Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu to lead new drama 'Falling' written by Jack Thorne

Filming has commenced in Wales and Bristol on major new Channel 4 drama, Falling, produced by The Forge Entertainment, a Banijay UK company (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage). Keeley Hawes (Scoop, Miss Austen) will star as Anna, a devoted nun, and Paapa Essiedu (Black Mirror, The Lazarus Project) as David, a Catholic priest, in BAFTA award-winning writer Jack Thorne’s (Adolescence, Help) first ever love story.

Both are deeply committed to their work in the church and in their community. Neither are expected to fall in love.  But when they do, both are forced to wrestle with what it means for them, their vows, and their relationship with God. Falling is a fictional drama and a witty, moving, contemporary romantic drama that is as honest as it is full of heart.

Also joining the cast of Falling are Rakie Ayola (The Pact, Kaos), Jason Watkins (Coma, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies), Niamh Cusack (The Virtues, Heartbeat), Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey, The Chelsea Detective), David Dawson (My Policeman, The Last Kingdom), Susan Brown (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, It’s A Sin), Sandra Voe (Howards End, Vera Drake) and introducing TV newcomers, Holly Rhys and Shayde Sinclair.

Keeley Hawes says: “I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of Anna and so looking forward to working alongside the brilliant Paapa Essiedu to bring Jack Thorne’s beautiful scripts to life.”

Paapa Essiedu says: “Falling is a story that has Jack Thorne’s singular talent of mining the sublime out of the ordinary running all the way through. I can’t wait to work with Keeley, Peter and the rest of the team to bring this world to life.”

Jack Thorne says: “I never thought I’d write a love story, but I am very excited to be making one with the brilliant Peter Hoar. We feel so lucky we have persuaded the mighty (and lovely) Keeley Hawes, the brilliant (and also lovely) Paapa Essiedu and the most amazing company of (lovely) actors to come make this with us, The Forge and Channel 4.”

Gwawr Lloyd, Commissioning Editor, Drama adds: “The combination of Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu, alongside Jack Thorne’s incredible scripts and Peter Hoar’s direction means this will be the most extraordinary show. We are so excited to bring this unique and compelling love story to Channel 4.”

A 6x60’ drama from The Forge, Falling is executive produced by George Ormond, George Faber and Jack Thorne. Joe Donaldson (Cobra, Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders) is the producer and Peter Hoar (It’s A Sin, The Last of Us, Umbrella Academy) will direct. Falling has been commissioned for Channel 4 by Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama and Gwawr Lloyd, Commissioning Editor, Drama.

Falling will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights. Transmission details will be announced in due course.

*ENDS*

For more information, please contact:
Harriet Wilson, Publicity Manager, Drama, Comedy & Acquisitions
Content Communications | Channel 4 Television
hwilson@channel4.co.uk
 

Notes to Editors

About The Forge:

The Forge, a Banijay UK company, is a UK based drama production company with an unrivalled reputation for high quality, ambitious and influential TV drama, working in collaboration with the UK’s leading creative talent. The company has produced a wide range of award-winning dramas including Jack Thorne’s ‘National Treasure’ starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, ’Help’ starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham, David Hare’s ‘Collateral’ and ‘Roadkill’, starring Carey Mulligan and Hugh Laurie respectively and Anya Reiss’s ‘Becoming Elizabeth’ for Starz in the US.  

 Most recently, The Forge have produced major 8-part series ‘The Buccaneers’ created and written by Katherine Jakeways for Apple TV+,; 4-part Disney+ series ‘Shardlake’ by Stephen Butchard, ‘Generation Z’, a six-part series and the first original TV project from Ben Wheatley for Channel 4 and ‘Just Act Normal’, a youth-skewing darkly comic series from award-winning writer Janice Okoh for BBC Three/BBC iPlayer.

 The Forge currently has multiple, high profile new titles for both linear and SVOD platforms in production, including season 2 of ‘The Buccaneers’ for Apple TV+ and a brand-new adaptation of ‘A Woman of Substance’ for Channel 4, written by Katherine Jakeways and co-written by Roanne Bardsley.