst Victor Buhler, Jennifer Knowles and Michael Knowles are credited as co-writers, the film specifically draws on Jennifer Knowles’ own experience as a cancer survivor.
This personal angle is infused in the film with its heartfelt and sympathetic situations. And although for me the film never really generated any huge belly laughs, the gentle comedy certainly balances the right tone between the serious issues of dealing with terrible news and the humorous fondness, and struggles, of friendship.
The film’s structure continues this duality with regular flashbacks to the younger duo, whose light-hearted take on their condition is sincere and understanding. Rather than being in denial, the fun they tackle life with shows an often-universal need for lightness during a crisis. […]
There is an understandable sadness in the film but at its core the movie is a positive and life-affirming tale of friendship where warmth shines from the screen throughout. An unclothed and honest look at self-discovery in the face of devastating circumstances, Running Naked is a tender triumph that cleverly shows how support and laughter is a very much needed medicine.
A film about cancer sufferers doesn’t sound very jolly, but, in fact, this film has a lot of light moments. […]
[…] this film is a very English look at young cancer sufferers. […] Running Naked is a little drama mixing comedy and tragedy in a good blend of emotional reality. With two sensitive performances by McNulty and Gower and backed up by the other actors, it is always moving. The film is […] using Jennifer’s personal experiences of having cancer to give us this absorbing story. Sensitively directed by Victor Buhler, it is a simple – as in easy – little film and worth a watch.
One of the most frequent questions we receive these days is: Will there be another season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke? And will Andrew Gower aka the delightful Rupert Parker return?
The only answer we can give with certainty at this time: We don’t know yet.
It is true that show creator Rachael New has been working on scripts for further episodes for a while now. Season 1 director Declan O’Dwyer hinted at it during our Q&A with him in October 2019 only weeks after Season 1 wrapped filming. Rachael New also talked about writing scripts and potential storylines for Season 2 in several interviews since then, including our Q&A in January 2020 ahead of the release of the show in the UK and our first Scarleteers Zoom chat in December 2020. In a recent podcast with TellyVisions, she spoke in detail about what we might see in Season 2 (naturally the interview contains spoilers for S1, so be warned!) but also confirmed they are still in negotiations for the continuation of the show.
It seems that early plans were made to start filming S2 in September 2020, however several circumstances, including to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent postponement of the release of S1 in the USA (originally scheduled for September 2020), put a halt on these plans. We’ve had it confirmed that these plans were also only tentative should S2 have received an official order which it still hasn’t yet.
Kate Phillips (Eliza Scarlet) and Stuart Martin (William “The Duke) Wellington)
We know from Kate Phillips‘ and Stuart Martin‘s Instagram TakeOver, everyone is really keen to bring the fans more Miss Scarlet & The Duke and that there is a small army of people working on making it happen… but nothing is certain yet.
Asked about the status of S2 in an interview with the NY Post published on 12 February 2021, Stuart Martin replied:
We’ll have to wait and see. There’s big hope for it and lots going on in the background to get that to happen. It’s been such a weird time, but we shall watch this space and hopefully soon [there will be news].
After all these delays and postponements, it will also be increasingly challenging to bring everyone back on board again. Many projects were put on hold last year which might lead to conflicting schedules for our beloved cast and crew. Peaky Blinders(Kate Phillips) recently started filming their final season, and Carnival Row (Andrew Gower) is due to resume filming the final 4 episodes of S2 (to be released seperately from the first 5 completed in 2020) later this year.
So we can only “wait, watch and see”, hope that a (positive) decision can be made soon and support the show by tweeting about it (#Scarleteers #MissScarletAndTheDuke #MissScarletPBS), sharing information on other Social Media channels and of course watching the show!
Written On The Waves is described as “a celebration of storytelling, which shares stories to spark listeners’ imaginative worlds, and enables us to connect with each other while we are apart.” The Giant Pacific Octopus Maritime School will be the “first family friendly piece (and trans-Atlantic collaboration)” and penultimate audio play of the eight-part series, written by Jaclyn Backhaus and directed by 45 North CEO and Creative Director Jessica Rose McVay.
Andrew Gower will play a character named Guy, with the rest of the cast including Adjoa Andoh (Emma), Sam Crerar (Ilya), Amita Suman (Priya) and Manjinder Virk (Seema).
The Giant Pacific Octopus Maritime School will be available on the 45North website for free on 8 April 2021. If you liked the programme, please consider making a donation to this small, independent company.
Journalist Sarah Bradbury (The Upcoming) interviewed Andrew Gower about playing cancer survivor Ben Taylor in the British independent production Running Naked. They talked about researching Ben’s OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and how it relates to a world in lockdown from an infectious disease, filminig in “exotic places” like Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Manchester and finally how humour helps to deal with the toughest situations.
Running Naked is a film about Ben and Mark (Matthew McNulty), who met at a cancer ward as teenage patients and became lifelong friends. It is described as a comedy drama about “love, friendship and streaking”. It is available to stream online after its world premiere at the Beijing International Film Festival in August 2020 where it was nominated for the Tiantian award.
If you had a chance to watch Running Naked and liked it, please consider leaving a positive review on Amazon or IMDb and share this info. It’ll go a long way supporting this micro-budget independent film and our Andrew Gower! Thank you so very much!
So far all options are limited to the UK but as the world-wide distributions rights have already been sold to 101 Films International, it is only a matter of time until the film can be watched in other countries as well. We’ll keep you posted!
Matthew McNulty talked to Sue Crawford (Metro.co.uk) about catching Covid, making a splash in Coronation Street and stripping off for his new film Running Naked which he stars in alongside Andrew Gower.
Your new film is called Running Naked – did you?
Yes! It was in an area of the hospital we had full control over, so it wasn’t too embarrassing, and we filmed in the summer so we weren’t too cold. It was liberating and nerve-wracking at the same time.
It’s been described as a film that will make you laugh and cry…
There are sad moments but it’s uplifting more than anything else. It’s about two cancer survivors, Mark and Ben [played by Andrew Gower], who are friends from being teenagers. The title comes from the fact that when they were younger they streaked through the hospital naked. It’s also a metaphor for being free – running without the things that weigh you down.
We’ve had great news that the wordwide distribution rights to Running Naked, a comedy about “love, friendship and streaking”, have been picked up by 101 Films International, a London based sales agent and distribution company. This is a big step as the company attends all major film markets which will help present the film to a larger audience.
So far the deal does not include the UK and the USA but negotiations for these countries are ongoing. If you’re a UK resident (or happen to have a British postcode at hand), you can watch the online screening of Running Naked on Thursday, 4 February 2021 at Virtual Cinema.
