2017 Television

Against the Law – DVD

Against the Law is released on DVD today. Daniel Mays stars as Peter Wildeblood.

First aired on BBC Two in July as part of the BBC’s Gay Britannia season, Against the Law is an emotional look into life of homosexual men in 1950’s and 1960’s Britain.

2017 sees the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual acts in England and Wales between adult males, in private. While it would take several decades before homosexuals would reach anything like full equality in this country, this legislation marks the beginning of this journey.

But the dramatic events that led to this Act took place over ten years before and are at the heart of Against the Law, a powerful factual drama starring Daniel Mays and Mark Gatiss. Mays plays Peter Wildeblood, a thoughtful and private gay journalist whose lover, under pressure from the authorities, turned Queen’s evidence against him in one of the most explosive court cases of the 1950s – the infamous Montagu Trial. Wildeblood, and his friends Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers, were found guilty of homosexual offences and jailed. But the public thought the trial unfair and forced a reluctant government to set up a committee to investigate whether homosexuality should be legalised. The committee was led by Sir John Wolfenden. With his career in tatters and his private life painfully exposed, Peter Wildeblood began his sentence a broken man, but he emerged from Wormwood Scrubs a year later determined to do all he could to change the way these draconian laws against homosexuality impacted on the lives of men like him. He was the only openly gay man to testify before the Wolfenden committee about the brutal reality of being gay in this country at that time. In 1957 the committee recommended that the laws be changed. It would take a further ten years before these recommendations would become law.

Woven through this powerful drama is testimony from a chorus of men who lived through those dark days, when homosexuals were routinely imprisoned or forced to undergo chemical aversion therapy in an attempt to cure them of their ‘condition’. There is also testimony from a retired police officer whose job it was to enforce these laws and a former psychiatric nurse who administered the so-called cures. All these accounts amplify the themes of the drama and help to immerse us in the reality of a dark chapter in our recent past, a past still within the reach of living memory.

Against the Law is available on DVD from Monday 11 September

Against the Law review roundup

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Passchendaele 100

Daniel Mays took part in the BBC’s World War One Remembered: Passchendaele with his emotional reading of  “Concert Party: Busseboom” by Lieutenant Edmund Blunder.

To mark and commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, the BBC will broadcast a series of special live programmes from the Passchendaele centenary commemorations in Flanders, Belgium.

Spanning two days, the commemoration programming will be presented and anchored by Kirsty Young from a BBC studio at The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Tyne Cot Cemetery, near Ypres. Kirsty will be joined by broadcaster and historian David Olusoga in the studio, together with special guests, and Dan Snow will be bringing all the reaction to events and meeting those taking part.

The commemorations will begin on BBC Two on Sunday 30 July, with a special broadcast including the traditional Menin Gate ceremony followed by a dramatic event in the city’s Market Square. The imposing façade of the Cloth Hall will be illuminated with projections and lights, together with special live performances from artists including Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Mays, Alfie Boe, War Horse, and the cast of The Wipers Time.

Every evening, the last post is played at the Menin Gate. The distinctive sounding of the bugle call remembers all the men who fought and fell fighting for the restoration of peace around Ypres during the First World War. On this evening, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend the ceremony. TM The King and Queen of the Belgians will also be in attendance.

Following The Menin Gate ceremony, there will be a special event in Ypres Market Square. Presented in front of the historic Cloth Hall, this will be broadcast live on BBC Two and will feature music, stunning projections and live performances. In attendance, among an audience of thousands, will be TRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, TM The King and Queen of the Belgians and the British Prime Minister. Highlights of the evening will include performances by Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Mays, the cast of The Wipers Times introduced by Ian Hislop, a specially written extract from War Horse narrated by Michael Morpurgo, a tri-service orchestra and the voices of the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

Daniel’s reading is towards the end of the broadcast (at 2 hours 43 minutes) but we encourage you to watch the entirety of this extraordinary and moving tribute to the soldiers who bravely fought and to those soldiers whose lives were lost during the long fought Battle of Passchendaele in World War I.

Lest We Forget. 

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Against the Law – The Reviews

Against the Law starring Daniel Mays aired in the UK Wednesday 26 July on BBC Two to rave reviews from both the viewing audience and television critics. The one-off factual drama was in third spot for Twitter trends during the almost 90 minute broadcast.

Agains the Law is BBC Two’s powerful factual drama about Peter Wildeblood, a thoughtful and private gay journalist whose lover Eddie McNally, under pressure from the authorities, turned Queen’s evidence against him in one of the most explosive court cases of the 1950s – the infamous Montagu Trial.

