next of kin - itv production notes · interview with archie panjabi 9 ... , the series is directed...
TRANSCRIPT
Contents
Pressrelease 3
ForewordbycreatorsPaulRutmanandNatashaNarayan 5
Charactersynopses 7
InterviewwithArchiePanjabi 9
InterviewwithJackDavenport 15
InterviewwithShabana Azmi 19
InterviewwithViveikKalra 24
InterviewwithClaireSkinner 27
EpisodeSynopses 29
CastCredits 30
ProductionCredits 31
***ContentsofthispackarestrictlyembargoeduntilFriday29Decemberat00:01hrs***
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EmmyAwardwinnerandGoldenGlobenominee,ArchiePanjabi(TheGoodWife,TheFall),andrenownedactor,JackDavenport(PiratesoftheCaribbean,Smash),starinMammothScreen’sfast-pacedfamilythriller,NextOfKin.
Thecontemporarydramafollowswhip-smartdoctorMonaHarcourt(Panjabi)wholivesinLondonwithpoliticallobbyisthusbandGuy(Davenport).WhenabombgoesoffinLondononthesamedaythatherbrother,Kareem,isabductedandmurderedinPakistan,Mona’scharmedlifeisshakentoitscore.
ThesituationescalateswhenMonarealises thatherbrother’ssonDanish– knownasDanny– hasvanishedfromuniversityandisbeinglinkedtoboththebombingandthemurderofhisfather.Withthefamilyfacingaccusationsandbecomingembroiledinatangledwebofbetrayalandconspiracy,Monafindsherselfconfrontedwiththeultimatedilemma:howfarwouldyougotokeepyourfamilysafe?
CreatedbyBAFTA-nominatedPaulRutman (IndianSummers,Vera)inhisfirstcollaborationwithauthorandwife,NatashaNarayan,theseriesisdirectedbyEmmyAwardandBAFTAAward-nominatedJustinChadwick(Mandela:LongWalkToFreedom,BleakHouse).
ARCHIEPANJABIANDJACKDAVENPORTSTARINNEWITVDRAMA,NEXTOFKIN
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NextOfKinwascommissionedbyITV’sHeadofDramaPollyHill,whosays:“Theseriestellsanincrediblyimportantandpertinentstoryforourtime,promisingtogripaudiencesandexploresonemother’sdilemmatoprotectherlovedones.”
TheseriesisproducedbyoneoftheUK’sleadingdramaindies,MammothScreen,knownforshowsincludingVictoria,Endeavour andFearlessforITV,PoldarkandTheWitnessForTheProsecution forBBC1andNWandTheCityAndTheCity forBBCTwo.
NextOfKin isproducedbyRebeccaFerguson(ColdFeet)andexecutiveproducedbyMammothScreen’sPreethi Mavahalli (NW)andManagingDirector,DamienTimmer (Victoria).
Preethi Mavahalli said:“WithabrilliantcastledbyArchiePanjabiandJackDavenport,NextOfKinissettobeapowerfulandtensefamilydramathatwillsparkdebateinhomesacrosstheUK.”
TheserieswillbedistributedbyITVStudiosGlobalEntertainment.
PresscontactsforITV:
PicturecontactforITV:
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PaulRutman &Natasha Narayan,Creators
NextofKinisashowaboutanordinaryfamilyunderextraordinarypressure.Mona’sfamilyarealarge,extendedclan– closedespitegeographicaldistances.The Londonmembersofthefamilytendtoliveineachother’spockets.Yetwhenthingsgowrong,thesilencesandmisunderstandingsintheirlivesthreatentotearthemapart.
Thisstoryissetagainstasadlyfamiliarbackdrop.Abombing,thedeathofinnocents,griefandoutrage,momentsofsilence,wordsofresilienceandangerfrompoliticians.Likeeveryoneelsewe’vewatchedthenews,appalled.Itwasafteronesuchatrocitythatwewondered,whatwoulditbeliketoslipbehindtheheadlines?Whatwoulditbeliketoexperienceanactofterrorfromtheinside?Tobeafamilyunwittinglycaughtuponthewrongside?
Therehavebeenshowswhichhavecoveredterrorismfromtheperspectiveofthesecurityservices.Wefelttheexperienceofafamily– atthecentreofsuchaninvestigation–wassomethingwehadn’tseen.
OurheroineMonaisadoctor,whoseparentsemigratedtoBritainfromPakistanwhenshewastwo.HerolderbrotherKareemisalsoadoctor,thoughonewhochoosestospendmuchofhistime
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runningacharitableclinicbackinPakistan.MonaismarriedtoGuyHarcourt,alobbyist,withconnectionstotheworldofWestminster.
ThisisamodernBritishfamily:messyandcomplicated,withitsshareofsecretsandfailedmarriages.Someofitsmembers– likeMona’smotherMrsShirani– aredevoutMuslims.Others–likeheryoungersiblingsAniandOmar– don’tgivemuchofathoughttothemosque.
TheworldofKalashnikovsandJihad,ofAnasheedvideosandapostasy,hasasmuchtodowiththisfamilyastheSalemWitchTrialshavetowithamodernAnglican.Sowhenthisworldcollideswiththeirown,theirreactionsquicklyturnfromgrieftodenial:thiscan’tbehappening, itcan’tbehappeningtous.
AcrosstheWestandbeyond,largeminorityMuslimpopulationsfindthemselvescaughtinthiscrossfire.Theymaydenythatthereisaproblem,theymayproclaimnotinmyname.Stillthey’reindanger– andnotjusttotheresurgentfarright– ofbeingviewedasathreat.Thisseemstousastorywithuniversalovertones.LiketheJapaneseinAmericawhenPearlHarbourwasbombed,Muslimscancometobeseenastheenemywithin.
