ONWARDS AND SIDEWAYS: FIRST LOOK IMAGES RELEASED FROM NEW FEATURE-LENGTH BBC DRAMA

New pictures have been released for Onwards and Sideways, a new feature-length drama coming to cinemas, BBC iPlayer and BBC One from John Gore Studios and Hilltop Screen later this year.

Written by Paul Mayhew-Archer, the emotional and surprisingly funny film is directed by John Madden and stars BAFTA award-winning Rhys Ifans (Inheritance, House of the Dragon) as Tony Evans, along with three-time Oscar nominee, Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning Laura Linney (Ozark, Love Actually) as Emma Dretzin.

Joining Rhys and Laura are Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Sherwood) as Liz Evans, and Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power) as Professor Ridge.

Tony is deputy head of a primary school. Emma is a musician and composer, and a single mother of two daughters. Neither knows the other, until a startling encounter changes the course of their lives. On the same morning, these two are confronted with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.

This film is their story - a friendship which unfolds unexpectedly. A story of humour and emotion, of challenge and courage, of music and dance - transcending the assumptions of a little understood condition, and triumphing over the odds to find joy, release and love.

Onwards and Sideways is written by Paul Mayhew-Archer (The Vicar of Dibley, Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, and co-host of award-winning Parkinson’s podcast Movers and Shakers). It is directed by Oscar-nominee John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Operation Mincemeat, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) who continues his long-term collaboration with the multiple Oscar-nominated Thomas Newman.

It is produced by Hilltop Screen for John Gore Studios and the BBC. Kaleidoscope Film Distribution is representing worldwide sales, with CAA Media Finance co-repping in North America. Icon Film Distribution will release the film theatrically in the UK.

Onwards and Sideways is produced by Hilary Bevan Jones and John Gore. The executive producers are Hilary Strong, Francis Hopkinson, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Ellie Wood, Helen Flint, Rhys Ifans, and John Madden with Lucy Richer for the BBC. Alfie Johnson is co-producer.