Our Friends in the North

Peter Flannery's adaptation of his own iconic BAFTA award winning TV series - with a brand new final episode by award-winning writer Adam Usden'A stunning state-of-the-nation social commentary' The TelegraphFirst broadcast in 1996, Our Friends in the North was one of the most highly acclaimed TV shows of the 1990s. It launched the careers of Daniel Craig, Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee and Mark Strong, won numerous awards including three BAFTAs, and is widely regarded as a modern classic.Now, 26 years later, Peter Flannery has recreated his epic saga for radio. Ambitious in scale and scope, the drama follows the fortunes over four friends over three decades, beginning in 1964. Drawing on real-life controversies from the Sixties and Seventies, it tackles corporate, political and police corruption in the 1960s, the Soho porn empires of the 1970s, the nouveau riche and the Miners' Strike of the 1980s and the rise of New Labour in the 1990s. A final episode by Adam Usden brings the story up to the present day, picking up on several characters from 26 years before and showing them dealing with familiar challenges including housing conditions, young peope's engagement with politics and father/son relationships.Starring four talented young actors - Norah Lopez Holden, James Baxter, Luke MacGregor and Philip Correia - this powerful, poignant audio retelling immerses us in the world of Tyneside pals Mary, Nicky, Geordie and Tosker, as they face personal, political and social upheaval, experience triumph and tragedy, and make decisions that will change their lives forever.Production creditsWritten by Peter FlanneryEpisode 10 written by Adam Usden and dedicated to the memory of Warren UsdenProduced by Melanie HarrisExecutive Producer: Jeremy MortimerTrainee Production Co-ordinator: Emma O'MahoneyStudio Engineer: Paul ClarkSound Design: Eloise Whitmore, Jon Nicholls, Paul Cargill and Steve BrookeA Sparklab production for BBC Radio 4CastMary/Julia/Francine - Norah Lopez HoldenNicky/Young Anthony/Christopher Collins - James BaxterGeordie/Ray/Anthony - Luke MacGregorTosker/DI Salway/Toby Roddy - Philip CorreiaFelix - Trevor FoxFlorrie/Sandra/Claudia Seabrook/Psychiatrist/Mrs Wilkinson - Tracey WilkinsonAustin Donohue/Charlie/Claud Seabrook/DI Cockburn/Colin Butler/Christopher - Tom Goodman-HillEddie Wells/Arthur Watson/Commander Harold Chapple - James GaddasBede Connor/Benny Barratt/Chief Constable Roy Johnson/Alan Roe/The Close Encounterer - Tony HirstJohn Edwards - Maanuv ThiaraDS Conrad/Priest - Andrew ByronErnie/Sir Colin Blamire/Asst Commander Fieldson - Des YanksonHelen/Paula/Lucille/Alison/Elaine/Alice - Eve ShottonCommissioner Jellicoe/Superintendent - Darren KuppanSean Collins - Alfie WilliamsAmy - Bryony CorriganRoy - David LeonKira - Lucy AistonWazza - Noel WaltonMike - Tom MachellFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 March-9 June 2022(c)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd