David Farnor | On 15, Jun 2019

Imelda Staunton and Russell Tovey will star in ITV’s new drama, Flesh and Blood.

The darkly witty and gripping four-part series is created and written by Sarah Williams (The Long Song, Case Sensitive, Poppy Shakespeare) and explores family dynamics and modern relationships as they spiral towards a tragedy and possible crime. 
 
Staunton (Maleficent, Paddington, Harry Potter, Vera Drake) and Tobey (Years and Years) lead an impressive ensemble that includes Francesca Annis (Home Fires, The Little House, Cranford) and Stephen Rea (Dickensian, War & Peace, The Honourable Woman). They are joined by Claudie Blakley (Manhunt, Grantchester, Lark Rise To Candleford), Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack, Absentia, Apple Tree Yard), Sharon Small (London Kills, Trust Me, Born to Kill), Lara Rossi (Cheat, Crossing Lines), Keir Charles (Man Up, Love Actually, Green Wing), Vincent Regan (Victoria, The Royals, Atlantis), David Bamber (Valkyrie, Doctors, The Bourne Identity), Stephanie Langton (Ransom, Law & Order UK), Clara Indrani (Vera, The Rebel, EastEnders) and Grace Hogg-Robinson (The Coroner, Mum).
 
They will be directed by BAFTA nominee and Grierson award winner Louise Hooper (Cheat, Vera, Cold Feet) in a modern story of three adult siblings – Helen (Claudie Blakley), Jake (Russell Tovey) and Natalie (Lydia Leonard) – who are thrown into disarray when their recently widowed mother Vivien (Francesca Annis) declares she’s in love with a new man, Mark (Stephen Rea). 
 
As she nears her 70th birthday, the siblings’ suspicions are heightened when retired GP Mark sweeps their mother off her feet, shifting her priorities away from her children. The happiness of her 45-year marriage to their father, Terry, is called into question, which sends a seismic shock through the lives of the siblings. Years of secrets, lies, rivalries and betrayals come to the surface and threaten to blow apart everything they’ve held dear.
 
With their large family home overlooking the Sussex coast, their inheritance and the happy memories of their childhood all suddenly threatened by the arrival of Mark, the siblings attempt to find out more about him. But will their long-buried grudges and complicated personal lives allow them to pull together?
 
Then there’s Mary (Imelda Staunton), who has lived next door to Vivien for 40 years. Despite not being family, Mary appears unhealthily attached to Vivien and her family’s unfolding drama.
 
Filming is now underway on location in London and along the Sussex coast. The series is produced by Letitia Knight (Dark Heart, Vera). Silverprint Pictures’ Creative Director Kate Bartlett (Dark Heart, Shetland, Vera) will executive produce the series with Sarah Williams. 
 

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