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!
Andrew Gower Online 