NextofKin issetwithinthisterritory,butitisfirmlyashowwithfamilyatitsheart.Ittrackstheliving,breathingexperienceofpeoplewhofindthemselvescaughtupinamaelstrom.Asthestoryprogress,itopensuptowiderterritory,butalwaysretainstheperspectiveofanordinaryfamilytryingtodotherightthingbythemselves,eachother,andtheircountry.
Duringtheextensiveresearchforthisshowwe’vetalkedtomanyexpertsinthefield.We’vebeenparticularlyhelpedbytwocourageouswomenwho’vedevotedmuchoftheirlivestocombattingradicalisationamongyoungpeople:SaraKhanofInspireandtheMuslimChaplain,KalsoomBashir.We’realsohugelyindebtedtoCommanderRichardWalton,formerlydirectorofCounterTerrorismCommand.Hisdetailedandpainstakingadvicehasbeenincrediblyhelpful.
FinallyourthankstotheteamatMammothandITVcommissionerPollyHill– whoofferedusunwaveringsupportinthisefforttotellanuncomfortablestory.
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ArchiePanjabi playsMona Harcourt
Smartandsociabledoctor,Mona,livesinWestLondonwithherhusbandGuy,sonSammi andmother,MrsShirani.Highlyambitiousandfiercelyloyal,shehasahappyhomelifeandacloserelationshipwithherextendedfamily.
Thesecondoffoursiblings,shewasborninPakistanbutmovedtoLondonwithherfamilywhenshewasyoung.Astheoldestfemalesibling,sheispronetoadoptingthemotherfigureroleandsheistheonewhoralliesthefamilywhenKareemdiesandwhotheylooktoforguidance.
Thoughshe’snotDanny’smother,Mona’sincrediblymaternaltowardshimandisfacedwithanunimaginabledilemmaofhowfarshewillgotoprotectanddefendhim.
Jack Davenportplays GuyHarcourt
GuyisalobbyistworkinginWestminsterandmarriedtoMonawithwhomhehasason,Sammi.
Hecomesfromamiddleclassfamily,withamotherwhoencouragedhimtoappreciatethefinerthingsinlife,butheisn’toverlyinterestedinthatlifestyle.Heisverylaidbackandavoidsconfrontationatallcosts,butisverygoodathisjobandhighlysuccessful.
Lifeisnotacompletebreezethough,andheandMonahavetobattletolivethelivestheyaspiretolive.Guy’sprofessionallifeisaboutconstantlystrugglingtostayafloat,fightingforwork,contactsandinfluence.
Shabana Azmi playsMrsShirani
MrsShirani isMona’smotherwholiveswithherandGuyinWestLondon.
Sheappearstobeasimple,traditionalsoulbutthere’smoretoherbecauseshe’sfiercelyproudofherchildrenandnotabovealittlescheming.LikeMona,she’swittyandsmart,butoftenunderestimatedbyherfamilyandunderstandsmorethanherchildrenoftengivehercreditfor.
Physically,she’salittlefrailbutcertainlynottobedismissedassheisaproudandopinionatedwomanwhoknowshermind.
CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES
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Viveik Kalra plays DannyShirani
Dannyisatypical,19-year-oldathleticteenagercurrentlyatUniversitypursuingasportingcareer.
HeisKareem’ssonfromapreviousmarriagebuthismotherhassincepassedaway.HeispartoftheShirani familyunit,buthefeelsslightlyseparatetoeveryoneelse.However,MonahasastrongrelationshipwithDannyandhastakenonamotherfigureroleinhislife.
CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES (cont’d)
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ARCHIEPANJABIPLAYSMONAHARCOURT
WhatattractedyoutoNextOfKin?
“IwasfilminginNewYorkatthetimewhenIreadthefirstscriptforNextOfKin.Myfirstreactionwas,‘Iwanttoreadepisodetwo.I’mtotallygrippedbythisscript.’It’sveryintelligentlywritten,timelyandIwastotallycaptivatedbythecharacterofMonaandthejourneysheencounters.”
WhoisMona?
“MonaisaverygoodGPandworkswellwithherpatients.That’salottodowiththepersonsheis.She’sverysociableanddefinitelyapeopleperson.SheisalsoverysupportiveofherhusbandGuyandhiswork.
“She’sasecondgenerationimmigrantwhoconsidersherselftobeveryEnglishbutalsoholdsquitetraditionalvalues.MonahaslivedinWest
Londonwithherfamilyformostofherlife,andforher,familyisthebeallandtheendall.Shefeelsveryprotective,loyalandresponsibleforthem.”
“It’savaluesheinheritedfromherparents,inparticularherfather.Hiswasaclassicstoryofthemarrivinghereinthe1970sandhimhavingtoworkinunskilledjobsbecauseofbeingunabletogetajobthathewasproperlyqualifiedforbackhome.HeencourageshischildrentoassimilateintoBritishsocietyandtoworkhard;tomakesureyoulookafterthefamily.
“Idon’tthinkthereisadistinctionforMonaintermsofthenuclearandtheextendedfamily.Theyareonebigfamilyandshehastolookafterthem.”
WhatisNextOfKinabout?
“Forme,thecentre ofthedramaisaboutthisveryclose-knitmoderndayBritishfamily.They’reveryhappy,livinganormallifeandcontentwithit.Thenthenewsturnseachoneoftheirlivesupsidedownandoneoftheyoungestmembersofthefamily,Danny,issuspectedofbeingradicalised.
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“ThestoryfollowsMona’sfighttoprovehernephew’sinnocence,whilstatthesametimetryingtokeepthefamilyunitintactbecausethoserelationshipscomeunderimmensestrain.It’sprobablythemostemotionallychallengingmomentofMona’slifehavingtodealwithitall.”