Andrew Gower plays Ben Taylor, who formed a life-long friendship with Mark (Matthew McNulty) when they were both treated for cancer as teenagers. They grow up to become very different individuals: Mark is a successful doctor, who struggles to form a meaningful relationship with his on-and-off girlfriend Jade (Rahkee Thakrar) while Ben has built a protective shell of obsessive behaviour around himself. A piece of devastating news forces them to re-evaluate their lives as their embark on the adventure of their lifetimes.
When you register to buy the ticket, you will be asked to enter a UK post code. We’re still trying to find out if that means you have to be a UK resident to see the screening, or if it will be available worldwide. [see our ETAs below to find out the answer]
The film will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with the cast & crew. We don’t know if this includes Andrew Gower but it seems likely since he and Matthew McNulty play the lead characters.
Running Naked is a British independet micro-budget film about love, friendship and streaking.
The friendship of cancer survivors Ben and Mark is tested when a piece of news forces each character to change their perspective. Old wounds are opened as they discover their true selves.
It’s been confirmed by the social media manager of Running Naked that the digital screening of the film on Thursday, 4 February 2021 will sadly be only accessible for UK residents. However, the film will be released digitally on Monday, 8 February 2021. We will keep you updated as soon as we have the full list of platforms and release dates.
BeenToTheMovies.com also mentions a screening on Thursday, 4 February 2021 at the Film Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent (UK) pending Covid restrictions. According to the Theatre’s website, the venue is currently closed.
We made a further inquiry with Virtual Cinema directly and their answer was that “the platform only allows for UK residents” but added that “it has been known to work if you use a UK postcode on signing up”.
SW1A 1AA is the postcode of Buckingham Palace. Just as an example. Or you could google the London address of your country’s embassy. Always helpful to know! 😉
After its spectacular ratings success in 2020, especially in the UK and Australia, Miss Scarlet and The Duke is set to be released in more countries around the globe. In December 2020 Deadline.com reported that A&E International sold the Victorian detective drama to NRK in Norway and Greece’s ERT.
Frøken Scarlets Detektivbyrå (“Miss Scarlet’s Detective Agency“) will investigate from Friday 8 January 2021 at 10:20pm in Norway, followed by the US premiere on PBS Masterpiece on Sunday 17 January 2021 at 8/7pm ct and Thursday, 21 January 2021 on BBC First in The Netherlands.
“’Miss Scarlet and the Duke’ is an ideal primetime show for a very broad and truly global audience that loves great detective stories and a constant love-tension between two lead characters. This already popular series is but one remarkable example of A+E’s compelling, first-run hits amongst the 800 hours of fresh content we presented at Mipcom 2020.”
(Source: Patrick Vien, Group Managing Director, International, A+E Networks)
Please check out our list of international distributors to see where and when you can watch Miss Scarlet and The Duke in your country. We will update the list as soon as we find out more dates.
Please also consider supporting the Scarleteers petition for more episodes – Miss Scarlet and The Duke is currently still in negotiations for a second season.
We’re already 16 days into our Annual Advent Calendar Contest but it is not too late to participate!
All you have to do is guess the context of each of our “doors” that are posted on Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and in our Gallery every day: which TV series, movie or play is it from? Comment with your guess or e-mail us to win one of our fabulous prizes!
You have until midnight on 31 December 2020 to add your name to the drawing pot and we’ll start the new year right away by announcing the winner (or winners?!) on 1 January 2021!
And here’s what you can win: One of our very own Andrew Gower 2021 calendars (not available in shops)! We have two of these beauties to give away, and everyparticipant is guaranteed to receive one of our popular Andrew Gower Fans postcards.
Good luck, everyone 🍀 – and don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help you further in any way!
Fans will have the unique opportunity to join the Zoom meeting and ask their questions live themselves. Message the Scarleteers page on Facebook or contact us to be included in the Q&A and receive your invitation. If you prefer, you can also just send in a question and the host will ask it for you. Scarleteers are asking you to send in your questions by Monday, 7 December 2020 in order to allow them to organize them and send out the invitations.
The event will be free to view on YouTube. The link will be shared about 15-30mins prior to the live stream on the Scarleteers Twitter account and on Facebook. We will share it as soon as possible on our our Social Media outlets on Twitter, Facebook and in this post.
We are sure you can sneak in a question about Andrew Gower and his character Rupert Parker if you like!
For the 5th time in row, we’re counting down to the winter holidays by highlighting 24 projects from Andrew Gower‘s past, present and future.
It is also a time to thank you, fans, for your continued love and support for Andrew Gower, this little fansite and its Social Media outlets with a little contest.
What do you have to do to win one of our exclusive prizes?
After our exclusive interviews with Miss Scarlet and The Duke‘s show creator Rachael New and director Declan O’Dwyer, we reached out to some of the cast and asked them 5+1 questions – and they all graciously agreed to answer them.
Many thanks to Kate Phillips, Kevin Doyle, Lola Sattar, Cathy Belton, Simon Ludders, Helen Norton, Matthew Malone, Danny Midwinter and Stuart Martin for their time and answers!
What do you like best about Eliza Scarlet? She’s a quick thinker and a clever mind. I love her wit and her tenacity. She’s a very fun character to play.
What do you think annoys the Duke the most about Eliza? She doesn’t know when to give up and it often ends with the two on them at logger heads. She doesn’t pull her punches with him, which clearly winds him up but somehow they always manage to come together in the end.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? Rachael has created an amazing ensemble of really witty and heart felt characters and Eliza is different with everyone – each bringing out a different side of her. I particularly love her relationship with Ivy. She takes on the role of a mother figure for Eliza and between them they share a lovely balance of bickery but also tender moments.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? There are way too many to choose from but I have the best memories of filming one particular scene in episode 5. It was our last day of the shoot and Stuart and I were having to perform a scene through a small hole in a prison door. It was a very fun and fast paced scene to play as, whilst starting off quite sweetly, as ever it escalates quickly into a full blown row.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 Action sequences. My favourite moments are when Eliza is bounding around, hair a mess, spouting some sort of pithy, cutting remark – most likely in The Duke’s direction.
What do you like best about Henry Scarlet? He loves and admires his daughter.
What do you think annoys Eliza the most about her father? He’s usually right about things.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? Eliza.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? No favourite. They were all wonderful to do.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 Come back to life!
Young Eliza
Lola Sattar is a young aspiring actress who is best known for playing young Eliza on Miss Scarlet and The Duke. She has also appeared in the British-German fantasy children’s television series The Worst Witch and most recently, played a guest role on The Dumping Ground, a British children’s drama series about young people living in care homes.
What do you like best about Eliza Scarlet? I like her fiery nature, sharp mind and determination as well as her compassion for those in need.