More than ten years before the decriminalisation of homosexual acts in 1967, Peter Wildeblood, and his friends Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers, were found guilty of homosexual offences and jailed.

With his career in tatters and his private life painfully exposed, Wildeblood began his sentence a broken man, but he emerged from Wormwood Scrubs a year later determined to do all he could to change the way these draconian laws against homosexuality impacted on the lives of men like him.

The reviews are in:

Observer New Review : [Daniel Mays] is perfect in the role.

The Times: ★★★★☆ Daniel Mays was ideally cast as Peter Wildeblood, whose bravery and testimony in 1954 helped to bring about changes in the law for gay men.

The Telegraph: ★★★★☆ A moving story of men who refused to feel ashamed. “…Daniel Mays, who can play cocky and cruel, but here wore the heartbreaking look of a schoolboy learning the vital skill of moral self-defence.”

The Guardian: Mays is unobtrusively brilliant as Wildeblood

The Arts Desk: Daniel Mays is a revelation in a factual drama about Peter Wildeblood’s imprisonment for homosexuality. He exceeds all expectation with this performance. He finds a remarkable range in a life wholly governed by watchfulness and fear.

The Spectator: In the central role, Daniel Mays captured Wildeblood’s reluctant journey into the spotlight perfectly.

Digital Spy: Against the Law is a powerful reminder of how far we have come.

Den of Geek: Daniel Mays delivers an astonishing performance as Peter Wildeblood.

The Conversation: A fitting tribute to gay men whose persecution in the 1950’s paved the way for new rights.

Radio Times:  Against the Law won heaps of praise from viewers last night, many of whom were moved to tears as they hailed the docudrama as both “heartbreaking” and “frustrating”.

The Northern Echo: Daniel Mays says that he believes the drama is “a profound, important piece of work”

You can catch up with Against the Law on BBC iPlayer through 25 August.

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Against the Law – Press Updates

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28 July: Robert Elms Podcast (Interview from 24 July)

Gay Times Magazine: August Edition

26 July: Against the Law airs at 9PM on BBC Two. 

Evening Standard

Evening Standard 726

Radio Times: Why the Peter Wildeblood case in Against the Law was a defining moment for gay-equality.

The Guardian: Wednesday Best TV

BBC Breakfast: A special piece on Against the Law and the BBC’s Gay Britannia Season. (available for 24 hours only)

25 July:

Radio Times: Meet the cast of BBC Two’s Against the Law.

iNews: Interview with Richard Gadd

7:15PM Front Row BBC Radio 4 

Podcast version of BBC Front Row interview: UK and US

Pete Price Radio City 2 from 10PM: Interview with Daniel Mays. Pete Price took part in Against the Law as one of the men interviewed about their experiences of being a gay man during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Pete Price Radio City 25 July

24 July: Good Morning Britain– ITV – Daniel Mays’s interview is at 7:52AM 

Radio Interviews:
BBC Radio Kent : Interview with Dominic King approx 15 minutes into the broadcast.
BBC Essex: Interview approximately 1 hour 17 minutes into the broadcast.
Robert Elms/BBC Radio London: Interview approximately 1 hour 32 minutes the into broadcast.
BBC Radio Northampton: Interview approximately 1 hour 45 minutes into the broadcast.
TalkSport Radio: Interview with Hawksbee & Jacobs – Interview in the last hour of the show (will be online soon!)
BBC Radio Sheffield: Interview approximately 10 minutes into the broadcast.
BBC Radio Cornwall: Interview approximayely 1 hour 39 minutes into the broadcast

Fergus O’Brien attended a screening and Q&A with Directors UK.

Weekend of 22-23 July:
The Sun
Sunday Express Magazine

22 July – BBC Radio 4 at 19:15 Saturday Review will be discussing Against the Law.

21 July:What’s On TV 

Guardian: The best TV this week

20 July: DQ Daily: Mays Days

19 July: Two articles in The Sun:

Daniel Mays talks about Against the Law

Who is Daniel Mays

19 July 11 PM Radio City 2: Fergus O’Brien Interview with Pete Price on Late Night City. Pete’s story is included in Against the Law. Pete’s Daniel Mays interview will be airing next week (TBA)

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TV Magazines 22-28 July:

 

Metro 18 July: Daniel Mays has said filming his new factual drama Against The Law was a bracing experience.

“It was important to get right”

Radio Times 22-28 July Edition:  Mark Gatiss is guest editor and Daniel Mays interview

Gay Star News: The barbaric treatment of gay people is exposed in a shocking and sobering new BBC drama

15 July 2017 Guardian article on Peter Wildeblood and the scandal that rocked 1950’s Britain.

 

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Against the Law – BBC Two 26 July

BBCTwo26July.jpg

Against the Law will air Wedensday 26 July at 9PM on BBC Two.