“Oneofthegreatthemesofthestoryisfamily,loveandloyalty.Itasksthequestion,‘Howfarwouldyougotoprotecttheonesyoulove?’Peoplewatchingwillaskthemselves,‘WhatwouldIdointhatsituation?Whatdecisionswouldyoumake?’ThedilemmaMonaisfacedwithinvolvesheartbreakinglydifficultdecisionsalongtheway.Eachofthosechoicesanddecisionsshemakeshasanimpactonamemberofherfamily,includingherrelationshipwithherhusbandGuy.
HowwouldyoudescribeMona’srelationshipwithherhusbandGuy?
“Monaisverytactilebutnotgoodatexpressingherselfverballyordiscussingproblems.SomethingGuyisverygoodat.Guyisveryhard-working,family-oriented,caring,loyal,supportive.Heisherrock.
“WhenyoufirstmeetMonaandGuyyoumightthinkmaybeculturallytheyarequitedifferent,buttheyhavemoreincommonthannot.Hermotherwouldhaveprobablywantedtomarryherofftoalocalbusinessmaninthecommunity,andI’msurehismotherwouldhavelikedtohaveseenhim
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marriedtosomebodyfromBerkshire.Butbothofthemhavecometorealisethereisaverysolidrelationshipthere.Overthecourseoftheserieswegettoseewhetherthatrelationshipisstrongenoughtosustainthestrainoftheeventsthataffectthefamily.”
MonahasanelderbrothercalledKareem.Aretheyclose?
“Monadefinitelyhasastrongerrelationshipwiththemeninherfamily.SheisveryclosetoKareem.Theybothwitnessedtheirparents’strugglesowerealotmoremotivatedtoworkharderandstudyandtheybothbecamedoctors.
“Thereisalotoflovebetweenthem.Theywereverysupportiveofeachothergrowingup.Includingthecultureclashissuesintermsoftheirparentsbeingquiteeasternandthenhavingtoassimilateintoawesternsociety.Theyhelpedeachotheroutandwerethereforeachother.
“Outofallthesiblingsshe’sdefinitelyclosesttoKareembecauseoftheagesimilarity.AndhiseldestsonDanish,knownasDanny,wouldhavebeenthefirstborn,somethingverypreciousinthathousehold.Soshe’shadaverystrongrelationshipwithDannyfromthemomenthewasborn,andheisstillayoungkid.”
HowdoesDanny’sdisappearanceimpactonthefamily?
“Dannyissuspectedofbeingradicalisedandthereisthisbiginvestigationthatintensifiesoverthecourseoftheseries.It’sinterestingtoseehowitimpactseachoneoftheirlivesfordifferentreasons.Wedon’tevenknowwhetherhe’sradicalisedornot,butthemerefactheissuspectedaffectseachoneoftheirlives.Monacarriestheweightofthatmostbecauseshe’stheonefightingtoothandnailforhim.Andthatdoeshaveconsequencesforher.”
WhatcanyoutellusaboutMona’smotherMrs Shirani?Comingfromanoldergeneration,howdoesshereacttopresentdayevents?
“That’soneofthethingsIlikedaboutthescript.Thefamilyrepresentsthedifferentgenerations.SoyouhaveMona’smother,aswellasGuy’smother,beingquitetraditional.They’reobviouslyfromdifferentculturalbackgroundsbutstillquitetraditional.
“Idon’tthinktheynecessarilyapprovedofthemixedmarriagewhenMonaandGuygottogether.Andthenyou’vegotMonaandGuy’sgenerationwheretheculturalgapbetweenthemisalotsmallerthan,say,itwouldhavebeenintheseventiesoreighties.He’sgrownupbeingexposedtoawidercultureandMonahaslivedmostofherlifeinEngland.
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“Whatmakesitsopowerfulisthisisadramaultimatelyaboutafamily.Peoplewatchingwillaskthemselves,what
wouldIdointhatsituation?”
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“Monaandhermotherarenotverygoodattalkingaboutproblemsorissues,almostseeingitasaweakness.Theydon’topenupaboutthings,andIthinkthat’sareallycommonqualityoffirstgenerationAsiansandpossibleevensecondgeneration.Ifyoutalkaboutaproblemyou’reacceptingthereisaproblem,soit’sbettertojustgetup,dustthedirtoffyourshoulderandmoveon.Butthatdoesn’treallyhelp.”
Howimportantisittoyouthatpeopleofallrace,religionsandbackgroundsarerepresentedinTVandfilm?
“WhenIreadNextOfKin,IneverreallythoughtofitasbeingaMuslimfamily.GuyisEnglish,hersonisEnglish,MonaevencallsherselfEnglish.Hermotherisquitetraditional,theyoungerkidsarealotmore outspokenandmodern.Itjustfeelslikeamoderndayfamily,asopposedtoamoderndayBritishMuslimfamily.
“It’safamilythatisfun,loving,warmandaccessible.Theirethnicity,forme,doesn’treallycomeintoitall,whichIthinkisthewayforward.We’renotdenyingwhattheirreligiousbackgroundmaybe,butwe’renotnecessarilyhoninginonthat.They’rejustafamilylivinginEngland,affectedbyevents.”
AsadoctorMonawalkstowardsdangerwhileothersarerunningawayfromit.Whatwouldyousayaboutdoctors,nurses,paramedics,police,firecrewandotherswhodothatinreallife?
“OneofthethingsI’vealwaysstruggledwithinthisindustryistoanswerwhycelebritiesarelookeduponasheroes.Becausereallyit’speoplelikethatwhoaretheultimateheroes,aswesawinrecentevents.Theyaretherealheroesofoursociety.
