“IT was extraordinary.
“All the men in the crew went very quiet.”
Penelope Wilton talking to me about glorious new ITV drama Brief Encounters.
Starting in 1982, the six-part series begins at 9pm next Monday (July 4) and is just the tonic we need after the turmoil of recent times.
Sophie Rundle (Steph), Angela Griffin (Nita), Sharon Rooney (Dawn) and Penelope (Pauline) give compelling performances in this Sheffield filmed and set production.
Four women linked by the emergence of Ann Summers’ party planning, providing hope, confidence, ambition and a chance of independence.
As well as its fair share of laughter and tears along the way at a time when attitudes to women and sex were very different to today.
Brief Encounters was created and written by Fay Rusling and Oriane Messina, whose work together dates back to Smack The Pony and Green Wing.
The four leads supported by a strong ensemble male cast including Peter Wight, Don Gilet, Karl Davies, Will Merrick and Ben Bailey-Smith.
Plus other female cast members such as Pippa Haywood, Felicity Montagu and Chloe Pirrie.
Together with a classic 1980s’ soundtrack featuring the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran and Yazoo.
I was a young reporter working in Fleet Street in 1982 and can vouch for the fact Brief Encounters has really captured the essence of that period.
Giving us a real television drama treat.
You can read my interviews for ITV with Penelope, Sophie, Angela and Sharon at the link below.
Fay and Oriane providing their own foreword with background from executive producers Danielle Lux and Arabella McGuigan:
Brief Encounters Wylie ITV Interviews
Brief Encounters starts ITV 9pm Monday July 4.
Sophie Rundle as Steph.
Angela Griffin as Nita.
Sharon Rooney as Dawn.
Penelope Wilton as Pauline.
Karl Davies as Terry.
Peter Wight as Brian.
Angela Griffin as Nita and Don Gilet as Kieren.
Chloe Pirrie as Hellie and Pippa Haywood as Bunny.
Ben Bailey-Smith as Johnny.
Peter Wight as Brian and Will Merrick as Russell.
