Our Friends in the North

Peter Flannery's adaptation of his own iconic BAFTA award winning TV series - with a brand new final episode by award-winning writer Adam Usden 'A stunning state-of-the-nation social commentary' The Telegraph First broadcast in 1996, Our Friends in the North was one of the most highly acclaimed TV shows of the 1990s. It launched the careers of Daniel Craig, Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee and Mark Strong, won numerous awards including three BAFTAs, and is widely regarded as a modern classic. Now, 26 years later, Peter Flannery has recreated his epic saga for radio. Ambitious in scale and scope, the drama follows the fortunes of four friends over three decades, beginning in 1964. Drawing on real-life controversies from the Sixties and Seventies, it tackles corporate, political and police corruption in the 1960s, the Soho porn empires of the 1970s, the nouveau riche and the Miners' Strike of the 1980s and the rise of New Labour in the 1990s. A final episode by Adam Usden brings the story up to the present day, picking up on several characters from 26 years before and showing them dealing with familiar challenges including housing conditions, young people's engagement with politics and father/son relationships. Starring four talented young actors - Norah Lopez Holden, James Baxter, Luke MacGregor and Philip Correia - this powerful, poignant audio retelling immerses us in the world of Tyneside pals Mary, Nicky, Geordie and Tosker, as they face personal, political and social upheaval, experience triumph and tragedy, and make decisions that will change their lives forever. Production credits Written by Peter Flannery Episode 10 written by Adam Usden and dedicated to the memory of Warren Usden Produced by Melanie Harris Executive Producer: Jeremy Mortimer Trainee Production Co-ordinator: Emma O'Mahoney Studio Engineer: Paul Clark Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore, Jon Nicholls, Paul Cargill and Steve Brooke A Sparklab production for BBC Radio 4 Cast Mary/Julia/Francine - Norah Lopez Holden Nicky/Young Anthony/Christopher Collins - James Baxter Geordie/Ray/Anthony - Luke MacGregor Tosker/DI Salway/Toby Roddy - Philip Correia Felix - Trevor Fox Florrie/Sandra/Claudia Seabrook/Psychiatrist/Mrs Wilkinson - Tracey Wilkinson Austin Donohue/Charlie/Claud Seabrook/DI Cockburn/Colin Butler/Christopher - Tom Goodman-Hill Eddie Wells/Arthur Watson/Commander Harold Chapple - James Gaddas Bede Connor/Benny Barratt/Chief Constable Roy Johnson/Alan Roe/The Close Encounterer - Tony Hirst John Edwards - Maanuv Thiara DS Conrad/Priest - Andrew Byron Ernie/Sir Colin Blamire/Asst Commander Fieldson - Des Yankson Helen/Paula/Lucille/Alison/Elaine/Alice - Eve Shotton Commissioner Jellicoe/Superintendent - Darren Kuppan Sean Collins - Alfie Williams Amy - Bryony Corrigan Roy - David Leon Kira - Lucy Aiston Wazza - Noel Walton Mike - Tom Machell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 March-9 June 2022 ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd