Best Interests

Last updated

Best Interests
Genre Drama
Written by Jack Thorne
Directed byMichael Keillor
Starring Sharon Horgan
Michael Sheen
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producersSharon Horgan
Michael Sheen
Sophie Gardiner
Toby Bentley
Michael Keillor
Jack Thorne
Lucy Richer
ProducerJenny Frayn
Running time56 minutes
Production companiesChapter One Pictures
One Shoe Films
Original release
Network BBC One
Release12 June (2023-06-12) 
20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)

Best Interests is a four-part British television drama series, written by Jack Thorne. [1] [2] It stars Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen as a married couple, fighting for their disabled daughter's medical care. It premiered on 12 June 2023. [3]

Contents

Plot

13-year-old Marnie (Niamh Moriarty) has a rare form of muscular dystrophy that was diagnosed when she was a baby. When she ends up in intensive care after a chest infection, Marnie's doctor Samantha questions whether her treatment should be continued. Marnie's parents, Nicci (Sharon Horgan) and Andrew (Michael Sheen), fight to have her treatment continued but are driven apart by conflicting attitudes towards the battle. [4] [5] [6]

Cast

Episodes

No.Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [3] U.K. viewers
(millions)
1Michael Keillor Jack Thorne 12 June 2023 (2023-06-12)2.76
2Michael KeillorJack Thorne13 June 2023 (2023-06-13)N/A
3Michael KeillorJack Thorne19 June 2023 (2023-06-19)2.76
4Michael KeillorJack Thorne20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)N/A

Production

The series was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama and Charlotte Moore, BBC's Chief Content Officer. The series began filming in London in March 2022. [7]

Reception

Best Interests was chosen as one of the 10 best TV shows of 2023 by The Daily Telegraph . [8]

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2023Series ManiaBest Actor in International Competition Michael Sheen Won [9]
2024 TV Choice Awards Best New DramaBest InterestsNominated [10] [11]
Best ActorMichael SheenNominated
Royal Television Society Programme Awards Best Limited SeriesBest InterestsNominated [12]
British Academy Television Awards Best Limited Drama Best InterestsNominated [13] [14]
Best Actress Sharon Horgan Nominated
Irish Film and Television Awards Best Lead Actress - Television Drama Sharon Horgan Nominated [15] [16]
Banff Rockie Awards Best Limited SeriesBest InterestsWon [17] [18]

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References

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  2. Goldbart, Max; Tartaglione, Nancy (16 March 2022). "Sharon Horgan & Michael Sheen To Lead Jack Thorne's 'Best Interests'; 'The Witchfinder' Cast; Sky Super League Trailer; 'Downton Abbey' Podcast; BBC Studios Creator Residencies – Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 9 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 Marland, Sean (1 June 2023). "Best Interests: release date, plot, cast, and everything we know". What to Watch . Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  4. Ramachandran, Naman (16 March 2022). "Michael Sheen, Sharon Horgan Lead Jack Thorne's Disability-Focused BBC Drama 'Best Interests'". Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  5. Mangan, Lucy (12 June 2023). "Best Interests review – Sharon Horgan is magnificently ferocious as a mum in agony". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. Hilton, Nick (13 June 2023). "Best Interests review: Unflinching Sharon Horgan drama imagines parents' ultimate nightmare". The Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. "Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen lead cast for Jack Thorne's original four-part BBC series Best Interests". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
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