Mayday (British TV series)

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Mayday
Series title in red on a black background
GenreDrama thriller
Created byBen Court
Caroline Ip
Written byBen Court
Caroline Ip
Directed byBrian Welsh
StarringPeter Firth
Peter McDonald
Leila Mimmack
Aidan Gillen
Sophie Okonedo
Lesley Manville
Max Fowler
Tom Fisher
Sam Spruell
ComposerStuart Earl
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producersJane Featherstone
Polly Hill
ProducerChris Fry
Production locationsDorking, Surrey, England
CinematographyDirk Nel
Zac Nicholson
Running time57-59 minutes
Production companyKudos
DistributorEndemol Shine UK
Release
Original networkBBC One
Picture format16:9
Original release3 March (2013-03-03) –
7 March 2013 (2013-03-07)

Mayday is a British drama thriller television series shown on BBC One, starring Sophie Okonedo, Aidan Gillen, Peter Firth, and Lesley Manville.

Development and production[]

The series' commission was announced on 27 April 2012 by the BBC Media Centre.[1] The series was filmed in Dorking, Surrey, making use of street settings including the high street area, Cotmandene (an open grassed area close to the town centre), a kebab shop on the corner of Dene Street and Leith Hill. The old magistrates court was used as the police station and the production was based in Pippbrook House which had housed the town library.[2]

Plot[]

It's May Day and a small community waits excitedly for this year's pagan parade to begin. Local teenager and dark horse, Linus Newcombe (Max Fowler), watches woefully as the love of his life, Caitlin Sutton (Leila Mimmack), kisses a rival. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Caitlin's twin and the beautiful young May Queen, Hattie Sutton (Leila Mimmack), travels on her journey to appear as the town's symbol of new life.

Cast and characters[]

  • Leila Mimmack as Hattie, the missing young May Queen, and as, Caitlin, Hattie's more rebellious twin sister who has always felt that she lived in her sister's shadow.
  • Peter Firth as Malcolm, a very successful local public figure, proud of his achievements and self-made millions.
  • Sophie Okonedo as Fiona, an ex police officer who has left the force to look after her three children.
  • Aidan Gillen as Everett, a funny, irreverent and spontaneous person until his life was destroyed by the tragic death of his wife in suspicious circumstances.
  • Lesley Manville as Gail, Malcolm's wife who is trapped in an almost loveless marriage.
  • Peter McDonald as Alan, a tough, no nonsense and strait-laced policeman.
  • Tom Fisher as Seth, a man with a personality disorder who spends most of his time in the woods.
  • Sam Spruell as Steve, who is driven by a strong sense of responsibility and a need to prove himself.
  • Max Fowler as Linus, an intelligent, funny and assured teenager who also has a darker side.

Episodes[]

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(million)[3]
1"Episode 1"Brian WelshBen Court
Caroline Ip		3 March 2013 (2013-03-03)7.68[4]
It's May Day and the members of a small community go about their business as they wait for this year's parade to begin. But when the May Queen - local teenager Hattie Sutton - fails to appear, several townsfolk are sent spinning by the suspicion that someone among them has taken her.
2"Episode 2"Brian WelshBen Court
Caroline Ip		4 March 2013 (2013-03-04)5.84
The day after Hattie's disappearance the locals unite to look for her, with Steve leading the search in the hope of winning favour with the girl's family, and also to conceal his worries about his brother. Routine questioning by the police gives Linus food for thought about his father, while Gail grows increasingly suspicious of husband Malcolm, so her son James goes rooting through his office for clues. Ex-cop Fiona ignores husband Alan's protests and embarks on her own unofficial investigation.
3"Episode 3"Brian WelshBen Court
Caroline Ip		5 March 2013 (2013-03-05)5.85
A devastating discovery throws the spotlight on a key suspect and forces Gail to face unwelcome facts about husband Malcolm. Caitlin and Linus's relationship deepens when she tells him a shameful secret about the day her sister went missing, while Fiona grows suspicious of Everett.
4"Episode 4"Brian WelshBen Court
Caroline Ip		6 March 2013 (2013-03-06)6.00
Linus makes a dangerous promise to Caitlin and discovers the true nature of Everett's connection to Hattie. Fiona and Alan come to blows over Charlotte's odd behaviour, while Gail's lack of forgiveness drives a wedge between her and James.
5"Episode 5"Brian WelshBen Court
Caroline Ip		7 March 2013 (2013-03-07)6.16
As the townsfolk gather for the memorial, things take a dark turn and a chaotic interruption has fatal consequences. Steve finally gets his moment with Angie - will he manage to win his family back? Fiona must face her old colleagues in a way she never thought she would, Caitlin makes an eerie transformation, and Everett and Linus have a confrontation that takes their relationship to a new level.

DVD release[]

The complete series of Mayday was released by Acorn Media UK on 8 April 2013.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "Sophie Okonedo, Peter Firth, Aidan Gillen and Lesley Manville to star in new BBC One thriller Mayday from Kudos Film and Television".
  2. ^ "Internet Movie Database - Mayday". 3 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB. Archived from the original on 8 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Top 30 Programmes". BARB. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Mayday on DVD". Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.

External links[]

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