David Farnor | On 22, Mar 2021

The first images of Anthony Boyle and Toby Jones in BBC Two’s Danny Boy have been released.

The factual drama, produced by Expectation for the BBC, tells the story of a young man’s journey from medal-winning hero to alleged killer, and his search for truth in the fog of war. The new images feature Anthony Boyle as the soldier Brian Wood, accused of war crimes in Iraq by the determined human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, played by Toby Jones.

The two men go head to head in a legal and moral conflict that takes us from the battlefield – at so-called Checkpoint Danny Boy – to the courtroom and one of Britain’s biggest ever public inquiries, the Al-Sweady Inquiry.

The drama explores the effect Brian’s experience has not just on him, but also on his family: his father and ex-soldier, Gavin, played by Alex Ferns; his mother Margaret, played by Pauline Turner; and his wife Lucy, played by Leah McNamara.

Memory, evidence and trauma collide, as Brian finds himself caught on the fine line between war and unlawful killing. After his service in Iraq and years of legal investigation, will he ever be able to look his family in the eye again and be the husband, father, and son, they need him to be?

Written by Bafta-winner Robert Jones (Murder, Party Animals) and directed by Sam Miller (I May Destroy You, Luther), the drama will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this spring.

 

Toby Jones and Anthony Boyle star in BBC Two’s Danny Boy

4th November 2020

Toby Jones and Anthony Boyle will star in Danny Boy, a new drama for BBC Two.

The drama follows a young man’s journey from medal-winning war hero to alleged murderer, and his search for truth in the fog of war.

Anthony Boyle (Ordeal By Innocence, The Plot Against America) plays real-life soldier Brian Wood, accused of war crimes in Iraq by the human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, played by Toby Jones (Marvellous, Detectorists). The two men go head to head in a legal and moral conflict that takes us from the battlefield – at so-called Checkpoint Danny Boy – to the courtroom, and one of Britain’s biggest ever public inquiries, the Al-Sweady Inquiry.

Produced by Expectation for BBC Two, the feature-length single is written by BAFTA-winner Robert Jones (Murder, Party Animals). The drama explores the effect Brian’s experience has not just on him, but also on his family. This includes his father and ex-soldier, Gavin, played by Alex Ferns (Chernobyl, The Batman), and his wife Lucy, played by Leah McNamara (Normal People, Vikings).

Memory, evidence and trauma collide, as Brian finds himself caught on the fine line between war and unlawful killing. After his service in Iraq and years of legal investigation, will he ever be able to look his family in the eye again and be the husband, father, and son, they need him to be?

Boyle says: “I’m thrilled to be working with Sam Miller on Robert Jones’ phenomenal script, and telling Brian’s extraordinary story. We get to explore not just the realities of war, but how they can come back to haunt you.”

Toby Jones adds: “Robert has written an extraordinarily compelling, intelligent and nuanced script, and it’s a real honour to be working with Danny Boy’s exceptional cast and creative team to bring it to the screen.”

Directed by Sam Miller (I May Destroy You, Luther) and produced by Simon Lewis (Three Girls, The Nest), Danny Boy (w/t) was commissioned by Patrick Holland and Piers Wenger for BBC Two.

Miller adds: “I’m very excited to be telling this story featuring the Battle of Danny Boy and the subsequent fallout, both personally and politically, for Brian and others.”

Filming is now underway.

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