David Suchet to Star in 'Press', Coming to Masterpiece in 2018
Press, another new series coming from PBS and BBC One to Masterpiece in 2018, has announced their cast -- and it includes Poirot's David Suchet.
"You look at the papers and TV news — there has always been discussion about can you trust your information, what are your sources? Fake news is just our latest term for it." - Mike Barlett, creator of Press
An ambitious new TV series, Press is coming to PBS Masterpiece next year. Written by Mike Barlett, who wrote the Shakepearean-like King Charles III, which aired this past spring on both BBC One and PBS, this co-production will focus on a different aspect of our current world: the newspaper industry. From the press release:
"Set in the fast-paced and challenging environment of the British newspaper industry, Press will immerse viewers in the personal lives and the constant professional dilemmas facing its characters. The series follows their lives as they attempt to balance work and play, ambition and integrity, amid the never-ending pressure of the 24-hour global news cycle and an industry in turmoil."
Today we got our first wind of who will be populating the newsrooms, and it's a cavacade of British PBS who's who.
Charlotte Riley, who most recently was seen in King Charles III as Kate Middleton is the leading News Editor of our fictional broadsheet known only as "The Herald", while another KCIII alumni, Priyanga Burford, is her editor.
Al Weaver, best known for his role inGrantchester, is The Herald's investigative reporter and Brendan Cowell (last seen in a guest turn in this season Game of Thrones) as their deputy editor.
Across the way, at the competing broadsheet known only as "The Post," Suchet (aka Poirot himself) presides as the Chairman & CEO of Worldwide News, owner of the paper. Happy Valley's Shane Zaza is the leading news editor with Ben Chaplin (last seen in The Thin Red Line) as his boss. Game of Thrones' Ellie Kendrick is their ace reporter, with newcomer Paapa Essiedu as their newest hire. Essiedu is best known for his award winning stage work at The Royal Shakespeare Company, this is his first major TV credit.
Press will be directed by Victoria's Tom Vaughan. Filming begins next month in London, and the drama will air first on BBC One, with a run on Masterpiece to directly follow. Both BBC and PBS producers expressed themselves as very excited and hopeful for the new series to take off.
Rebecca Eaton, Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE said: “News, fake news, business and politics have long been bedfellows – now more than ever. Mike Bartlett understands how to make all this real and immediate.” MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.
Piers Wenger, Controller, BBC Drama said: “The newspaper business is part of Britain’s identity and Mike’s gripping stories of crusading journalists in this ever-changing industry, brought to life by this brilliantly talented cast, make for a fresh, thrilling and utterly British contemporary drama.”
No premiere date was given at this, time, but we expect that will come with Masterpiece's 2018 schedule next January. Stay tuned.
