Roadkill (TV series)

Last updated

Roadkill
Roadkill title card.png
Genre
Created byDavid Hare
Written by David Hare
Directed byMichael Keillor
Starring
Music by Harry Escott
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes4 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerAndy Litvin
CinematographyWojciech Szepel
EditorDominic Strevens
Running time55—57 minutes
Production company The Forge
Original release
Network BBC
Release18 October (2020-10-18) –
8 November 2020 (2020-11-08)

Roadkill is a British four-part television political intrigue thriller written and created by David Hare, [1] and directed by Michael Keillor. The series was made by The Forge production studio for the BBC, co-financed by Masterpiece in association with All3Media International. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 18 October 2020. In the United States, it was broadcast as part of the Masterpiece anthology series on PBS starting on 1 November 2020.

Contents

Premise

The series stars Hugh Laurie as the populist Conservative politician, Peter Laurence, freshly promoted to the middle-ranking Justice Minister and on the up, after just dodging a scandal by winning a major libel case in the High Court against a national newspaper, but whose private life is under fire from his family — including a imprisoned illegitimate daughter, who has just come to light — as well as his political foes. [2] [3] [4] Primary amongst his political friends / enemies is the embattled Prime Minister Dawn Ellison played by Helen McCrory in her final performance before her death in April 2021.

Cast

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date Viewers
(millions)  [12]
11"Episode 1"Michael Keillor David Hare 18 October 2020 (2020-10-18)8.68
Peter Laurence is a charismatic government minister on the verge of promotion to high office. He is also celebrating a win in a newspaper libel case. But an inmate at a women’s prison claims to have a secret about Peter’s past that could affect his future..
22"Episode 2"Michael KeillorDavid Hare25 October 2020 (2020-10-25)6.47
As Charmian digs into Peter's political past in Washington DC, troubles arise at home as Peter's family discovers his affair.
33"Episode 3"Michael KeillorDavid Hare1 November 2020 (2020-11-01)6.38
Confronted with his affair, Peter is the defendant at the family dinner table. Pressure mounts on Peter, as friends, family, employees, and even a dead person turn against him. Meanwhile, Rochelle questions whether to pick up where Charmian left off.
44"Episode 4"Michael KeillorDavid Hare8 November 2020 (2020-11-08)6.29
With the Prime Minister in trouble, Peter makes a shocking announcement to the nation. But with his enemies circling, he is forced to risk one final roll of the dice.

Production

The series was filmed on location in London and Hastings. [13]

Release

Roadkill was released on DVD and blu-ray in the UK by Dazzler Media in 2021.

Accolades

YearCeremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
2021 BAFTA TV Craft Awards [14] Original Music Harry Escott Won

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Matthew (7 October 2020). "At last David Hare decides to take Tory politics seriously with Roadkill" . Media. The Times . London. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Now Sir David Hare, 73, has acknowledged a gap in his oeuvre: works that take Conservative principles seriously.
  2. ↑ "BBC One releases first look image of Hugh Laurie in Roadkill". BBC (Press release). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Hugh Laurie to star in political thriller Roadkill by David Hare". BBC (Press release). 22 August 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Craig, David (3 October 2020). "Hugh Laurie stars as a scandalous politician in first trailer for BBC One's Roadkill". Radio Times . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Roadkill, A major new political thriller for BBC One written by David Hare". BBC (Press release). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Craig, David (7 October 2020). "Roadkill writer insists Hugh Laurie's Conservative politician Peter Laurence is 'not based on anyone'". Radio Times . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Further cast join Roadkill, David Hare's political thriller for BBC One". BBC (Press release). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "BBC Interview with Helen McCrory". BBC (Press release). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "BBC Interview with Pippa Bennett-Warner". BBC (Press release). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "BBC Interview with Iain De Caestecker". BBC (Press release). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "BBC Interview with Olivia Vinall". BBC (Press release). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Weekly top programmes on four screens (from Sept 2018)". BARB. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Hugh Laurie gives the thumbs up as the BBC films in St Leonards". Hastings Observer . JPI Media. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "BAFTA TV 2021: The Winners and Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". Bafta.org. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
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