What do you think annoys her father the most about Eliza? I think the fact that Eliza is so strong minded can annoy her father as it would have been unusual at the time for a young woman to act in such a way and I think he fears what the rest of the world will take of it, especially in her future – he wants what he thinks is best for his daughter.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? Moses.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? I love the scene where Eliza begins to teach Ivy to read & write – I found it really moving.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 I’d like to see Eliza solve more cases and build up her reputation for being a great detective.
Ivy
Cathy Belton is an accomplished Irish actress who has appeared in a wide range of stage, film, radio and television productions. In 2015 she received an IFTA nominationa for her performance in Irish crime drama Red Rock. She appeared alongside Dame Judi Dench in critically acclaimed Philomena in 2013, and portrayed Louise in period drama A Little Chaos starring Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman.
What do you like best about Ivy? What I like best about Ivy is her honesty and loyalty! She always speaks her mind and she is absolutely loyal to Miss Scarlet. Even when Miss Scarlet runs into finance trouble and can’t pay Ivy, Ivy stays and remains loyal and continues to run the house. Her honesty is a joy to play. She always speaks her mind even when it’s not what Miss Scarlet wants to hear. This relationship is everything to Ivy. Miss Scarlet is the daughter, sister, best friend she never had.
What do you think annoys Eliza the most about Ivy? What annoys Miss Scarlet most about Ivy is her conservative and old ways: Ivy doesn’t believe in women’s rights. A woman’s place is in the home. But watch this space… Miss Scarlet is working her beautiful ways on her. She teaches her to write and educated her on women’s rights. I love this journey Ivy is on.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? It has to be my lovely Eliza! Kate Phillip’s portrayal of Miss Scarlet is wonderful. She has an ability to bring great masses of emotion and gear changes with the lightest of touch. It’s beautiful to watch Eliza grown through series one.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? My favorite scene to play was in ep 4 where Eliza teaches Ivy to write. Two women from opposite poles supporting each other and making their way in the world.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 I’d love to see Ivy continue to grow with Eliza. Perhaps help Eliza in her private dectective business. What I am most confident about is that in the hands of our gifted creator and writer Rachael New, Ivy is in very safe hands.
Mr Potts
Simon Ludders is a well-known British stage and television actor. You will have seen him as Renfield in the CBBC series Young Dracula, as Mr Smith in the Being Human spin-off series Becoming Human, and as Trevor Smith in British crime drama Broadchurch. In 2005 he wrote, produced and directed short film The Last Child of the Sixties, a mockumentary about the fictional Gary Phelps (played by Ludders).
What do you like best about Mr Potts? Pompous characters are always fun to play as they have further to fall when it all goes wrong. Mr Potts is a perfect example of that. He is a stickler for rules which are invariably broken by either Miss Scarlet or The Duke.
What do you think annoys Eliza the most about Mr Potts? See above. Also he secretly knows that she is way more intelligent than him.
Who was your favourite character in S1? What a difficult question! I’m going to sit on the fence and say all of them. Is that allowed?
What was your favourite scene in S1? Really too many scenes to choose from but the first scene in the first episode with the glass eyed moll is a fantastic opening.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 Win the lottery. Failing that, managing to get one over on Miss Scarlet…
Mrs Parker
Dublin born and based actress Helen Norton has an impressive resumee in theatre where she hasn’t only acted but also written and directed short plays for children, and toured with her two-hander play To Hell in a Handbag (co-written with Jonathan White) across the UK and Ireland to sell-out performaces. Her television and film credits include Angela’s Ashes, Ella Enchanted and The Borgias.
What do you like best about Mrs Parker? I love that Mrs Parker pulls no punches, speaks her mind and will do whatever she thinks is best to protect her own.
What do you think annoys Rupert the most about his mother? Probably the fact that she treats him more like a child than an adult and never seems to listen to his opinions or believes he could, in fact, have any opinions of his own.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? That’s a difficult question, there were so many great characters! I loved the hapless policeman Honeychurch and also Ivy and Moses.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? My favourite scene was in Episode 1 when Mrs Parker and Rupert are visiting Scarlet and the artificial eyeball rolls into view!
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞If I’m lucky enough to return in Season 2, I’d be delighted with whatever Rachael decides Mrs Parker should get up to!
What do you like best about PC Honeychurch? I think my favourite thing about him is how green he is. Honeychurch is wonderfully out of his depth starting out as a policeman, learning through his mistakes, and it’s fun to play that comedy as he struggles to keep up with Eliza and Duke.
What do you think annoys William and Eliza the most about PC Honeychurch? Probably his inexperience and his cheek. He always seems to say the wrong thing and finds it hard to see Eliza as an authority – but she shows him what’s what.
Who was your favourite character in S1? I have a real fondness for Mrs. Parker (Helen Norton). She’s straight out of Oscar Wilde and is scary and hilarious in equal measure.
What was your favourite scene in S1? There’s a scene at the end of episode 3 when Eliza starts to teach Ivy (Cathy Belton) how to read and write. There’s something really powerful about that passing on of knowledge to someone who’s cared for her for so many years, and it ties up that episode’s story really well.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2?🤞 I’d love to see Honeychurch do something right (for once!) and impress the Duke. I can imagine how surprised and chuffed he’d be at helping to solve a case.
DS Frank Jenkins
Danny Midwinter‘s passion for acting was discovered by an agent while he was working for a moving company. He has since worked on numerous TV series and films in Britain and internationally, including From Hell (starring Johnny Depp) about the Jack the Ripper murders as well as the historical TV drama series Rome (with Outlander‘s Tobias Menzies) and The Borgias.
What do you like best about DS Frank Jenkins? Frank is a thinker and everyone around him underestimates him.
What do you think annoys the Duke the most about Frank? I think the Duke dislikes Frank’s dress sense and his slopey ways.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? That’s a hard one. I loved everyone. If I was pushed I would say my favourite character has to be Rupert Parker. He is so diametrically opposite to Frank – and Andrew just made him fascinating and funny.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? I have two scenes actually. One is when young Eliza has a conversation with her father over the kitchen table and then the mirror scene to that; when adult Eliza is sat at the same table having a conversation with her father.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 For season two I would love to dress like the Duke, Stuart Martin looked fantastic.
What do you like best about The Duke? He’s a proper old school bloke, isn’t he, from a bygone era. And Rachael doesn’t shy away from that in how she’s written him. Warts and all. He doesn’t always get it right, he doesn’t always say it in the right way or apologise quick enough when he’s got it wrong. But he does apologise, in his own way. Says what he thinks, let’s his temper and emotions flare unmoderated and unapologetically. He goes from zero to ten in a heartbeat and back to three again just as fast. That is the best and most rewarding thing to be given and to be able to play as an actor. To be able to follow those thoughts and emotions and not second guess them or dampen them before they’ve even reached the surface. To be able to have an argument and not be apologising while you’re having the argument. I’ve got a real soft spot for Duke. Hardened because of his experiences in a tough world, but caring and loving and open to change and what’s right.
