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Martin Compston and Tony Curran to star in adaptation of Mayflies

The drama will be filmed this autumn in Glasgow and Ayrshire.

Lucinda Cameron
Thursday 25 August 2022 14:59 BST
Actor Martin Compston will star in Mayflies (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Actor Martin Compston will star in Mayflies (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

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Martin Compston and Tony Curran are to star in a BBC drama adaptation of Andrew Oā€™Haganā€™s acclaimed novel Mayflies.

Ashley Jensen will also star in the drama, which will be filmed in and around Glasgow and Ayrshire this autumn.

The novel explores a friendship that starts in the summer of 1986 when Jimmy (Martin Compston) and Tully (Tony Curran) bond over music, films and the rebel spirit.

The ā€œnostalgic, poignant and movingā€ story examines what happens to the friendship when it is put to the test after the phone rings with unexpected news 30 years later.

Mayflies is a co-commission with BBC Scotland and will be made by the Bafta-award winning Synchronicity Films for the BBC.

Oā€™Hagan said: ā€œFor a while now, Iā€™ve admired the work of Synchronicity Films ā€“ Scottish in its bones and international in complexion ā€“ and itā€™s a thrill to see them bringing Mayflies to BBC One.

ā€œThe story is a very personal one to me, and itā€™s amazing to see the characters come to life in Andrea Gibbā€™s wonderful adaptation.

ā€œDirector Peter Mackie Burns has a singular vision, and I look forward to seeing what he makes of the Ayrshire landscape and the emotional reality of this story.ā€

Jensen plays Tullyā€™s partner Anna in the mini-series, which is being made for the BBC in association with All3 Media International, with support from Screen Scotland.

Gaynor Holmes, BBC Drama commissioning editor, said: ā€œWeā€™re incredibly proud to continue the BBCā€™s longstanding commitment to showcasing the very best of Scotland and Scottish talent with this distinctive new drama.

ā€œMayflies is an intimate and devastating portrait of male friendship that manages to be both life-affirming and heart-breaking, and weā€™re delighted to have assembled an outstanding lead cast and creative team to bring it from page to screen.ā€

Gibb said adapting the novel for the screen has been one of the highlights of her career.

She said: ā€œAndrew tells his story of enduring male friendship with love, truth, tenderness and a searing humanity. Thereā€™s not an ounce of sentimentality.

ā€œItā€™s very funny and deeply moving. The characters of Tully and Jimmy are instantly recognisable and totally unforgettable.

ā€œBoth are so alive and vibrant they leap off the page. Itā€™s been a joy and a privilege living with them.ā€

Mayflies was named the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2021 in November.

Claire Mundell, executive producer, founder and creative director of Synchronicity Films, said: ā€œAndrewā€™s novel is nostalgic, poignant and moving, following a life-long friendship and exploring the optimism of youth and the realities of later life.

ā€œIt honestly depicts the bonds and boundaries of a shared life and values.

ā€œWe are excited to be working with Andrew, Peter, Andrea and the BBC to collaborate on an authentic scripted adaptation of this acclaimed Scottish novel.ā€

Mayflies will air on BBC One, BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer with a release date yet to be confirmed.

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