Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer will star in a new care home drama set amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Stephen Graham
The 'This is England' actor and the 'Killing Eve' actress will lead the cast of 'Help', a new two-hour Channel 4 drama from 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' co-writer Jack Thorne.
Stephen said: "Jack is one of the greatest and most truthful writers of our generation and in Help he has crafted a profoundly important piece of social realism.
"I’ve wanted to work with Jodie for ages, and together we’re hugely passionate about shining a light on one of the biggest tragedies of our time and the people at the heart of it."
The drama - which will be directed by Marc Munden - is set in a fictional Liverpool care home and will tell the story of the relationship between a young care home worker played by Jodie, and an Alzheimer’s patient, Stephen's character, whose lives are changed forever by the coronavirus pandemic.
Jodie said: "I am, of course, thrilled to finally be working alongside Stephen and the supremely talented Jack, Marc and those at Channel 4.
"For us to be able to explore such a relevant and emotive story through the eyes of such beautifully real characters, and in our home city of Liverpool, is a real honour.
"We’re determined to do justice to so many of the untold stories and heroes that have been affected as a result of this crisis and to handle them with care."
Jack revealed Stephen approached him two years ago and asked if the 'His Dark Materials' scribe could write something that he and Jodie could feature in.
He said: "About two years ago Stephen Graham came to me with an idea to write something for him and Jodie Comer.
"I tried to think of something and got nothing. Then this crisis happened, and we saw care homes getting squashed and battered by the government.
"It's been both a long process and a short one, trying to find a way to tell this story, the amazing thing has been sharing in working out the story with Stephen, Jodie, the amazing Marc Munden, Beth Willis and everyone at the Forge and Channel 4.
"30,000 people have died unnecessarily in these care homes because of the indifference and incompetence of our government.
"Hearing the stories of those at the frontline, having people break down in tears on zoom in front of us has been incredibly moving and galling. Getting the story right will be incredibly important, we are aware of the pressure upon us, this has to be written and made with anger and precision. We hope we do it justice."
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