29th June 2009

New Drama Series 'Father and Son' premieres on RTE One tonight

FATHER AND SON, a four part contemporary thriller starring an award winning cast, directed by Brian Kirk (My Boy Jack, Middletown) and written by Emmy award-winning Irish writer Frank Deasy (Prime Suspect: The Final Act) premieres tonight, June 29th on RTÉ One at 9.30pm.

Dougray Scott (Mission Impossible), Stephen Rea (The Crying Game), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), John Kavanagh (The Tudors) and Flora Montgomery (When Brendan Met Trudy) star in this drama which follows Michael (Scott), a reformed gang leader as he leaves Manchester to start a new life in Clare with his pregnant girlfriend Anna. However, when his estranged son Vincent is imprisoned for a gang murder, Michael must return to Manchester and the scenes of his criminal past in order to save him. But Vincent has been set up for the murder in order to lure Michael back to Manchester.

“Irish Film Board and RTÉ finance ensured this ITV series was made in Ireland, by Irish filmmakers, contributing €5m to the Irish economy. We are delighted that Michael Casey brought the project to us.” said Naoise Barry, Film Commissioner, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.

Executive Producer Andy Harries (The Queen, Prime Suspect), said: “Frank Deasy has created an amazing portrait of urban life which is researched meticulously. It’s a surprising and stunningly original piece of writing. Brian Kirk is a director I have admired for a long time and he has a really brilliant partnership with producer, Michael Casey.”

Produced by Andy Harries’ Left Bank Pictures and co-produced by Michael Casey and James Flynn at Octagon Films, the series which is set in Manchester and Dublin filmed for 11 weeks on location in Dublin and Wicklow late last year. It received funding from ITV, IFB, RTÉ and Section 481.

Father and Son will screen for the next four Monday evenings at 9.30pm on RTE One starting tonight.