Cast announced for Being Human: popular ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three drama returns for six-part series
Russell Tovey (Little Dorrit, Doctor Who, The History Boys),
Lenora Crichlow (Sugar Rush, Doctor Who, Kiss of Death) and
Aidan Turner (The Clinic) have been announced to star as
flatmates trying to live normal lives despite very unusual
afflictions in Being Human, a witty, sexy and thrilling six-
part drama by Touchpaper Television for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three.
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Following the lives of the twenty-somethings and their secret
double-lives – as a werewolf, vampire and ghost – Being Human
was first transmitted in February 2008 as a 60-minute special
as a part of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three's drama pilot season.
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Popular with
viewers and critics alike, the pilot peaked at nearly 450,000
viewers whilst gaining rave reviews and online petitions
begging for a series to be commissioned.
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Russell Tovey reprises his role as the lovable George,
battling with his double identity as a mild-mannered and
geeky hospital porter who for one night a month is
transformed into a flesh-hungry, predatory werewolf.
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Aidan Turner plays the good-looking and laid-back Mitchell
who, in contrast to George, has the gift of the gab and an
easy confidence with the ladies.
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But he is also a blood-sucking vampire struggling with going cold-turkey from the
blood he craves.
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Completing the flat-share trio is Annie, played by Lenora
Crichlow, a talkative ghost lacking in self-confidence and
desperate for company.
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Annie is still pining after her
fiancé, whom she was due to marry before the fatal accident
that left her with her ghostly affliction – and who happens
to be the landlord of their flat.
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The series follows the trio as they do their best to live
their lives as normally as possible despite their strange and
dark secrets.
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But with unwelcome intruders into their world,
rumblings about an impending revolution from the vampire
underworld and constant threats of exposure – on top of the
usual issues faced by young people surrounding love, work and
mates – the only thing they may be able to rely on in their
heightened world, is each other.
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Danny Cohen, Controller, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three says: "Being Human has
that rare and brilliant combination of humour and darkness
which this talented cast will bring to life perfectly.
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"There
was a palpable buzz about the pilot and a real appetite for
more amongst our audience, so I'm incredibly excited to see
how our characters and their stories develop over this
series."
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Executive Producer for Touchpaper, Rob Pursey, says: "We were
delighted with the audience reaction to the pilot of Being
Human, and we're relishing the opportunity to explore
Mitchell the vampire, George the werewolf and Annie the ghost
over a series of six episodes.
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"Our brilliant young cast
bring real humanity to these other-worldly lead characters,
as they try to 'be human' and fit in with our exciting and
sometimes frightening world."
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Being Human is written by Toby Whithouse (Being Human pilot,
Torchwood, Doctor Who), produced by Matthew Bouch (The Sarah
Jane Adventures, Being Human pilot), directed by Toby Haynes (M.I. High, Spooks Code 9), Alex Pillai (Wire In The Blood)
and Colin Teague (Torchwood, Doctor Who), and executive
produced by Rob Pursey (City Of Vice, Sold) and Julie
Gardner, Head of Drama for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales.
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Filming has started on location in Bristol for transmission
on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three in 2009.
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Being Human was commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
Fiction, and Danny Cohen, Controller, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three and produced
by Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group.
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The commission of Being Human follows a wave of drama
commissions for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three Drama.
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Whitey Phoo and Terry
Action return in Phoo Action next year and PAs, a comedy drama set in
the world of four young personal assistants, will also
transmit in 2009.
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NF/LH2
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