What do you think annoys Eliza the most about The Duke? All of the above. He’s very much a man of his time and Eliza is ahead of her time. So their ways of thinking don’t always aline, which gives a lot of the lovely drama and comedy. They both infuriate each other because they both have such different ways of seeing the world and cases. He’s getting there. He may not be the most forward thinking by today’s standards, but I think he’s learning and trying to do what’s right and Eliza knows this and respects him for this. She just knows it may be a slightly longer journey getting him to see her way of thinking and what’s right often. But it goes both ways. It’s a brilliantly complex relationship that Rachael has crafted with a whole load of affection and love and history thrown in, that makes the characters such a joy to play and delve into.
Who was your favourite character in season 1? They are all so brilliantly crafted, on and off the page. They all have their own distinct lives and journeys, flaws and struggles. A testament to Rachael’s writing and how she’s created these characters. They all have such great moments and lives and struggles we all care about. And they will continue to grow and shine in season two.
What was your favourite scene in season 1? So many, but I loved filming episode 5 in the prison. We all did. We filmed it all near the end of the shoot in an ancient prison in Wicklow, Wicklow Gaol. It has such an amazing history of its time used in the Irish War of Independence and Civil War and before. There are so many scenes in that ep that I loved as Eliza and Duke’s relationship and working relationship has matured. The stakes are so high and tensions and emotions are so high that we really see who they are. Unfiltered. The scene between them when Duke finally finds Eliza locked in the cell, for me, sums up their whole relationship and what the shows about. Their battles and tiffs, how they wind each other up and the comedy that comes with it and is such a beautiful part of the show, their losses and fears. They both allow themselves to be very honest and open in that scene through the locked cell door. I think it was maybe 6 pages and Dec would just run it as 8 minute long takes. It was great fun for me and Kate to play out under the watchful brilliant guidance of Dec.
Is there something you would like to see your character do in season 2? 🤞 It’s funny, normally you do have a feeling of the things you want to see your characters doing more of in the next season. Something you felt was missing that would show a different side of them or could be expanded. But not with this, the way Rachael mapped out the characters in season one, you don’t feel that, we got to show so many sides to them. And although there are many sides to these characters that we are yet to see, I’m as excited as you are to see where she takes them. What I do know is that the next journey that they go on will be up a level. We’re going to go deeper and further. With the introduction of new characters and dangers and challenges that will make their worlds all that harder and ultimately dramatic and funny and heartbreaking for these brilliant characters. It’s going to be BIG.
Inevitable bonus question: How was working with Andrew Gower?
Kate Phillips: Well, you know better than anyone what an amazing actor he is. Working with Andrew is heaven. He’s unbelievably talented and his comic timing is genius. There is one scene in episode 6 that I wasn’t sure we would ever be able to complete because we were both laughing so much.
Kevin Doyle: I didn’t get to work with Andrew but I did get to watch his work and I thought it was a wonderful, sensitive, intelligent and funny performance. I also thought he was a lovely human being.
Lola Sattar: Really good, he made me feel so welcome on set!
Cathy Belton: Working with Andrew Gower was a joy! He is a gifted actor. Hardworking but such fun. We laughed a lot. It was hard to keep a straight face in scenes with Andrew. His comic timing is extraordinary.
Simon Ludders: Unfortunately I didn’t get to work with Andrew as we were never in any scenes together. However, I’ve battled against him in a few Zoom quizzes over lockdown and it hurts me to say that he’s rather clever. Ish. Kind of.
Helen Norton: Andrew was Gorgeous to work with, it’s difficult to launch into a Mother/Son relationship when you don’t know the other actor well but we had some interesting character chats and playing our scenes was great fun!
Matthew Malone: I never crossed over with Andrew on set, but I really enjoyed his performance as Rupert. His comic timing brings so much to his scenes.
Danny Midwinter: Andrew Gower is the next John Hurt.
Stuart Martin: Just brilliant. He’s one of my favourite people. Lovely and funny and brilliant and generous on and off screen. Nothing better than finding a wee old pub in a wee town in Ireland to have a few pints of Guinness after a long day shooting, and no better person to have there with you, both talking rubbish, than Andrew.
In case you missed it the first time around, here’s another chance to listen to Philip Palmer’s audio drama Speak starring Andrew Gower and Pippa Haywood.
Lucian [Andrew Gower] has a vocabulary that is limited to a core 1500 words, but Clara [Pippa Haywood] wants to teach him those that are forbidden. A dystopian love story about the power of words, set in a near future where the language spoken is Globish – a reduced version of English. […] A gripping two-hander about the power of words; how words – and even more, the absence of words – can control, confine, leach emotion and trap minds.
PBS Masterpiece announced today the long anticipated schedule for their 50th anniversary celebrations in January 2021, which promises “can’t-miss programs featuring a-list talent, spectacular stories and breathtaking settings”. As previously reported, they will exclusively premiere period crime drama Miss Scarlet and The Duke in the USA, and we now have a date!
Sunday 17 January 2021, 8/7c
Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) stars in a six-part mystery as Miss Eliza Scarlet, the headstrong, first-ever female detective in Victorian London. Stuart Martin (Jamestown) plays her childhood friend, professional colleague, and potential love interest, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector William Wellington, a.k.a., The Duke.
It doesn’t come with a surprise but it is still sad news: Showmasters announced that the London Film and Comic Con will be postponed to 23 – 25 July 2021.
If you’ve already purchased a ticket for this year’s event from 20 – 22 November 2020 (previously 24 – 26 July 2020), your tickets will remain valid for the new July 2021 dates so there is no further action needed to be taken on your part. If you cannot make the new dates, please e-mail Showmasters to receive a digital voucher that can be used at any Showmasters event, any time up to two years of issue.
Currently there is no information on guests attending the event, so at this time we don’t know whether Andrew Gower will be able to be at the event in July 2021 but we’re keeping our fingers crossed 🤞 and will update you as soon and when we find out more.
We’ve just had news via the Running Naked Film Instagram account that the film was selected by yet another film festival and will be screened online at the Portland Film Festival next week from 12 – 18 October 2020.
Named, one of the top 25 coolest film festivals in the world, the Portland Film Festival (PDXFF) is the biggest and most highly attended film-lover movie event in the Northwest. Each year, we program some of the coolest independent movies, workshops and classes around.