“Somebodyaskedmetheotherday,‘Whatwouldyoudoifyouweren’tdoingthis?’AndIsaidmaybesomethinglikebeingaparamedic.Thefactyouhavetheabilitytosavelife,that’slikethemostpreciousgiftintheworld.WheneverIhearaboutthosejobsorseepeopledothem,I’malwaysinaweofthembecauseitissuchanincredibleskilltheyhave.”
AlthoughNextOfKindealswithaserioussubject,therearelightermoments.Whyisthatimportant?
“Therearesomanythingsgoingonintheworldrightnowandthisisaseriousdrama,butpeopleneedtohaveanelementofhumour.It’salsoverytruetolife.Inbadsituationsinlifethereisalwayshumour,particularlyfortheBritish.Ithinkit’sacopingmechanism.Beingironicorsarcasticisawayofdealingwithlife.Thosemomentsareimportanttohave.”
HowdoyoureflectbackonthemakingofNextOfKin?
“It’sbeenaveryexciting,educationalandchallengingexperienceforme.Playingaleadinadramawith
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suchasensitivesubjectmatter,butalsoacharacterthatgoesthroughareallybigemotionaljourney.It’swhatanyactorwouldlookforinaleadingrole.I’vereallyenjoyeditandbeeninvolvedinamuchbiggerwaythanIwouldbeonotherprojects.
“I’vealsolearnedalotaboutbeingontheothersideofthecamera,whichisultimatelywhatIwanttodo.Soit’sbeenaneducationfromthedayIwassentthescripttothefinalcut.That’sbeenexciting.It’sgivenmeaninsightintohowmuchworkgoesintomakingsomething.
“NextOfKinisfictitiousandtouchesuponasubjectwhichisverytimely,butitneverpretendsorattemptstoexplainitorunderstandit.It’sastrongaspectofthenarrativebutitneverreallyzoomsintryingtoshowthatitunderstandsitorwantstoexplainit.
“It’sabouttheimpactithasonthefamily,andIthinkthatwillprovokediscussion.It’sreflectingtheworldweliveintodayandithastobetalkedabout.Itisverydifficulttounderstandandcomprehend.Butwehavetotalkaboutit.”
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JACKDAVENPORTPLAYSGUYHARCOURT
WhatfirstattractedyoutoNextOfKin?
“Whetherwelikeitornot,thisisasubjectthatisn’tgoingaway.Itmakespeopleuncomfortableandreactive,andisdifficulttocomprehend.Yet,unlesswefindawaytocomeatitfromananglethatallowsustoevenbegintodothat,therepercussionsoftheseincidentswillgetmoreandmorepronounced.
“IwasverystruckfromthebeginningthatwritersPaulRutmanandNatashaNarayanhavefoundawaytolookatthissubjectbythinkingaboutthewiderhumanityoffamilieswhobecomeinvolvedsimplybecausetheyarerelatedtosomeonewhomayhavemadecertaindecisions.Thatstruckmeasaveryintelligentandinterestingwaytoapproachtheunapproachable.
“NextOfKinisafamilydramafirstwithapsychologicallyintenseconceptplaceduponit.That’swhatwefocuson.Thereisnootherwaytotryandbenotsympatheticbutempathetic.Theyareverydifferentthings.Hopefullythat’swhatpeoplewilltakeawayfromit.”
WhoisGuyHarcourt?
“GuyisaWestminsterpoliticallobbyistwhoworksforoneofthoselobbyingfirmswithfingersinallsortsofpies.InourstoryyouseehimworkingastheliaisonbetweentheBritishgovernmentandvariousformsofoutsideforeigninvestmentintobiginfrastructureprogrammes.”
GuyismarriedtoMonaandappearstobeverymuchpartofherbiggerfamily?
“Ithoughtitwasratherthrillingthatwhenwewereshootingscenesatthefamilyhome,Iwastheonlynon-Asiancharacter,whichIthoughtwasgreat,becausethisiswhatsomeofBritainlookslike.”
“Beingtheslightlystiff,publicschool,somewhatemotionallyconstipatedtypeofpersonhecouldbe,whatGuygetsisthisextendedverynon-HomeCountiesfamily.It’ssomethingsooutsideprobablyanyofhisexperiencesgrowingup,inmanywaysit’slikethemakingofhim.ItopensuppartsofhimselftohimselfthatI’mnotsureheevenknewwerethere.
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“Obviouslywhenthesituationstartstogobad,Guyandthefamilyfindthemselvesinalivingnightmare.ThewriterswereverysmartaboutshowingthewayGuyalmostunconsciouslyreacts.AndwheredoeshiswifeMona’sloyaltieslie?Theyhaveachildwhoisinnocentinallofthis.It’saveryinterestingtensiontoexplore.”
NextofKinisverytopicalandclosetosomerecentreallifeevents.Howdidthecastfeelaboutthat?
“Werespondedwithnomoreorlessdismayandalarmthananybodyelse.Thenafteracertainamountoftime,likeeveryoneelseinthecountry,yousay‘Wehavetocontinueasbefore.Getonwithlifeasusual.’Otherwisetheterroristshavesucceededonsomelevel.
“Sometimesmasscommunication,intheformofafictionaltelevisiondrama,isagoodwayofreachingalargenumberofpeopleinashortspaceoftimetopresentareallycomplicatedideainawaythatspeakstopeople’shearts.
“Soitjustmademethink,‘Ihopewedothisaswellasthewritingmakesmethinkwecould.’Otherthanthatthereactiontorecenteventsisthesame.There’snodifferencebetweenabusdriverinWidnes oranactorinsouthLondon.”
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“Whenwewereshootingscenesatthefamilyhome,Iwastheonlynon-Asiancharacter,whichIthoughtwasgreat,becausethisiswhatsomeofBritainlookslike.”
