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Mark Williams (Harry Potter, The Fast Show) and Ayesha Dharker (Coronation Street, Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee) are to star alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar (Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars At No.42) in the new Sixties drama The Indian Doctor for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One Daytime.

This five-part drama written by Bill Armstrong, tells the story of high flying Delhi graduate Dr Prem Sharma (Sanjeev Bhaskar), and his wife Kamini (Ayesha Dharker), who change the lives of a South Wales mining community forever.

Prem and Kamini come to the UK as part of the "first wave" of doctors and their families from the Indian sub-continent wooed by Enoch Powell. Much to Kamini's disappointment, instead of the promised high wages and glamorous lifestyle of London, they end up in a South Wales mining community. There, they quickly become embroiled in the lives of the villagers, and find themselves becoming detectives to uncover a scandal affecting the health of the coal miners.

Mark Williams plays Richard Sharpe, the manager of the local colliery. Desperate for promotion and to get away from the village, he's modernised the way the mine works in an attempt to impress his bosses; but he's very anxious to find the previous doctor's diary which he knows contains a secret that could destroy him.

Liam Keelan, Controller ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Daytime, says: "It's really important that this distinctive new drama is being made for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One Daytime as part of our continuing drive to bring our viewers good quality original drama. It shows life in the Sixties from a completely different perspective, and I'm delighted that Mark and Ayesha are joining Sanjeev to tell this thought-provoking story."

The remainder of the principal cast are: Beth Robert (Young Dracula), Ifan Huw Dafydd (Gavin And Stacey), Alexander Vlahos (Doctors), Mali Harries, Naomi Everson, Jacob Oakley and Erica Eirian.

Alongside The Indian Doctor, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One Daytime will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Swinging Sixties with Rewind The 60s presented by showbiz legend Lulu, a special week-long series of programmes looking at the huge social change, creative innovation and historic importance that made the decade what it was.

The Indian Doctor is being made by Rondo Media and Avatar Films and the executive producers are Tom Ware for Rondo Media, Deep Sehgal for Avatar Films and Gerard Melling for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

The drama series is currently in production, filming in South Wales, and will be screened later this year on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One.

Rewind The 60s is being made by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ productions in Bristol, and the executive producers are Pete Lawrence and Gerard Melling.

SD2