A potential positive side effect of the lockdown and the resulting lack of new TV content is that broadcasters are forced to dig deep into their archives and repeat some of their older series. This circumstance is giving Andrew Gower‘s fans a chance to catch up on some of his earlier work.
The three-part series originally aired in 2015 and will be shown again on ITV this week on three consecutive nights, starting on Wednesday, 2 September 2020 at 9:00pm. If you miss one of the episodes, you can also watch them on ITV Hub later on.
You can also currently watch Miss Scarlet and The Duke on German streaming service TVNow and on Alibi Channel in the UK as boxsets, and it is available on DVD in Australia and New Zealand. Our American fans will have to wait a little while longer: PBS MASTERPIECE announced that the period drama will be shown as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations starting in January 2021.
For a list of international distributors click here.
There is currently no information whether the series has been picked up for a second season. If you would like to show your support for the cast & crew of Miss Scarlet and The Duke, please sign our petition to bring it back for more seasons!
Filming of the first half of season 2 of Victorian noir series Carnival Row finally wrapped in Prague earlier this month. Production had been halted amid the on-going Covid-19 pandemic in mid-March.
During lockdown Cara Delevingne spoke to entertainment new magazine Variety and said “that she filmed six of the eight planned episodes, but she’s not sure when the season will air.” The interview, which was published in June 2020 further quotes Delevingne: “The second season is going to be so good, but I don’t know when we’re going to finish it, and probably not until the winter, because it has to be cold outside and snowing and miserable.”
“I was 3 weeks from finishing the season. To keep the momentum of the show moving forward […] they are going to release the first half of the season and add one [episode].”
“We would like to go back and polish it off a little bit. I managed to get in and out and get some stuff done so we could close out that first half of the second season which I think will tease people into wanting more which is good.”
The first half will be made of 5 episodes and the material mainly filmed before lockdown including a few addtional scenes that were re-shoot recently in Prague. The second half of the season, consisting of 4 episodes, appears to not have been filmed yet.
“There are a couple of storylines that were actually going to shoot on location in another part of Europe which Covid prevented. They were all about to go and film in Croatia, everything was set and Covid just killed that.Actually what I think is going to be more interesting is what they are doing now: they’re just taking over another giant part of the studio to build out this other world which was going to be a Croatia location and I think it’s going to be even more interesting. Because with the amount of space they’ve got to built out these worlds and the talent of people who are working on building the worlds out, it’s really rich.“
Harvard graduate Victor Buhler is a writer, producer and director of several award winning drama and documentary films. His IMDb page lists an impressive 8 wins and further 4 nominations, including an Emmy nomination for his documentary Rikers High (2006) and a Student Academy Award nomination for his dramatic short film Chaperone(2001). Last year he won the Emmy for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary for Tom vs Time. He’s also taught film-making at his alma mater Harvard University and at New York University’s Tisch Graduate Film School.
First of all: Thank you so very much, Mr Buhler, for taking the time to answer a couple of questions about your upcoming film Running Naked for us!
Running Naked is based on a script written by yourself, Michael Knowles and Jennifer Knowles. Who had the idea for it originally? Is the story pure fiction or is it based on a real story?
A friend of ours named Rob Wales had the original idea but we developed the script extensively over time. We all felt very connected to the idea: Jennifer is a cancer survivor herself and Mike helped her through her recovery; I was in a life-threatening car accident. In the process of surviving those terrible moments in our lives, we adapted. Survival makes you tougher but it can also make your thought processes more brittle or it can make you less open to certain experiences. Running Naked is about breaking through where you’re stuck mentally. The film main characters – Ben and Mark – open old wounds but they end up rediscovering their true selves.
Running Naked stars Andrew Gower, Matthew McNulty and Tamzin Merchant. All three actors have previously worked together on other projects. In your own personal opinion, do you think it is an advantage or a disadvantage to work with actors who know each other well?
When actors know each other well – and respect each other – they can develop a shorthand. Certainly that shorthand was clear between Andrew and Tamzin, who share a love scene together in particular that I think is one of the best scenes in the film. Overall, I felt the actors really enjoyed working with one another.
Can you tell us something about the casting process, and how was working with Andrew Gower? You mentioned in an earlier conversation with us that you’re also a “big fan” of his.
In truth, I wasn’t that familiar with Andrew’s work before casting Running Naked. I soon realized he is a very capable actor with a tremendous amount of range and sensitivity. He has incredible attention to detail: he had a very clear vision of his character of Ben Taylor. He was meticulous, heartfelt and always prepared.
Running Naked is a film about friendship, about two men who met when they were both treated for leukaemia when they were teenagers and who re-connect later in life when one of them is faced with some life changing news. Is that an accurate plot description?
Running Naked is about friendship for sure although Mark and Ben – the two main characters – never lost contact since they were teenagers. Mark, however, has seen his friend retreat into his own world and Ben has become a fussy, obsessive recluse. The story is about when a piece of news forces each character to change their perspective.
One of the main characters, Ben (played by Andrew Gower) is not only a former cancer patient but also struggles with severe mental health issues. Did you do extensive research on both illnesses?
I wouldn’t say that Ben has severe mental health issues. He did develop obsessive mental patterns that became his way to cope with cancer. I did research Obsessive Compulsive Disorder extensively but I would say that Ben’s diagnosis would be mild and not be severe. Nevertheless, habits run deep and the mind is a mysterious tool that can control a person’s behavior in complex ways.
In terms of cancer, Jennifer Knowles, who co-wrote the script, is a cancer survivor herself.
When we first heard about Running Naked, we couldn‘t help but be reminded of a German film called Knockin‘ on Heaven‘s Door *. Have you ever heard of it?
[* A “criminal comedy” about two cancer patients who meet in hospital and decide to go on a road trip to see the ocean. They get in trouble with a group of gangsters, are chased by the police and end up in a brothel, before they finally reach their goal.]
I haven’t but would like to see it.
Would you say Running Naked falls into the same category or does it have a completely different tone?In other words, how many boxes of tissues and chocolate are we going to need?
Hopefully a box of each!
Running Naked is produced by NoW Films. Can you tell us something about the company?
NoW (North of Watford) Films was born out of a passion to generate, develop and produce high quality film and television projects. The company’s ethos is to create and maintain an impressive network of creative talent and industry partners not only within the production world, but in terms of high quality writing, acting and directing. NoW has produced 8 features since 2009.
When and where will fans be able to see Running Naked? What does the future hold for it?
The state of the world has affected the film’s release schedule but we’re excited to announce that Running Naked will debut at the Beijing Film Festival at the end of August 2020 and will be released, starting in the UK, from October 2020.