Daniel Mays (Line Of Duty, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Public Enemies) stars in BBC Two’s powerful factual drama as Peter Wildeblood, a thoughtful and private gay journalist whose lover Eddie McNally (played by newcomer to television, Richard Gadd), under pressure from the authorities, turned Queen’s evidence against him in one of the most explosive court cases of the 1950s – the infamous Montagu Trial.

More than ten years before the decriminalisation of homosexual acts in 1967, Peter Wildeblood, and his friends Lord Montagu (Mark Edel-Hunt) and Michael Pitt-Rivers, were found guilty of homosexual offences and jailed.

With his career in tatters and his private life painfully exposed, Wildeblood began his sentence a broken man, but he emerged from Wormwood Scrubs a year later determined to do all he could to change the way these draconian laws against homosexuality impacted on the lives of men like him.

Daniel says: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of a drama that tells such an important real-life story. Peter Wildeblood is a fascinating, complex, yet flawed character from a time when being a gay man in Britain was incredibly difficult – I can’t wait to bring his tale to life for the BBC Two audience.”

Patrick Holland, Channel Editor, BBC Two, said: “50 years ago, it was a crime to be a gay man in the UK. Against The Law is a stunning piece that melds drama and documentary testimony to tell the story of one man, and his wider generation, as they struggled to make society accept their sexuality as non-criminal. It is brilliant to have a film that brings the authorship of Brian Fillis, the vision of director Fergus O’Brien, and the outstanding talent of Daniel Mays and cast to this important subject”

The drama also features Mark Gatiss (Taboo, Sherlock) as Wildeblood’s prison psychiatrist, Doctor Landers and Charlie Creed-Miles (Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders) as Superintendent Jones.

Woven through this powerful drama is real-life testimony from a chorus of men who lived through those dark days, when homosexuals were routinely imprisoned or forced to undergo chemical aversion therapy in an attempt to cure them of their “condition”. There is also testimony from a retired police officer whose job it was to enforce these laws, and a former psychiatric nurse who administered the so-called cures. All of these accounts serve to amplify the themes of the drama and help to immerse us in the reality of a dark chapter in our recent past, a past still within the reach of living memory.

Written by Brian Fillis, Against the Law is directed by Fergus O’Brien, produced by Scott James Bassett and executive produced by Aysha Rafaele, Creative Director of The Documentary Unit, BBC Studios.

Watch the trailer for Against the Law

Don’t miss this incredibly important factual drama on Wednesday 26 July 9PM on BBC Two.

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Against the Law – First Look Trailer

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Against the Law first look trailer was released today. Tune in to BBC TWo on  Wednesday 26 July at 9PM for this compelling and important factual drama.

Daniel Mays (Line Of Duty, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Public Enemies) stars in BBC Two’s powerful factual drama as Peter Wildeblood, a thoughtful and private gay journalist whose lover Eddie McNally (played by newcomer to television, Richard Gadd), under pressure from the authorities, turned Queen’s evidence against him in one of the most explosive court cases of the 1950s – the infamous Montagu Trial.

Daniel says ‘I’m incredibly proud to be part of a drama that tells such an important real-life story. Peter Wildeblood is a fascinating, complex, yet flawed character from a time when being a gay man in Britain was incredibly difficult – I can’t wait to bring his tale to life for the BBC Two audience.’

Woven through this powerful drama is real-life testimony from a chorus of men who lived through those dark days, when homosexuals were routinely imprisoned or forced to undergo chemical aversion therapy in an attempt to cure them of their “condition”. There is also testimony from a retired police officer whose job it was to enforce these laws, and a former psychiatric nurse who administered the so-called cures. All of these accounts serve to amplify the themes of the drama and help to immerse us in the reality of a dark chapter in our recent past, a past still within the reach of living memory.

Written by Brian Fillis, Against the Law is directed by Fergus O’Brien, produced by Scott James Bassett and executive produced by Aysha Rafaele, Creative Director of The Documentary Unit, BBC Studios.

Against the Law is part of the BBC’s Gay Britannia season of programming marking the 50th anniversary of The Sexual Offences Act 1967, which partially decriminalised homosexual acts that took place in private between two men over the age of 21.

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Guerrilla on DVD

Guerrilla is released today (19 June 2017) on DVD & Blu-ray.

Daniel Mays portrays Inspector Liam Cullen in this exciting series from Sky Atlantic.

Cullen DVD
Press interviews for the DVD release: 

Daily Express – Danny discusses some of the more difficult moments to film while working on Guerrilla. 

Fathers Quarterly Magazine – Danny chats acting and football.