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EventhoughthesubjectmatterinNextOfKinisveryserious,therearelightermomentsofhumour.Whyaretheyimportant?
“Certainlyatthestart,wedidourbesttoshowthisfamilyasbeingwarmandsometimesquitesillywitheachother.That’swhat,inpart,anormalfamilylookslike.Untilthingsoutsideofitscontrolhappen.
“Thatwas,inmanyways,togivecontexttowhatgetsdamagedwhencertainmembersofafamilypossiblymakethedecisionstheydo.Hopefullytherewillbeanechointheaudience’smindofhowthefamilyusedtobe:anoisy,playfulgroupofpeoplejustgettingonwiththeirlives.”
WhatwasitlikeworkingwithArchiePanjabi?
“I’veknownofArchieforyearsandalwaysthoughtshewasamazing.Iknewfromthestartshewasplayingthisroleandthought,‘That’salottoaskofanyactor.’It’squiteajourneyshehastogoon.It’shardenoughforanactortobein95percentofthescenes,butitmakeseveryone’slifemuchmoreenjoyablewhentheyarealsojoyfullyandlightlythecaptainoftheshipinthatregard.Shesetthetone.
“There’salsothiswholegroupofamazingyoungBritishAsianactors.BecauseIhaven’tlivedintheUKforalongtimetheywereallchildrenwhenIleft.SoIhadn’tbeenawareofthembefore,andIwaslike,‘Theseguysaregood.’It’sbeenfuntobearoundalotofyoungactorsI’dnevermetbefore.
“ThenShabana Azmi,whoplaysmymother-in-lawMrs Shirani,therearen’tthatmanyactorsintheworldifyoulookattheirIMDbpage,she’sbeeninsomethinglike175films.Sheisalegend.It’salwayskindofcooltobearoundsomeonewhohasjustdoneeverythinginafilmworldyoudon’tknowthatmuchabout.”
DidNextOfKinrevealmoreaboutthisissuetoyouthanyouknewbefore?
“Idefinitelyhadanawarenessthatthevictimsinthesesituationstendtobeawiderpoolofpeoplethanyoumightinitiallythink.Buthavingbeenpartofmakingadrama,thankfully,andnotinvolvedinarealway,IdofeelIhaveadeeperunderstanding.
“Iabhorreactionarypolitics,butIsupposeInowfeelbetterequippedtoargueagainstthereactionarypositionthatsituationslikethiscan,understandably,provokeinpeople.”
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SHABANAAZMIPLAYSMRS.SHIRANI
Howdidtherolecomeabout?
“IjusthappenedtobeinLondonatthetimewhenmyagenttoldmeaboutthepart.ImetthedirectorJustinChadwickandbeforeIknewit,Iwaspartoftheproduction.ItookanimmediatelikingtoJustinso,knowingwhatthedramawasabout,itwasaprettyeasydecisionformetomake.”
YouareknownforIndianfilmsamongmanyotherthings.HaveyoualsoworkedintheUKbefore?
“I’veworkedonalotoffilmsinBritain.ThefirsttimeIworkedintheUKwasasfarbackas1988oppositeShirleyMacLaineinafilmcalledMadameSousatzka directedbyJohnSchlesinger.I’vealsodonefilmsforBBC,includingCapital,andChannel4plustheatre.”
WhatattractedyoutoNextofKin?
“IthoughtitwasaveryimportantstoryandIlikedmypart.Mrs Shirani isaveryfeistywomanandyetquitegentle.Iinitiallyreadthefirstthreeepisodesveryquickly.Ifounditaveryinterestingstory.
“ItwasaverypleasurableexperiencebecauseIgotonverywellwiththedirectorJustin.He,himself,wasanactorandheisveryrespectfultoactorsandworksverycloselywiththem.Hetookhistimeandwaiteduntilhegotexactlywhathewanted.Hewasveryencouraging.
“IalsogotalongextremelywellwithArchiePanjabi,JackDavenportandtherestofthecast.Itveryquicklybecamelikearealfamily.
“ThewholeexperiencewasalsodifferentbecauseIwaslivingonmyowninLondon.WhenI’minIndiaworkingIhaveahugestaffthatfollowsmearoundeverywhere.Ihavemyownhairdresser,make-upperson,mymanager,mydriveralltravelwithme.ButIwasliterallyonmyowninLondon.Thatexperiencewasveryprecious.
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WhoisMrs Shirani?
“WhatisniceaboutMrs Shirani isthatononelevelyouwouldthinksheisthestereotypicalAsianmother,butyou,infact,discoversheisnotso.Shehasapersonalitywhichisverymuchherownandisaveryimportantfigureinthehouse.
“Thefirsttimeweseeherisamilliondollarscene.Theliftdooropensandsheissatontheflooroftheelevator.Whichisanamazingvisualtobeginwith.I’veneverbeentrappedinaliftforreal,butifIamevernowitwillnotbesuchaterrifyingexperience.
“Shegrumbles,disapprovesandhasherfamilyfavourites,butshereallyisthepersonwhopullsthefamilytogether.Sheisabeliever.Shesaysherprayers.Andyetsheisfarremovedfromthiscrazyworldoffundamentalism.”
Whyisthisanimportantstorytotell?
“Thisstoryissoclosetohome.Ithinkit’sveryimportantforcinema,television,theatre,literature,arttoreflectthat.Youcan’tpushconflictsofthiskindunderthecarpet.Thisdramashowswhathappenstohumanbeingsinthesekindsofsituations.
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“Thisstoryissoclosetohome.Ithinkit’sveryimportantforcinema,television,theatre,literature,arttoreflectthat.Youcan’tpushconflictsofthiskindunderthecarpet.Thisdramashowswhathappenstohumanbeingsinthesekindsofsituations.”