Last but not least: Will there be any actual naked running or is it just a metaphor?
You’ll have to watch the film to find out of course!
Thank you, Mr Buhler, once again and we are very much looking forward to seeing Running Naked and Andrew bringing Ben Taylor to life.
Thank you for your interest in the film and in Andrew’s career, of course!
Running Naked, a full length independent production that Andrew Gower stars in alongside Matthew McNulty (Misfits, Black Work), will have its world premiere at the 10th annual Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) in the week of 22 – 29 August 2020.
Mark and Ben have been friends since meeting as teenage cancer patients. Twenty years later, Mark is a successful, womanizing doctor while Ben has become a neurotic recluse – a prisoner of his own obsessive rituals and wacky habits. A dramatic piece of news upends their lives and challenges Mark and Ben’s friendship to the core. To break Ben out of his shell, Mark stakes everything he – and Ben – has, and drags his mate on an adventure that will change both their lives.
In a new interview with entertaintmenr website Collider actor Orlando Bloom talked about Carnival Row‘s second season and gave away some interesting information.
Production of Carnival Row resumed only recently after a 5 months Corona related hiatus which left them only weeks from finishing shooting. In order to keep fans from waiting too long for the new episodes, Amazon Prime is apparently considering splitting the season in 2 parts with an additional episode to give fans 5 episodes in season 2.1 and another 4 in the second half of season 2.
He also revealed that plans to shoot parts of S2 in Dubrovnik, Croatia had to be cancelled, also due to Corona, and that those scenes will now be shot on a new sound stage in a studio.
Orlando praised new showrunner Erik Oleson, who replaced original showrunner and creator Travis Beacham in a surprise move just after production on Season 2 had begun last autumn, and is very excited to be working with him.
Watch the full video below. Steve Weintraub and Orlando Bloom start talking about Carnival Row at the 57:45 time stamp.
Almost to the day 5 months after Carnival Rowhad to suspend filming their second season due to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, production is now officially back on track.
Last months production service company Stillking Films posted almost daily updates on their Instagram account about the security measures put in place to ensure a safe return to Barrandov Studios in Prague (Czech Republic), where the popular Amazon Prime series is filmed.
Now main cast members Tamzin Merchant and David Gyasi, who play star-crossed lovers Imogen Spurnrose and Agreus Astrayon, have shared images from their return to work.
Tamzin Merchant, David Gyasi on Instagram Stories
The series’ leads Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne appear to have not come back to Prague yet but this might be due to the new health and safety regulations that aims to keep the amount of people working on set at a time to an absolute minimum.
So far we can also not confirm yet that Andrew Gower, who is reprising his role as Imogen’s brother Ezra, has resumed filming but we’ll be keeping an eye out and let you know as soon as we find out.
Andrew Gower and Carnival Row creator Travis Beacham in September 2019
Cabinteely House is one of the main locations used to filming season 1 of period crime drama Miss Scarlet and The Duke. In this short video you can see some of the gorgeous rooms of this 18th century manor house in one of Dublin’s southside suburbs. In the series they appear as Ivy’s kitchen, Rupert Parker’s drawing room and the Dean’s office.
Good news for Andrew Gower‘s German fans: The crime solving dynamic duo, Miss Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) and The Duke (Stuart Martin), will begin their investigations on Video-on-Demand platform TVNOW in Germany on Tuesday, 1 September 2020.
All 6 episodes will be made available as a box set according to websites Serienjunkies and Wunschliste. There is currently no further information on the TVNOW website.
Only last week PBS MASTERPIECE announced that the period drama will premiere in the USA as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations starting in January 2021.
You can currently watch Miss Scarlet and The Duke on Alibi Channel in the UK and it is set to be released on DVD in Australia and New Zealand in mid-August after a successful broadcast on 7TWO and Lightbox. For a list of international distributor click here.
In January 2021 American network PBS MASTERPIECE is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an entire season of new shows and it appears that Miss Scarlet and The Duke is to be one of them.
According to their website “the exact air date for Miss Scarlet and the Duke is still a mystery” but you can sign up for their newsletter (or watch this space!) to be the first to know when the date is announced.
What is it About?
When headstrong Eliza Scarlet is left penniless and devastated after the death of her father, she has two choices for survival: marriage or her father’s private detective agency. But no matter how well she knows the tricks of his trade, the trade itself is deemed entirely inappropriate for a genteel lady of the 1880s. Enter “The Duke,” Scotland Yard’s Detective Inspector William Wellington, a notorious drinker, gambler, womanizer…and a crime-solving friend to Eliza (no matter how much they may bicker!).
It’s great news that Miss Scarlet and The Duke was chosen to be part of the anniversary season, which will potentially bring more visibility to the series, but unfortunately it also means that Andrew‘s American fans will have to wait about 4 months longer than previously thought until they can see him as Rupert Parker, Eliza Scarlet’s best friend and supporter.
If you like Carnival Row‘s costume design, please follow Denise Haywood Costume, who was part of Joanna Eatwell’s team in season 1 and regularly shares fascinating close-ups and BTS pictures of the costumes.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke follows Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), the daughter of famed private detective Henry Scarlet (Kevin Doyle). Eliza has dreamed all her life of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a detective but is unable to due to the fact she is a woman. After Henry dies however, Eliza is left penniless. Not wanting to have to marry in order to survive, Eliza resolves to continue her Father’s agency.
This proves to be easier said than done however as no one will take her seriously because of her gender. With no one wanting to hire her, Eliza is forced to turn to childhood friend William Wellington (Stuart Martin)– who is a Detective Inspector. Eliza proposes the two work together on cases, so that he can gain her insight and she can gain enough experience and reputation to…
We’re happy to support Scarleteers, the Facebook page for fans of Miss Scarlet and The Duke and their campaign to bring back the series for (at least!) another season. Their petition is as much a gentle nudge to the production company A & E Studios to officially announce more adventures for our favourite dynamic duo as it is a way of showing our love and appreciation to the entire cast and crew for creating such a wonderful period drama.
So if you enjoyed season 1, please sign the petition and share the link, for more Miss Scarlet (Kate Phillips), The Duke (Stuart Martin) and more Rupert (Andrew Gower)!
As was to be expected, Showmaster’s London Film & Comic Con (LFCC) had to take the difficult decision to postpone their main convention event this summer due to the ongoing Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The event will now take place from 20 – 22 November 2020 at Olympia London.
If you already have a ticket for the event, this will be automatically transferred to the new date. If you can’t attend the event on the new dates, please e-mail Showmasters to receive a voucher which will be good to use for any future Showmasters events up until the day after LFCC 2021 (26 July 2021). At that point, you can request a full refund, should you have not been able to use your voucher.