From Academy Award® winner John Ridley (12 Years A Slave, American Crime), comes the six-part limited series GUERRILLA, a love story set against the backdrop of one of the most politically explosive times in U.K. history. It tells the story of a couple whose relationship and values are tested when they liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell in 1970s London. Their ultimate target becomes the Black Power Desk, a true-life, secretive counter-intelligence unit within the Special Branch dedicated to crushing all forms of black activism. While the series is set against a background of social and political activism, at its heart GUERRILLA is about a relationship under pressure, and the reality that for any couple there comes a point when the choices they make have real and lasting consequences.

GUERRILLA stars Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Babou Ceesay (Getting On). Additional cast includes Laurence Olivier Award-winner Rory Kinnear (PENNY DREADFUL, Spectre), Nathaniel Martello-White (Deadmeat), Daniel Mays (Line of Duty), Denise Gough (People, Places & Things), Brandon Scott (Grey’s Anatomy), Zawe Ashton (Fresh Meat) and Nicholas Pinnock (Fortitude), along with Golden Globe® winner Idris Elba (Luther, Beasts of No Nation), who also serves as an executive producer through his Green Door Pictures. Along with Ridley and Elba, the executive producers are Michael J. McDonald for Stearns Castle, Patrick Spence and Katie Swinden for Fifty Fathoms and Tracy Underwood for ABC Signature.

GUERRILLA is a co-production between Fifty Fathoms and ABC Signature, in association with SKY UK.

GUERRILLA is also still available to watch/stream online (with subscriptions) via Sky UK and on Showtime and HULU in the USA.

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Born to Kill Episodes

Catch up with Born to Kill Channel 4’s exciting new psychological thriller!

11 May 2017: Episode 4

Episode 4 reviews (SPOILERS!):

The Telegraph

The Arts Desk

Radio Times

The Mirror

Digital Spy

4 May 2017: Episode 3

Episode 3 reviews (SPOILERS!):

Telegraph

27 April 2017: Episode 2

Episode 2 reviews (SPOILERS!):

Telegraph

20 April 2017: Episode 1

Episode 1 reviews (SPOILERS!):
Telegraph
The Sun
Metro

The music is a big part of the series so take a listen to the excellent episode playlists every week:
Episode 1 playlist
Episode 2 playlist
Episode 3 playlist

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk

Born to Kill Premieres Tonight!

Born to Kill premieres tonight at 9PM on Channel 4!

Born to Kill is a must-see 4-part psychological thriller starring Daniel Mays, Romola Garai and newcomers Jack Rowan, and Lara Peake:

Born To Kill is a haunting four-part drama exploring the mind of Sam, a teenager on the verge of acting out suppressed psychopathic desires. As this chilling coming of age drama unfolds, decades of deceit are revealed and Sam’s family’s long buried past returns with a vengeance.

Starring Romola Garai (The Hour, Suffragette) and Daniel Mays (Made in Dagenham, Line of Duty, Rogue One: A Star Wars story,) as the single parents of two out-of-control teens, Born to Kill is the first commission for female writing duo Tracey Malone (Rillington Place) and first time TV writer and BIFA-nominated actress Kate Ashfield.

Sam, played by newcomer Jack Rowan, lives with his protective mum Jenny (Romola Garai), a geriatric nurse, and thinks his dad died in a car crash…

While working at the local hospital, Jenny meets the charming Bill (Daniel Mays). New to town with his moody teenage daughter Chrissy, played by rising star Lara Peake, Bill’s trying to reconnect with his elderly mother Margaret (Elizabeth Counsell, Song For Marion). Just as Jenny and Bill start to hit it off, their kids meet at school and also form an instant attraction. Sam feels like he’s finally met someone that he can relate to, but does she really share his desire… to kill?

At the same time, Jenny learns that her ex, Sam’s dad, a violent man named Peter (Richard Coyle, The Fall), is nearing his parole date. Jenny must now face telling her son that not only is his father alive, he’s also a convicted murderer.

As this menacing drama unfolds, Jenny, Sam and Peter’s long buried past comes back to haunt the fractured family. Will Jenny discover, despite her best efforts, that Sam and his dad are more alike than she could have ever imagined?

Born To Kill was directed by Bruce Goodison (Murdered By My Father, Doctor Foster).

It is executive produced by Jake Lushington (The Devil’s Whore) for World Productions and commissioned for Channel 4 by Head of Drama Beth Willis and Head of International Drama Simon Maxwell.

Born to Kill will air Thursdays beginning 20 April at 9PM on Channel 4.

Follow Daniel Mays on Twitter @DanielMays9

©DanielMays.co.uk