CLOSE TO HOME: FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NEW CHANNEL 4 DRAMA

Channel 4 has announced further casting for Close to Home, a new four-part drama series produced by the multi-Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning Element Pictures, a Fremantle company (Normal People, Bugonia).

Joining the cast are Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones) as Dearbhla, Conor MacNeill (Industry) as Marty, Gerard Headley (Specky Clark) as Finty, Kerri Quinn (Say Nothing) as Jackie, Hannah McClean (Blue Lights) as Bernice, Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle (How to Get to Heaven From Belfast) as Julia and Lalor Roddy (That They May Face the Rising Sun) as Fra.

Based on Michael Magee’s debut novel, Close to Home revels in the reckless decadence of youth and celebrates a generation growing up in the wake of the troubles. A striking tale of love, trauma and finding your place in the scarred city you call home.

Previously announced to lead the cast are Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing, House of Guinness) as Sean, Jessica Reynolds (A Woman of Substance, Kneecap) as Mairéad, Seamus O’Hara (House of Guinness, Say Nothing) as Anthony, and Oisín Thompson (Trespasses) as Ryan.

Adapted for the screen by Michael Magee, the series will be directed by Diarmuid Goggins (Code of Silence).

Close to Home tells the story of Sean, a young man who finds himself back in Belfast. Back from university and back into old habits. Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell. One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.

Close to Home was commissioned for Channel 4 by Gwawr Lloyd, Interim Head of Drama and Gemma Boswell, Commissioning Editor, Drama. Executive Producers are Christopher Aird, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Michael Dawson, Michael Magee, Diarmuid Goggins and Anthony Boyle. Martin Mahon serves as Producer.

The series will be distributed internationally by Fremantle and is filmed with support from Northern Ireland Screen and Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland. Transmission details will be announced in due course.

Filming wrapped in Belfast last month.