Tickets sales will be available shortly again for the event and photo op tickets (£20) for Andrew. Autograph tickets (£20) can be purchased at the event itself.
Some of the main “characters” on Miss Scarlet and The Duke, next to the two leads Kate Phillips (Eliza Scarlet) and Stuart Martin (“The Duke”), are certainly the gorgeous original sets that were used during filming. Filming at original sets (in contrast to built sets in a studio) always provides certain challenges for cast & crew but adds a definite layer of authenticity to the scenes.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke was filmed entirely in and around Dublin (Ireland) which doubles for Victorian London as unfortunately the British capital has changed quite a bit since the 19th century while Dublin has preserved large parts of its original Georgian houses. Other large productions, such as the BBC’s Ripper Street, have profited from filming in the Irish capital for its authentic look as well as financial reasons.
Cabinteely is a suburb of Dublin’s southside which is home to the 18th century Cabinteely House & Park. The grand country manor house was built by Robert Nugent, Lord Clare, and has an 18th century staircase, decorative plasterwork and a vaulted gallery still preserved while the park is a beautiful example of an 18th century English landscape park.
You can visit Cabinteely House for free guided tours and walk in the footsteps of Hollywood stars like Eva Green (Penny Dreadful), Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) and Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn) who all filmed there. It also served as one of the main sets of Miss Sarlet and The Duke.
Greystones is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Wicklow south of Dublin. Part of St. Brigid’s National School is the historic building of Holy Faith Convent. Built in 1845, and sitting on over half-an-acre land, the 11,000-square-feet building was purchased by the adjacent school in 2018, ensuring a continuation of the long common tradition between the school and the former Catholic convent.
Only a short drive alog the coast away from Greystones is Wicklow Gaol, a former prison located in the town of Wicklow, Ireland. It served as a prison from the late 18th to the early 20th century. In 1822 and 1842/43 it was extended and housed prisoners until 1924 when the last prisoners left. It was renovated and re-opened as a museum in 1998 and claims to be one of the world’s most haunted buildings.
On Miss Scarlet and The Duke is serves as the eerily beautiful Woolwich Prison.
Finally, watch this video by Dublin Tour Guide showing a scene for Miss Scarlet and The Duke being filmed in the streets of Dublin. Find out where and when you can seeMiss Scarlet and The Duke in your country!
While William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin) continues the investigations into last episode‘s criminals and the murder of Henry Scarlet (Kevin Doyle), he tries to keep Eliza (Kate Phillips) safe by placing her under house arrest. However, he’s yet again underestimated Eliza’s cleverness who has secretly contacted one of her accomplices and gathers information on the case on her own.
When Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower) comes to talk to her about an urgent personal matter, he also relies a message for Eliza from the Jamaican crook Moses (Ansu Kabia). Rupert’s own dilemma is that the seemingly quiet and docile Miss Tilly (Amy McAllister) turns out to be quite as determined and insistent when it comes to marrying him as his mother is to get him married, and Eliza’s advice doesn’t help to improve matters at all.
Following some clues, William and his assistant DS Frank Jenkins Danny Midwinter discover some shocking truths that hit closer to them and Miss Scarlet than they could have imagined. The world isn’t black and white any more – who is on the right side of the law and who is on the wrong side isn’t always as it appears, and the stakes have never been higher for Miss Scarlet and The Duke.
Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!
The main protagonist, Merseybeat musician Tommy Quickly (played by Andrew Gower), was another discovery of Beatles manager Brian Epstein and the short film sheds some light on a pivotal turning point in Tommy’s career and life.
Watch this clip with Stephen Walters’ announcement – and watch this space, we’ll be updating this post as soon as we know more details including where and when you can see the film!
Thank you to Jackie Merrell (@AngusAngels) for sharing this video with us!)
ETA (4 May 2020):
We do have a release date now! Start your countdowns!
William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin) is on his way to an important meeting with Superintendent Stirling (Nick Dunning) and other division heads of Scotland Yard when a distress calls reaches him: Miss Scarlet (Kate Phillips) has gone missing. Eliza’s canny housekeeper Ivy (Cathy Belton) has already undertaken some investigating of her own and is sure that something untoward has happened.
Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower) is the last person to have seen Eliza and he is entertaining German undertaker Herr Hildegard (Richard Evans) and his “radiant niece” Tilly (Amy McAllister) – who he is eager to impress – when William arrives to inquire about Eliza’s whereabouts. The late Henry Scarlet’s (Kevin Doyle) old case book finally leads William to the seeminly empty Woolwich Prison.
Reunited with Eliza the two soon discover that an abandoned gaol is also a perfect hideout for a gang of criminals. But what is Henry Scarlet’s connection to the gang and who is the mysterious prisoner in Cell 99? This case is soon turning into a most personal one for the dynamic duo and test for their resolve. The culprits this time might be closer to them then they think.
Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!
According to Gold Derby, Amazon Prime have listed their submissions for their comedy, drama and limited series in the run for an Emmy Award. Among the submitted titles and names are Carnival Row (in the Drama Series category) and Andrew Gower as Supporting Actor.
Of course, a submission is far from a nomination (or a win) but it’s an important first step and we are more than happy and proud to read Andrew’s name in the company of all these other distinguished talents.
Are you an artist who’s been inspired by Miss Scarlet (or any other of Andrew Gower‘s projects)? We’d love to see and share your art! Graphics, videos, fan fiction – we love them all! You can contact us via e-mail or one of our social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)!
For more information on where and when you can watch Miss Scarlet and The Duke in your country, check out this post, which will be updated as soon and when new information becomes available.
After last week’s case, Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) is disappointed to find out that Scotland Yard’s DI William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin) has claimed all credit for solving the case for himself. Her friend and business partner Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower) is likewise disappointed that his investment is not mentioned as this would have surely vexed his mother (Helen Norton). When German undertaker Herr Hildegard (Richard Evans) approaches Eliza in the street, she tries to brush him off, but becomes more interested when he mentions a potential new case.
James Henderson (Hugh O’Conor) is a “death photographer“, who specializes in capturing the images of the recently deceased for their loved ones, a custom that was weirdly popular in Victorian time where people were obsessed with death and the afterlife. James himself is now receiving threatening messages from beyond the grave after he got engaged to his daugher’s governess Amelia (Roisin Murphy). Is the ghost of James’ dead wife Violet (Amelie Metcalfe) trying to take revenge or is Amalia’s mother Edith (Marion O’Dwyer), a psychic, behind the mysterious postcards?
