Mr Loverman | Preview (BBC One)

Forthcoming eight-part BBC One drama series based on Booker prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo’s best-selling 2013 novel of the same name.

The series stars Lennie James (Save Me, Line of Duty) as the exuberant protagonist Barrington Jedidiah Walker alongside three-time Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke (Doctor Who, Informer), who stars as Carmel Walker, Barrington’s wife of five decades.

Ariyon Bakare (Life, His Dark Materials) plays Barrington’s best friend and soulmate, Morris De La Roux, while Tamara Lawrance (Get Millie Black, Time series two) and Sharlene Whyte (Small Axe, Stephen) star as Barrington and Carmel’s daughters, Maxine and Donna. Tahj Miles (Death in Paradise, Small Axe), will play Daniel, Donna’s son and Carmel and Barrington’s grandson.

Barrington Jedidiah Walker, Barry to his mates, is a seventy-four year old, Antiguan born, exuberant Hackney personality, renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women. Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris.

Bringing to life Bernardine Evaristo’s ground-breaking exploration of Britain’s older Caribbean community, Mr Loverman paints an incisive portrait of a family, exploring aspirations and regret, parenthood, and social expectations about sexual orientation and love.

Mr Loverman screenwriter, Nathaniel Price, adds: “From the moment I read Mr Loverman I fell in love with Barry, Morris, Carmel and the entire Walker family. Bernardine’s novel is not only a beautiful, truthful story, full of deeply human characters, it is a vitally important one...

"It is unflinching in its challenge of cultural myths and stereotypes, and an exhibition of just how deep and far-reaching the consequences of prejudice and fear can be. It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to adapt this seminal work with the brilliant team at Fable to bring these unforgettable characters to life on screen.”

Mr Loverman begins w/c 14th October on BBC One.