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Doesthisdramalookbeyondtheheadlines?
“Weseethehumansideofhowtheperceptionofradicalisation touchesafamily;torturesafamilywhentheyareinnowayresponsibleforit.Andthenyouseethelargerpicturethroughthesmallerpicture.Thathumanises it.It’snotdoneinadidactic,propagandistway.Itisdonethroughrelationshipsandemotionalconnectionswhicharecompletelyuniversal.
“Islamophobiaisspreadingsowidelyintheworld.Youneedtogiveitahumanfaceandtrytounderstandwhataretheforcesthatareworkingandhowitimpactsonpeople.Artmustreflectthat.
“I’mveryproudofITVforproducingthisdrama.ThetimehascomewhenweneedtoworktounderstandcultureswithintheirownparadigmsratherthanyardsticksoftheWestimposedontheEast.That’sveryimportant,becauseastheworldshrinksandbecomesaglobalvillage,it’sveryimportanttounderstandeachother’scultures.
“Thereisstillalotthatneedstobedoneintermsofthevariouscommunitiesbeingrepresentedinthemedia,anddemonstratinghowsimilarhumanbeingsare.Embracingofmulti-culturalismandanattempttounderstandcultureswithintheirownparadigms. Lookatthewarmth,allthequirks,thestupidities.Lookatthemasrealpeople.ThatisimportantandthatiswhyIcongratulateITVforthis.”
Whatareyourownviewsonreligiousextremism?
“Whatisveryimportantisweneedtounderstandtheseschismsarenotschismsofreligionastheyareprojected.Theyareschismsofideology.Soitisthetolerantliberalononesideagainsttheintolerantradicalisedoftheother.
“It’snotChristiansversusMuslims.It’snotHinduversusMuslims.ItisaboutHindus,Muslims,ChristiansonthesamesideagainsttheHindu,Muslim,Christianfundamentalistsoftheother.
“Itisoneofideologyandofworldviewoftoleranceandintolerance.It’sveryimportanttoseethat.Otherwisewealwaysfallintosayingitisacivilisationalwar.”
Arepoliticalleadersinthewestandeastbeinghonestaboutwhatneedstobedone?
“No,ofcoursenot.It’snotinthenatureofelectoralpoliticstobecompletelyhonestaboutit.Butartmustdomorethanthat.Artshouldbeabletoprovideamorecomplex,morehumanandsensitiveversionofit.
“In2001afterthe9/11attackstheBookerPrizewinnerArundhatiRoywroteanessayinwhichshesaid,‘Box-cutters,penknives,andcoldangeraretheweaponswithwhichthewarsofthenew
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centurywillbewaged.Angeristhelockpick.Itslipsthroughcustomsunnoticed.Doesn'tshowupinbaggagechecks.’Ithinkthatissuchanamazing,stunningline.”
“Surelywehavetofinddifferentwaysofdealingwithterror?Becausewhateverthesystemsbywhichwearecombattingittodaydon’tappeartobeworking.Wehavetofindwaystodealwithit.I’mnotsayingIhavetheanswers.It’snoteasy.ButIdon’tthinkdialogueshouldeverstop.”
Doyouthinkpeopleofallraces,religionsandbackgroundsarefairlyrepresentedinWesternTVandfilm?
“Alotmoreneedstobedone.Wereallyareaglobalvillagetodayandwearelivinginamulticulturalworld.Pluralismisthecalloftheday.Actorshavebeensayingforalongtimethatweneedtohavecolour blindcasting,butlookatthebattlethatithastaken.InHollywood,forinstance,blackpeoplehaveonlyjuststartedbecomingwidelyvisible.ThefactisthatAsiansshouldbemorestronglyrepresentedbecausetheyareaverystrongpartofthecommunity.
WhyshouldwewatchNextofKin?
“Watchitbecauseit’sahumanstoryandit’sinteresting.Fornootherreason.Itisastoryaboutafamilywhichhasuniversalresonance.IthinkNextofKinisanextremelyimportantseries.”
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VIVEIKKALRAPLAYSDANNYSHIRANI
Howdidtherolecomeabout?
“I’mastudentattheRoyalWelshCollegeofDramaandhadn’tdoneanyfilmorTVbeforeNextofKin.SothisismyfirstTVjob.Isentinatapeandwastheninvitedtoaudition.ThenIauditionedagainandgotthepart.Whichwasamazing.Madlyexciting.”
WhoisDanny?
“He’sanathleticyoungmanatuniversitypursuingsports.ThesonofKareemShirani fromKareem’spreviousmarriage.Hismotherhasdied,sohe’spartoftheextendedfamilybutthereisafeelingofseparationfromthatfamily.”
WhatisNextofKinabout?
“Dannyisayoungmanwhomay,ormaynot,havebeenradicalised.Thesubjectmatterisimportantandneedstobetalkedabout.Youhavetoapproachitwithagreatdealofsensitivity.ThewritersPaulRutmanandNatashaNarayanhavedealtwiththatreallybeautifully.Thescriptsaresowellwritten.”
Didyougainaninsightintohowyoungpeoplecanfindthemselvesinthissituation?
“TheveryfirstthingIdidwassitdownwiththedirectorJustinChadwick,ArchiePanjabi,whoplaysMonaHarcourt,andaculturaladvisor.Wehadadiscussionfortwohoursabouthowthingslikethiscancomeaboutinyoungpeople’slives.
“WhetherDannyisradicalisedornotisrevealedintheseries.But,forme,itwasanimportantissuetotackle.Heisveryyoungbutnotbyanymeansstupidorunintelligent.Ingeneralterms,it’sscarythethingspeoplecanbedrawnto.”
