Lewis, also a former Strictly Come Dancing favourite, will join leading Northern names, including Kevin Whately and Denise Welch in the adaptation of Graham Norton’s Forever Home
Lewis Cope, also a former Strictly Come Dancing favourite, will join leading Northern names, including Kevin Whately and Denise Welch in the adaptation of Graham Norton’s Forever Home(Image: )
Teesside actor Lewis Cope is to join a line-up of stars cast in a new television drama by Channel 5. Hartlepool-born Lewis, who recently starred in Strictly Come Dancing, will appear alongside a host of well known faces including Denise Welch and Kevin Whately in this adaptation of Graham Norton’s best-selling novel, Forever Home.
And, filming is set to begin in Northumberland and Hartlepool with support from the North East Production Fund. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment and The Mediapro Studio and developed for screen by Executive Producer Kirstie Macdonald from South Shields, the series stars North East talent and and brings real jobs and opportunities to the area – 65% of the crew will be from the region.
North East Screen Industries Partnership is funded by The North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority. The six-part series follows the story of a second wife dealing with the memories of the woman who went before her. When Carol discovers a long-dead body hidden in the basement of her home, the horrific realization is undeniable – she’s living with a killer.
The story that her husband’s first wife ran away never to be seen again now looks like a lie, and the fact he’s insisted on never selling the house suddenly makes sense. But one dark family secret is soon to be replaced by another.
Confirmed cast include Amy Nuttall (The Feud, Downton Abbey), Douglas Henshall (The Revenge Club, Shetland), Denise Welch (Tip Toe, Waterloo Road), Kevin Whately (Inspector Morse, Lewis), Samantha Bond (The Marlow Murder Club, The Inheritance), Lewis Cope (Emmerdale, Strictly Come Dancing), Jenny Walser (Heartstopper, Sweetpea S2), Shane Zaza (Invasion, Big Boys), and James Baxter (Alma’s Not Normal, Waterloo Road).
Hartlepool’s Lewis Cope on Strictly Come Dancing(Image: )
On the series commission of his novel, Graham Norton said: “In writing Forever Home, I was initially inspired by the simple idea of packing up a home later in life, and the “what if” scenarios and complexities that come with later-life relationships. The novel soon evolved into a funny, twisted, ‘dark-romp’ full of farcical scenes and it’s wonderful to see the depth and richness of Carol’s story realized as a screenplay.”
On adding this adaption to 5’s acclaimed drama slate, Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5 said: “We’re delighted to partner with FilmNation and The Mediapro Studio to bring Graham Norton’s compelling novel to UK screens, supported by an outstanding cast. Working with North East Screen again to champion local filming has been a pleasure, and we can’t wait for viewers to immerse themselves in Forever Home.”
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