William gets a taste of what it feels like to be overlooked and prejudiced against in his chosen profession for himself while he must deal with the nosy journalist Jacob Bunce (Kevin Eldon). Rupert ponders the idea of giving in to his mother’s pressure and get married, if for appearances only. After Eliza laughs at his suggestion, she is surprised to see him pursuing a different prospect very quickly, but a discovery in her father’s (Kevin Doyle), former office distracts her and makes her question the circumstances of his sudden death.
Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!
Alfie is a 5 year old boy who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in February 2018. Sadly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his 6th birthday party on 25 April 2020 had to be cancelled. To make his day extra special, his dad has asked people to send video messages to his page.
It’s been a couple of weeks since Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) has opened her own private detective ageny and things are not going quite as hoped for. Not many people in 19th century London are willing to hire a female detective. During her first monthly meeting with her financier Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower), who proudly presents her to his friend Dr Moorhouse (Kieran Hodgson), she has to admit she can’t pay the agreed rate.
Tabitha Butler’s (Deirdre Mullins) husband Edward (David Crowley) was found at the scene of a murder with the murder weapon his his hand. Tabitha hires Eliza to prove her husband’s innocence despite his confession. During her investigation she once again crosses paths with Jamaican bouncer Moses (Ansu Kabia) while The Duke tries his best to discourage Eliza from continuing on her “foolish” endeavour.
Eliza’s skills of deduction lead her back to Rupert, who takes a great risk by confiding a big secret to her, but the realization that they are both outsiders in a Victorian world, strengthens their bond and friendship. In the end even the Duke has to reluctantly acknowledge Eliza’s abilities are an asset, and a new business partner will help take care of her clients’ poor payment behaviour.
Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!
Michael Pickard (editor of Drama Quarterly) visited the set of Miss Scarlet and The Duke in Dublin last year and spoke to the cast and crew of the new Victorian crime drama. His article contains a lot of interesting information about the development of the show and the characters from show creator Rachael New with additional quotes from director Declan O’Dwyer as well as the cast.
If you want to remain completely spoiler free, we advise you to stop reading now.
Rachael New on Rupert Parker:
[…] to operate beyond her limits in 1880s London, [Eliza] leans on three male characters for support. […] Rupert Parker is a rich, privileged man who proposes to Eliza. To his relief, however, she turns him down because he doesn’t want to be married, only proposing under the pressure of his domineering mother Mrs Parker. “The reason why he doesn’t want to get married – as he reveals to Eliza – is he is secretly gay, something that in this period of time would destroy your life and your reputation. They bond over this and he invests in her agency,” New says.
Brought up by her widowed father Henry (Kevin Doyle), Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) is an educated, headstrong young woman living in Victorian London. When her father suddenly dies, she is left penniless and forced to pick up Henry’s business and become London’s first female detective in a time where women had little to no rights at all. Reluctantly she teams up with her father’s former protégé, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin).
Eliza’s first client introduces himself as Alfred Winters (Aidan McArdle) who hopes to see his niece, Clara Simms (Ellise Chappell), one last time before he dies. Clara had eloped with her scoundrel husband and is now believed to work in Soho as a chorus girl. Despite the dangers the streets of London hold for a woman alone at night, Eliza manages to find Clara and arrange a meeting with her uncle. Belatedly, Eliza realizes she has made a grave mistake and vows to correct it.
Back at her house, Eliza finds a visitor in her parlour. Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower) is a wealthy young man, whose domineering mother (Helen Norton) is extremely displeased about her only son’s unmarried status and forces him to propose to Eliza. Clearly terrified of his mother, Rupert confides in Eliza that he doesn’t want to be married. The two bond over the fact that they both crave independence and quickly discover that there is a different way for them to form a partnership.
Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!
With most of us in some form of quarantine during the Covid-19 epidemic, we hope the follwing interview will provide some welcome distraction. Andrew Gower graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us earlier this week – little did he know how many there would be! He answered all of them nonetheless and we cannot thank him enough for his time and patience!
We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we did coming up with questions and covering “a bit of everything”.
First things first: How are you?
Right now, I feel like I should be asking all of you … how you are? … but I shall answer your question : despite the craziness of the world right now – I’m well thank you and healthy. Self isolating in London. In a VERY clean flat.
This question needs to be asked: On a scale from 1-10, how weird or how awesome is it for you to have your own small fanbase?
10 for awesomeness. The weirdness has worn away.
Do you remember the first time someone asked you for your autograph?
The first autograph I ever signed was at a cinema in Angel – the person sat next to me thought I was Andy Murray.
You’re not very active on Social Media. What changed your mind about joining Instagram? Do you have a preference?
I love Twitter for football. All Everton news. That’s a daily go to. I do like to post random photos or music on both – sporadically. I think it’s a nice way to share work you’re passionate about. But I’ve definitely made a conscious effort to spend less time on them. Nothing wrong with a bit of mystery.
Tell us something about Andrew, the actor: when you’re filming, what’s the first thing you do when you come on set? Do you have a special routine?
This changes from set to set … or whatever scenes I’m filming that day. But I’d say a common go to is a cup of black coffee or at a push a red bush tea.
Is it as hard for you as it is for us fans to wait for a new film or TV series to come out after you’ve wrapped filming?
Part of the fun of wrapping a project is knowing that when it comes out you’ll be in a completely different headspace/another role 🤞. There’s something magical about that. Much nicer to be able to watch a project from a distance – not that I’m an avid viewer of my work anyway.
Out of all the characters you played, do you have a favourite?
I really don’t. The joy is being able to think what you can play next or how you could improve the role you just played/make better for next time.
Probably one of the most beloved characters you’ve played so far is Sherlock Holmes (lovingly nicknamed “Baby Sherlock” by your fans btw) on Murdoch Mysteries. It’s been 7 years and people are still asking if/when you’ll make a comeback. Are you aware there’s even an online petition that asks for your return?
Probably be incredibly envious of her talents … and hat collection.
Sherlock Holmes, Rupert Parker and Ezra Spurnrose are all Victorian men (even though Ezra isn’t really from the 19th century). Were you able to use some of your research for the other characters?
I’ve definitely had my overdose of Victorian England. Etiquette coming out of my ears. Although with every character I try and approach them with a different mind set or from a different angle – but it definitely helps to have researched a time period.
One of your fans once commented that it takes “guts and talent” to take on characters like Caligula or Bonnie Prince Charlie. What do you think were some brave choices you made in portraying either character?
That’s lovely to hear. I think one of the main things I took from drama school and from actors I admire … is that we should always be taking risks. Creative risks. Bold choices. Just like Brian Epstein took a risk on 4 lads from Liverpool. Best creative decisions are always risks.
Speaking of Caligula: there were moments when he definitely reminded us on Peter Ustinov’s Nero in the old classic Quo Vadis. Have you ever seen it?
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