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WhatimpactdoesDanny’sdisappearancehaveonhisfamily?
“Thedramashowstheimpactsomethinglikethiscanhaveonafamily.Onthenewsyouseeaheadlinebutyoudon’tseetheimpactonafamily.Attheheartofthisstoryisanordinary,normal,modernBritish-Pakistanifamilythrustintothiswhirlwindofalmostinsanity.Andweseehowordinarypeopledealwithextraordinarycircumstances.
“Ourstoryisfiction.ButIliketorefertoitasafictionalised reality,because,asweallknow,thesethingsarehappeningintherealworld.It’sanimportantandrelevantthingthatneedstobeairedanddiscussed.”
Whateverdecisionayoungpersonmakes,cantheyenduptrapped?
“Ayoungpersoncanmakeonedecisionandthenfindthemselvesknee-deepinsomethingtheyneverimaginedorthoughtaboutbeingapartof.
“Icouldtotallyunderstandhowpeoplecanfindthemselvesinthatposition.It’sascarysituation,bothforDannyandthewholefamily.Theyhavetobeartheweightofthethingsthathappen.”
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Didyoufeeltheneedtodoanyofyourownresearch?
“Asidefromthescripts,IdiddomyownresearchforthischaracterbecauseIwantedtoconveyasaccuratelyasIcouldwhatheislike– heisarealhumanbeing.Asaresult,IwasabletobemorespecificabouthowDannywouldthinkandact.”
Wereyousurprisedaboutthewaytechnologycanbeusedtofollowanindividualacrosstheglobe?
“Iwasawareofhowtechnologycanbeusedtotrackpeoplewherevertheyare,buttheextentofitisquitescary.Eventhethingsyoucanfindonlinenow.Justbyinvestigatingsocialmediayoucanfindoutahugeamountofinformationaboutpeople.”
TherearelightermomentsinNextofKin.Whyaretheyimportant?
“Thelightermomentsgivemoredepthandtexturetotheserious,weightierscenes.It’snecessarybecauseyouneedthatlightandshade.Someoftheeventsinthisworldarebeyondthewildestimaginationsofmostnormalindividuals.Soyouneedthoselightertouches.”
HowdoyoureflectonyourfirstTVrole?
“Itwasgreatfun.WhenIgotthereIjustthought,‘Wow,thisisanincredibleopportunity.’Toworkwithsuchatalentedcast,includingArchiePanjabiandJackDavenport.Theentiredramahasbeencastsoperfectlyandtheywerejustapleasuretoworkwith.AtnopointdidIfeeloverwhelmedoruncomfortable.
“ThedirectorJustinChadwickwasalsoamazing.Hewasverythoughtfulandwasonceanactorhimself.Youreallyfeltheunderstoodyourcharacter.HefeltthestruggleofwhatDannywasgoingthrough.
“WorkingwithArchiewasalsoamazing.Shewasarealmentor.Obviouslysuperexperienced.It’soddtowatchsomeoneonTVwhoissogoodandthenthenextthingyouareworkingwiththem.”
Whatwasitlikegoingbacktodramaschoolafterfilming?
“I’vegotjustoverayearofmycoursetogo.Itwasweirdgoingbackatfirst.ThefirstdayfeltabitoddbutI’mverygladtobeback.
“IlearnedsomuchonNextofKinandmadereallygoodfriends.It’saprivilegetobeinvolvedinsomethingthatis,Ithink,soimportant.There’ssomethingreallyspecialaboutthisdrama.”
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CLAIRESKINNERPLAYSDCIVIVIENBARNES
WhatattractedyoutoNextofKin?
“Itwasthecharacter.It’salwaysnicetoplayawomaninchargeandinapowerfulrole.She’snotahugelyoutwardlysympathetictypeofcharacter.Iveerbetweenplayingveryexpressivepeopleandimplacablepeople.Idoseemtoplayoneortheother.Afterdoingcomedy,it’squitenicetoplaysomeonethat’sholdingalotofstrategyinherhead.Ienjoyedthat.”
Didyoudoanyofyourownresearch?
“Ilookedattheresearchavailabletomewithintheproduction.Theyhadtheirownpoliceandanti-terroradvisors.SoIusedthoseresources.”
WhatchallengesdoesVivienBarnesfaceinleadingthepolicecounterterroroperation?
“Shehassomanythingstobalance.Icannotimaginehavingtobesointernalwithyourthoughtprocesses.Therealsomustbealotofdistrust.Especiallywhenitcomestopoliticians,strategicleaksandleaksmadebymistake.Thereissomuchtoconsider.Itmustbeexhausting.Vivienhastotakecalculatedrisksanddoesn’talwaysgeteverythingright.”
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Weonlyhearaboutsomeoftheterrorattacksstoppedbyourpoliceandsecurityservices.Whatareyourthoughtsaboutthat?
“Thefiguresonthenumberofattacksthepoliceandsecurityservicesstoparesobering.Butweareonlytoldaboutafewofthose.And,ofcourse,asweknowtheycan’tstopeverything.
“It’sdifficulttoimaginehowsomeonelikeViviendealswiththehugeresponsibilitiesinvolved.Havingtomakelifeanddeathdecisions.Youseeamorehumansidetoherasthingsunfold.”
Thedramafeelsverytopical.Doyouagree?
“Thescriptwasveryprescientintermsofcurrentevents.Thedramadoesnotcommentonanythingbutitdoesreflecttheatmospherewe’relivingintoday.
“AsLondoners,youlearnhowtolivewithit.IrememberduringthedaysoftheIRAthreatwhentheychangedthebinsontheLondonUndergroundtoseethroughbags.Youthinkyou’rehardenedtoitbutperhapsnot.”
NextofKinshinesalightonafamily.WhyisthisanimportantstorytotellinaTVdrama?
