Running Naked The Upcoming Interview

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.

(Source:The Upcoming)

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.

For further information we also recommend:

Running Naked (Recap)

Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty)

>>> The following detailed synopsis contains spoilers for the entire film! <<<

At the heart of Running Naked are two lifelong friends who met each other when they were teenage leukemia patients. Twenty years later Mark Doherty (Matthew McNulty) has become a successful doctor and ladies’ man. Meanwhile Ben Taylor (Andrew Gower) has devolved into obsessional recluse whose life is a series of obsessive habits. A piece of news forces Mark to reassess his life and, in the process, convinces him to play a bigger part in Ben’s. Mark risks everything he has in order to break Ben out of his shell.

Together the two rediscover their spirit of adventure: they sell everything they own on the high street, they get into a fight with two policemen (and spend a night in jail), they lose all their money – only to win it back at the dog track. They pick up girls. They go sailing and, as the horizon opens in front of their boat, it feels as if the world is once again full of possibilities. But Mark has been keeping a secret and once Ben learns of it, both friends crash back to earth.

They must face the deeper questions in their life: can Mark finally commit to his on-again and off-again girlfriend Jade (Rakhee Thakrar)? Can he face his own mortality? Can Ben free himself from his mad obsessions? Can he build up the nerve to approach Sara (Tamzin Merchant), the first decent girl he’s met in a long, long time? Running Naked is 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.

(Source: NoW Films Ltd)

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this film!

Running Naked Available for Streaming

Running Naked, starring Andrew Gower and Matthew McNulty, is now available to rent or buy at the following streaming services:

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!

Andrew Gower – The Milk Bar Interview for Running Naked

Ahead of the online premiere of Running Naked on 4 February 2021, Andrew Gower spoke to The Milk Bar podcast about the film, the filming that included scenes shot in Wolverhampton and the charities they are supporting with this release.

Read all our news about Running Naked and follow the film’s official Social Media accounts for more information.

Matthew McNulty on ‘Liberating’ Nude Scenes in Running Naked

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.

(Read the full interview here)

Running Naked Acquired by 101 Films International

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.


Running Naked Online Screening

After screenings at the Bejing International Film Festival and the Portland Film Festival last year, Running Naked will now be screened online via Virtual Cinema. Mark your calendars on World Cancer Day, Thursday, 4 February 2021 at 8:00pm GMT and get your tickets here!

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.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust and Weston Park Cancer Centre in Sheffield (UK).

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.

(Source: IMDb)


ETA (19 January 2021):

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.

Running Naked was filmed on location in Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester and Wolverhampton.


ETA (27 January 2021):

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! 😉

Frøken Scarlets Detektivbyrå

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.

For current news follow Scarleteers on Twitter or Facebook and join the discussion with other fans in the Scarleteers Facebook group.

Please also consider supporting the Scarleteers petition for more episodes – Miss Scarlet and The Duke is currently still in negotiations for a second season.

Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), William “The Duke” Wellingon (Stuart Martin) and Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower)

Advent Calendar Contest 2020 Half-Time

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!

Scarleteers Q&A with Declan O’Dwyer

Scarleteers, a group of fans for Miss Scarlet and The Duke, are hosting an online live Q&A with director Declan O’Dwyer on Thursday, 10 December 2020 at 8:30pm (GMT).

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!


Watch the complete live chat here, which included surprise guests Rachael New (creator, writer), Kate Phillips (Eliza Scarlet), Stuart Martin (The Duke) – and our Andrew Gower (Rupert Parker).

Read more interview with the Miss Scarlet and The Duke cast & crew here:

And follow/like/join Scarleteers on: