Smother (TV series)
Smother | |
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Genre |
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Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | |
Composer | John McPhillips |
Country of origin | Ireland |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production locations | Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland |
Cinematography |
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Editors | Dermot Diskin, John O'Connor |
Production companies |
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Distributor | RTÉ Television |
Release | |
Original network | RTÉ One |
Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | 7 March 2021 present | –
Smother is an Irish thriller drama series written by Kate O'Riordan and directed by Dathaí Keane.[1] It stars Dervla Kirwan as Val Ahern, a mother who is determined to protect her family at any cost.[2] The series is produced by BBC Studios and Raidió Teilifís Éireann, and premiered on 7 March 2021 on RTÉ One. It aired in the UK by Alibi in June 2021. A second series was announced in April 2021 and will premiere in early 2022.
Plot[]
Set in a small town on the wild and rugged coast of County Clare, Val Ahern (Dervla Kirwan), a devoted mother is determined to protect her family and particularly her three daughters Jenny, Anna and Grace, at any cost. When Val's husband Denis (Stuart Graham) is found dead at the foot of a cliff near their home the morning after a family party, Val attempts to investigate the events that unfolded the night before.
Cast[]
- Dervla Kirwan as Val Ahern
- Niamh Walsh as Jenny
- Seána Kerslake as Grace
- Gemma-Leah Devereux as Anna
- Stuart Graham as Denis Ahern
- Conor Mullen as Frank Ahern
- Hilary Rose as Alanna
- Kevin McGahern as Michael Foley
- Michael Patric as Sgt. Paudie Manning
- Hazel Doupe as Ingrid
Production[]
Filming began in February 2020 in and around Lahinch.[3][4]
In March 2020, production was halted due to social restrictions being imposed nationwide to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the filming halt, Niamh Walsh states:
Actors are basically idiot children. We blunder round the world feeling feelings for money – those of us who are lucky enough to get paid to do it. Sure, we’ll sell you the fear or excitement or whatever hanging off the cliff edge requires, but we are absolutely the last step in the process. Before any of those feelings can be caught on camera, this invisible army has to mobilise to make it happen.[5]
On 4 April 2021, it was revealed that comedian Kevin McGahern has joined the cast in episode 5, portraying Michael Foley.[6]
Episodes[]
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Ireland viewers (millions) |
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1 | "Episode 1" | Dathaí Keane | Kate O'Riordan | 7 March 2021 | N/A |
2 | "Episode 2" | Dathaí Keane | Kate O'Riordan | 14 March 2021 | N/A |
3 | "Episode 3" | Dathaí Keane | Tom Farrelly | 21 March 2021 | N/A |
4 | "Episode 4" | Dathaí Keane | Daniel Cullen | 28 March 2021 | N/A |
5 | "Episode 5" | Dathaí Keane | Ursula Rani Sarma | 4 April 2021 | N/A |
6 | "Episode 6" | Dathaí Keane | Tom Farrelly | 11 April 2021 | N/A |
Awards and nominations[]
Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
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IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Best Drama | Production Team | Pending |
Best Director – Drama | Dathaí Keane | Pending | |
Best Script – Drama | Kate O'Riordan | Pending | |
Best Actress | Dervla Kirwan | Pending | |
Best Supporting Actress | Gemma-Leah Devereux | Pending | |
Seána Kerslake | Pending | ||
Best Supporting Actor | Éanna Hardwicke | Pending | |
Best Score | John McPhillips | Pending | |
Best Cinematography | Cathal Watters | Pending | |
Best Costume | Triona Lillis | Pending | |
Best Sound | Hugh Fox, Fionán Higgins & Mark Henry | Pending |
References[]
- ^ "'Spanish Princess' Writer Kate O'Riordan's Noir Thriller 'Smother' To Be BBC Studios' First Show For RTÉ". Deadline Hollywood. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "'The Stranger' Star Dervla Kirwan Leads Cast For Irish Thriller 'Smother' From 'Spanish Princess' Writer". Deadline Hollywood. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "New RTÉ drama Smother begins filming in Clare". RTÉ. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Clare 'a beautiful & dramatic backdrop' for new RTÉ/BBC drama Smother". Clare Echo. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "What It's Really Like On A TV Set During A Pandemic". British Vogue. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Smother fans in stitches as RTE comedy star Kevin McGahern makes unexpected appearance". Irish Mirror. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
External links[]
- 2020s Irish television series
- 2021 Irish television series debuts
- Irish crime television series
- Irish drama television series
- RTÉ original programming
- Television productions postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Television shows set in the Republic of Ireland