“Thedomesticangleofthisstoryallowsustoseetheconsequencesforasinglefamily.It’saveryusefulwayintothewiderissues.Thatdomesticprisminvolvesusthinkingaboutmothers,brothers,daughters.Ithinkthat’swhenpeoplestarttounderstandthings.”
HowwouldyoudescribeVivien’srelationshipwithGuyHarcourt,playedbyJackDavenport?
“ShehasapersonalrelationshipwithGuywhichshehastomanage.
“Shetriestohelphimasmuchasshecan,butthenshecanbequitetoughwhensheknowsshehastobe.Shehastostepoutsideherofficialboxsometimeswithhim.”
Doestherehavetobeanelementofruthlessness,aswellassecrecy,inthejobshedoes?
“Iwouldimagineyouhavenochoicebuttobetough.Youwouldhavetoberuthlessattimes.Andhowwouldyouliveanoutsidelife?I’msurepeopleinthesejobsdo,butit’snotasifyoucangohomeandtalkaboutwhathappenedinyourday.
“Icouldn’tbearthat.IwouldneedeveryonetoknowallthefabulousthingsI’vebeendoing.Butthat’swhyI’manactor,Iguess!”
Doyouthinkpeoplearefullyawareofjusthowcloselytheyaremonitoredtoday?
“It’ssuchaweirdparadox.Peopleareawareofhowmuchtheyaremonitored,buttheyjustdon’tseemtovaluetheirprivacyatall.
“WearetrackedbyCCTVcamerasalmosteverywherewego.That’sextraordinary.Wejustacceptthat.Thesamewithallofthedetailswehandoverforonlineshopping.It’slikeatradeoff.It’sforexpedience.Wejustwantsomethingnow,straightawayandwillgiveallofourdetailstogetit.”
What’snext?
“I’mplayingMrs Sedley,Amelia’smother,inthenewITVadaptationofVanityFair,whichhasanotheramazingcast.”
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EpisodeOne
OnthesamedaythataterroristattackbringsLondontoastandstill,GPMonaHarcourtreceivesthedevastatingnewsthatherbrotherKareemhasbeenkidnappedonhiswayhometotheUKfromhischarityclinicinLahore.
Monaandherfamily’shorroris aggravatedbytheattentionsofthepolicecounterterrorismunitandtheirinterestinKareem’steenagesonDanny.Dannyhasnotbeenseenatuniversityforsixweeks,andMonaisdeterminedtofindhimbeforethepolicedo.
EpisodeTwo
HavingsecretlymadecontactwithDannyinLahore,MonaisapproachedbypolicecounterterrorismchiefVivienBarnestotraveltoPakistanandidentifyKareem’sbody.
DespiteherhusbandGuy’sresistance,MonaimmediatelyfliestoPakistanandtriestomakecontactwithDanny.However,whensheabscondsfromaLahoremortuarytomakecontactwithDanny,Mona’ssearchleadshertoaremotepartofthecityandgravedanger.
EPISODE SYNOPSES
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MonaHarcourt ARCHIEPANJABI
GuyHarcourt JACKDAVENPORT
Mrs Shirani SHABANAAZMI
DannyShirani VIVEIKKALRA
Kareem Shirani NAVINCHOWDRY
Sammi Shirani DANTEPATEL
Rahana Shirani FARZANADUAELAHE
AniShirani KIRANSONIASAWAR
OmarShirani MAWAANRIZWAN
ElspethHarcourt JANFRANCIS
ACCVivienBarnes CLAIRESKINNER
Detective Townsend ENZOCILENTI
Saira Shirani SHANTIDEEN-ELLIS
TakTakShirani RITIKHARIWAL
DSStanleyHart SOPEDIRISU
Shania SHALISHAJAMES-DAVIS
CraigKowalski HALFOWLER
ImogenKowalski HANNAHBOURNE
RichardPayne DOMINICTIGHE
Hamoud ELLIEHADDAD
SheikhAlmasi MUNIRKHAIRDIN
Khan WAHEBSHEIKH
MrKhalid NASSERMEMARZIA
Carla LOLAPETTICREW
Simon CHRISLARKIN
Preacher WASIMZAKIR
Sarah KYLIEHUTCHINSON
AnnabelGhillies DOROTHYATKINSON
AbuMaaz JOEBLAKEMORE
MrPearson SIMONTREVES
Fatima MYRIAMARCHARKI
CASTCREDITS
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Creator,Writer&ExecutiveProducer PAULRUTMAN
Creator,Writer&ExecutiveProducer NATASHANARAYAN
MDofMammothScreen/ExecutiveProducer DAMIENTIMMER
ExecutiveProducer PREETHIMAVAHALLI
Director (Block1)&ExecutiveProducer JUSTINCHADWICK
Producer REBECCAFERGUSON
Director(Block2) JAMIECHILDS
DirectorofPhotography PAULDONACHIE
ProductionDesigner DICKLUNN
ArtDirector (UK) ANDREAMATHESON
ArtDirector (India) SAMHARLEY
CostumerDesigner EMMAFRYER
MakeUpDesigner JENNAWRAGE
LocationManager(Block1) GRANTCUMMINGS
LocationManager(Block2) TONYHOOD
SoundRecordist WILLIAMWHALE
CastingDirector SAMJONES
Editor HAZELBAILLIE
ScriptEditor PAULTESTAR
PRODUCTION CREDITS
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Furtherinterviewswithcastandproductionareavailableuponrequest.
Ifyouuseanymaterialfromthispresspack,pleaseincludeafullcreditfortheshow.
Fordetailsoftheaboveandanyotherenquires,pleasecontact:
KatyMason– [email protected]
PatrickSmith– [email protected]
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