David Farnor | On 08, Oct 2024

“You are a cheat, Barry.” “But not in the way that she think…” That’s the sound of Mr Loverman heading to BBC One this month, and a new trailer gives us a first look at the series.

The eight-part drama is based on Bernardine Evaristo’s novel of the same name. Adapted by Nathaniel Price (The Outlaws, Noughts + Crosses), it is a life-affirming story about family, love, and being true to yourself. It follows Barrington Jedidiah Walker – Barry to his mates – a 74-year-old, Antiguan-born, exuberant Hackney personality, renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women. Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris. Now facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their futures.

Lennie James (Save Me, Line of Duty) stars as the exuberant protagonist Barrington Jedidiah Walker. Sharon D Clarke (Doctor Who, Informer), stars as Carmel Walker, Barrington’s wife of five decades. Ariyon Bakare (Life, His Dark Materials) plays Barrington’s best friend and soulmate, Morris De La Roux, and Tamara Lawrance (Get Millie Black, Time Series 2) and Sharlene Whyte (Small Axe, Stephen) star as Barrington and Carmel’s daughters, Maxine and Donna. Tahj Miles (Small Axe, Death in Paradise), plays Daniel, Donna’s son and Carmel and Barrington’s grandson.

Keenan Munn-Francis (Black Dog, Passing Strange) as a young Barrington opposite Gabin Kongolo (Bariau, The Suspect) as a young Morris. Lauren Akosia (Whitstable Pearl, The Slaves) also joins the cast as a young Carmel, known as Carmelita.

The series will also feature Suzette Llewellyn (EastEnders, Vera), Lochlann Ó Mearáin (Joyride, Holding), Hopi Grace (Boiling Point, The Book of Clarence), Llewella Gideon (Top Boy, Small Axe), Doreene Blackstock (Sex Education, The Colour Room), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (The Split, His Dark Materials), Juliet Garricks (Murder They Hope, The Doctor) and Clint Dyer (Mine, Black Mirror) across the series.

You can see them in action on Monday 14th October, when the first two episodes air on BBC One at 9pm, followed by episodes weekly. All eight episodes will be on BBC iPlayer from 6am.

Here’s the trailer:

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