Latest news with #JamieLeeODonnell
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Northern Ireland's new adaptation hailed as "exquisite" boasts a "top tier cast" – here's what to know
Leonard and Hungry Paul, the new series from BBC Northern Ireland, has confirmed its "top tier" cast. The six-part comedy, based on Rónán Hession's 2021 novel of the same name, follows two "unique" friends as they "meander" through their "leafy suburban lives", charting a story about "Judo, ancient Rome, first loves, and the expansion of the Universe." The series, which recently commenced filming in Dublin, boasts a "top tier" cast including Derry Girls' Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, The End of the F***ing World's Alex Lawther and Fool Me Once star Laurie Kynaston. Hession's novel, which was dubbed "exquisite" by a reviewer on Amazon, will be adapted by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, with Andrew Chaplin - best known for Alma's Not Normal and Smoggie Queens - on directing duties. "I am delighted to see Leonard and Hungry Paul being adapted for the screen," said Hession of the series. "It's a real privilege as a writer to see my work being brought to life in a different creative form." Related: "At a time when most shows involve dragons, detectives, or existential dread, Leonard and Hungry Paul takes a slower route - through kindness, the quiet gravity of small things, and the occasional game of backgammon," added Chaplin. "Proof that not all heroes shout - some just know when to stay quiet." Eddie Doyle, Senior Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland, also shared a statement, saying: 'This series promises something special and is full of charm and poignant moments that encapsulate ordinary life. With a stellar cast bringing this acclaimed novel to the screen, it will make an exciting addition to BBC Northern Ireland's offering this year." "Leonard and Hungry Paul is the story of two friends who ordinarily would remain uncelebrated," reads the logline for the novel. "It finds a value and specialness in them that is not immediately apparent and prompts the idea that maybe we could learn from the people that we overlook in life. Related: "Leonard and Hungry Paul change the world differently to the rest of us: we try and change it by effort and force; they change it by discovering the small things they can do well and offering them to others." In addition to being called "exquisite" by one reader, Leonard and Hungry Paul was similarly lauded by others for its feel-good nature, with one user describing the novel as a "pleasant, diverting read" which was "suffused with gentle good humour and likeable characters". Leonard and Hungry Paul currently has no release date. Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy British Comedy Legends in newsagents or online, now priced at just £3.99.£49.99 at at at Audible at EE at at £99.00 at Amazon at at at at at at EE£91.40 at at at Amazon£54.98 at at at at at at at at at Game at EE at at at Pandora at at Sky Mobile at at at Game£123.99 at at at Three at at at at Pandora at at at at at at at at AO£199.99 at Fitbit at $15.00 at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis£157.00 at John Lewis£44.99 at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis & Partners at Amazon at Three£32.99 at Amazon at at at at at at John Lewis & Partners at at at Fitbit$29.85 at at at Amazon at £49.99 at Amazon at at at at Apple£293.81 at at Three at at at at at at at at at at at at at at EE at at John Lewis at Audible at at John Lewis at EE at at £379.00 at at at at Amazon at at at Apple at at at Samsung at Three at Apple at at at at at John Lewis$365.00 at Microsoft at at crunchyroll£22.00 at Amazon at at AO£79.00 at Samsung£449.00 at John Lewis£79.98 at at at at at at John Lewis & Partners£79.98 at at Microsoft£299.00 at Microsoft at at at at John Lewis£269.99 at at at at at Amazon at at now at John Lewis & Partners at at at Microsoft at at at at at at John Lewis at at at £6.65 at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at You Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Jamie-Lee O'Donnell of Derry Girls to star in BBC adaptation of Leonard and Hungry Paul
Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell , Laurie Kynaston (Fool me Once, The Sandman) and Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) lead the cast for Leonard and Hungry Paul , the upcoming BBC adaptation of Dublin author Rónán Hession 's acclaimed novel. A gentle and thought-provoking drama about two board game-loving friends, the success of Leonard and Hungry Paul took its indie publisher Bluemoose Books by surprise when it was published in 2019. The novel has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide and was selected as the book that Dubliners should read in 2021, chosen by Dublin City Council as its annual One Dublin One Book selection. 'At a time when most shows involve dragons, detectives, or existential dread, Leonard and Hungry Paul takes a slower route – through kindness, the quiet gravity of small things and the occasional game of backgammon,' said Andrew Chaplin, director of the six-part series. Adapted by writers Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, the series is currently filming in Dublin. It was commissioned by Eddie Doyle, senior head of commissioning at BBC Northern Ireland. READ MORE [ 'I like the underdog thing': Meghann Fahy's rise from underestimated actor to Netflix's Sirens star Opens in new window ] 'This series is full of charm and poignant moments that encapsulate ordinary life,' Doyle said. 'With a stellar cast bringing this acclaimed novel to the screen, it will make an exciting addition to BBC Northern Ireland's offering this year.' Hession, who also reviews fiction for The Irish Times, has published two other novels, Panenka (2021), and his latest novel Ghost Mountain , which was released in 2024. 'It's a real privilege as a writer to see my work being brought to life in a different creative form,' he said.
