Latest news with #MrBatesvThePostOffice
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Inside Andrew Buchan's life from messy split to 'hidden' ITV role
Inside Andrew Buchan's life from messy split to 'hidden' ITV role This weekend, ITV viewers will see Andrew Buchan play DI James Marsh in the new crime thriller Code of Silence. Code of Silence: Rose Ayling-Ellis stars in ITV trailer ITV viewers are in for a treat this weekend as the first episode of a new six-part thriller, featuring a cast of well-known faces, including Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan, will air. Code of Silence centres around a determined and smart deaf woman named Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis), whose life is drastically changed. Due to her lip-reading skills, DI James Marsh (Andrew Buchan) and DS Ashleigh Francis (Charlotte Ritchie) recruit Alison for a covert operation. A synopsis reads: "Alison must surveil a dangerous gang planning a high-stakes heist, thrusting her into a world of crime and deception. As she deciphers the gang's secret conversations, Alison becomes a vital asset to the case. But when she forms a dangerous bond with gang recruit Liam Barlow (Kieron Moore), the risks grow greater and her true identity is put at stake." As the six-part series kicks off this weekend, we're taking a look at actor Andrew Buchan's life outside of the ITV show. Rocky relationship Andrew and Amy's relationship has been rocky over the years (Image: Getty Images Europe ) Article continues below Andrew began dating actress Amy Nuttall in 2007 before marrying her five years later, in 2012. Amy is best known for her appearances in Downton Abbey, Emmerdale, and Mr Bates v The Post Office. The pair then had two children together, a daughter and a son, whom they tend to keep out of the spotlight. However, Andrew's marriage hit headlines in 2023 when it was reported he had 'walked out' on his wife just before Christmas. It was believed he had started to develop feelings for actress Leila Farzad, whom he met on the set of a BBC thriller. At the time, a source told the Mirror: "For Andrew to walk away from his family was a huge shock to us all and Amy is heartbroken." Although since then, the pair seemed to have patched up their rocky relationship and have reconciled. In February last year, Amy confirmed to The Times they were still married and living together with their children in Buckinghamshire. Career first Andrew wrote ITV's dark thriller Passenger (Image: ITV ) Last year, Andrew went behind the camera as he took on his first screenwriting role for ITV's dark thriller, Passenger. Speaking to Express about the six-part series before it aired, he shared his excitement over the process as a whole. He said, 'The whole process has been a complete joy, whether you're an actor, a writer, a director, or a producer. 'You're really just in the business of wanting to create, and this branches the same tree, really, so being there at the starting blocks of the processes has just been wonderful, and seeing every facet of every idea brought to life has far exceeded my expectations. 'A credit to everyone involved because a lot of hard work has gone into this, so seeing behind the curtain has been a complete thrill.' Breakout role Andrew played Mark Latimer in ITV's Broadchurch (Image: ITV ) Although Andrew's first credited role was in 2006, when he played Marcus in the TV movie If I Had You, it wasn't until 2013 that he became a household name. Andrew starred in the ITV drama Broadchurch as Mark Latimer, alongside David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Jodie Whittaker. He played the father of murder victim Danny Latimer, a young 11-year-old boy whose body was found on the beach. With the mystery of discovering who had killed the young boy being the focus of the show, Andrew confessed he had fans cornering him on the street, desperate to know if he had done it. Article continues below Speaking to The Standard about the role in the past, he said, "The thing that drew me to it initially was definitely the character. "I've never played a part like this before. There's no shying away from any element of emotion along the journey, and that did make me quite afraid. But sometimes it's good to walk towards your fears.' Code of Silence premieres on May 18 on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.
ITV News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Is the streaming revolution putting UK TV dramas at risk?
A survey of top TV insiders, seen by ITV News Arts Editor Nina, paints a picture of an industry where more and more of its talent is thinking of leaving It has for years been a real UK success story. In 2022 it was reckoned the UK TV industry generated around £20 billion for the economy. But as leading lights from TV prepare to gather for the Bafta awards on Sunday there are many hoping that the issues clouding the horizon will not be forgotten. The most nominated programme this weekend is Baby Reindeer which was made by Netflix. There are also multiple nominations for the Disney+ series Rivals. The streaming services have brought a viewing revolution to our screens: big US companies with deep pockets offering a wealth of choice to viewers. But some leading industry figures here say the streamers' focus on making content that has a global reach is putting homegrown UK-focused stories in high-end drama at risk. Making series like the huge hit Mr Bates v The Post Office is reported to have left ITV with a loss of £1 million last year, even though it was the most watched programme of 2024. The need for domestic broadcasters to make drama that can be sold abroad to recoup costs has raised fears that British stories may be getting squeezed out in the future. Peter Kosminsky the award-winning director of Wolf Hall and its sequel The Mirror and the Light said he would never be able to afford to make a drama like this in the current climate. Competition from streamers, freezes in the BBC licence fee, a drop in advertising revenue not to mention inflation and the ongoing impact of the recent industry strikes in the US, have made the environment in the industry more difficult to navigate. His proposal backed by a parliamentary committee of a 5% levy on revenue from streaming services' UK subscriptions could, he says, be used to help the industry here. But he himself said the fact that it sounds an awful lot like a tariff in an era of Donald Trump, means the government would be very reluctant to take this up. It has reportedly got no favour with the Culture secretary, amid concern it would affect investment in the UK creative industries. There are widespread calls for enhanced tax incentives, particularly from those mainly freelance people, working in the Unscripted sector, things like documentaries, travel shows and reality TV. Recent figures from the union Bectu seen by ITV News, show a slight improvement in some areas from a few months ago but still some alarming figures, including 43% of those surveyed saying they're currently out of work and a third seeing themselves leaving the industry in the next five years. One freelance series producer I spoke to, Clare Fisher has started a support group on Facebook, TV Switch Up, for those like her who can't find work in the industry. She has a huge wealth of experience but has had no work for more than a year. She is now engaged in helping her peers use their skills garnered from work behind the camera to use in other industries. She is clearly heartbroken that she can no longer pursue her vocation in TV. On Sunday there will be a special Bafta award for ITV, given to the channel for its commissioning of Mr Bates vs The Post Office, a drama which famously changed government policy and brought the demise of the post office workers firmly into the spotlight. ITV is being lauded for what one Bafta committee member has described as a 'brave commission.' One of the shows stars, Lia Williams who plays the beleaguered head of the post office Paul Vennells, says right now dramas like these should be seen not as brave but as necessary commissions.
