BBC Three announces cast for Thirteen, original drama series by Marnie Dickens
Thirteen - an original 5x60 drama series written by rising star Marnie Dickens - confirms a new and exciting cast.
Published: 28 July 2015
The team Elizabeth has pulled together perfectly demonstrates how BBC Three is all about nurturing emerging UK talent and the most innovative ideas that appeal to young people.
Thirteen - an original 5x60 drama series written by rising star Marnie Dickens - confirms a new and exciting cast led by Jodie Comer (Doctor Foster, My Mad Fat Diary), alongside Aneurin Barnard (The Scandalous Lady W, War And Peace), Richard Rankin (From Darkness), Valene Kane (The Fall, ‘71), Natasha Little (Wolf Hall), Stuart Graham (Our World War, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Joe Layton (Tatau), Katherine Rose Morley (Last Tango In Halifax), Eleanor Wyld (Misfits), Ariyon Bakare (Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell) and Nicholas Farrell (Chariots of Fire, Bloody Sunday).
Thirteen will be directed by Vanessa Caswill (My Mad Fat Diary, Flea) and China Moo-Young (Humans, Spotless) and was commissioned by Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, and Ben Stephenson, ex-Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning and is produced by BBC In-house Drama Production, England.
Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, says: “The team Elizabeth has pulled together perfectly demonstrates how BBC Three is all about nurturing emerging UK talent and the most innovative ideas that appeal to young people.”
Jodie Comer stars as Ivy Moxam, a 26-year-old woman who escapes from the cellar that's been her prison for the last thirteen years. Returning home to her family and to her life, this is only the beginning of the story.
Writer Marnie Dickens says: “The characters of Thirteen have been in my head for a long time. To now see such an incredible cast bringing them to life is just brilliant.”
Jodie Comer adds: “I am beyond excited to be working with the BBC as part of the cast of Thirteen. Marnie Dickens' writing is truly remarkable and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to bring Ivy to life. Imagine the most unimaginable happening. Life turning completely on its head, with the actions of one person affecting so many lives. We as humans, even though we doubt ourselves, have this amazing strength within us to cope in the most terrifying situations, and Marnie explores that so beautifully. With Vanessa Caswill’s vision and such a truly talented cast and crew, I cannot wait to introduce you all to this world that so often becomes people’s reality.”
Thirteen explores how to pick up the threads of a life half-lived and how to survive as a family under the greatest pressure. How to feel again, chance love again. It is a psychological drama about who to trust when you can't even trust yourself. Ivy Moxam is a young girl. Ivy Moxam is a woman. Ivy Moxam is whoever you want her to be.
Thirteen also stars: Kemi-Bo Jacobs, Melina Matthews, Chipo Chung, Colin Mace, Suzette Llewellyn and Charles Babalola.
Elizabeth Kilgarriff, Executive Producer, adds: “Our announced cast feels very fresh, exciting and ambitious. Their talent and energy combined with Marnie’s gripping scripts will ensure Thirteen is a real treat for our BBC Three audience.”
It is produced by BBC In-house Drama Production, England, executive produced by Elizabeth Kilgarriff and produced by Hugh Warren. Filming has begun in and around Bristol this week.
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