HELP | CHANNEL 4 | MADE IN LIVERPOOL
According Channel 4’s Head of Drama, Caroline Hollick, their latest film, Help, is “the most important thing you’ll watch this year“, and a “love letter to the cultural heritage of Liverpool.”
Beyond the obvious nod to The Beatles’ iconic song and film of the same name, Help, despite its hard-hitting message contains joyous references to Scouse culture, from food to football to in the know jokes.
Starring Scouse royalty Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham, written by BAFTA-winning writer, Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, The Virtues, National Treasure) and directed by visionary, Marc Munden (Utopia, The Third Day, The Secret Garden), here’s everything you’ll want to know about Channel 4’s, state-of-the-nation drama.
Synopsis
Set in a fictional Liverpool care home, Help tells the moving story of the relationship between a young care home worker, Sarah (Jodie Comer) and a patient, Tony (Stephen Graham) whose lives are changed forever by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in Spring 2020.
When and where to watch Help
Release Date: Help will premiere on Channel 4 on Thursday 16 September at 9pm, and will be available to stream on All 4 after its premiere.
Trailer
Watch the trailer for Help below
Who is in the cast?
Help is a production packed with Scouse treasures. In addition to leading actors and Executive Producers Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham, some of the city’s most famed faces shared the screen including Ian Hart (Tin Star, The Last Kingdom, Mary Queen of Scots), Sue Johnston (Time, Royle Family, Brookside), Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa, Band of Gold), Andrew Schofield (Tin Star, Scully, Blood Brothers).
Read more about the Scouse stars of Help in our upcoming blog!
Where is Help filmed?
Made in Liverpool City Region with investment and support from Liverpool Film Office through the LCR Production Fund, Help is a Liverpool story on screen and behind the scenes.
With so much homegrown talent – there was only one place for this story. Filming began on location in Liverpool early in 2021, and production continued across Liverpool City Region, with their key location in a former care home in Maghull, Sefton, as well as Thurstaston Beach, Wirral.
Interviews
Those Scousers again….check out the Jodie & Stephen cover takeovers with some fantastic interviews with the stars, as well as some chats with the makers, Jack Thorne and Marc Munden.
WATCH: Help Q&A with Jodie Comer, Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne and Marc Munden for BFI at Home
Observer New Review with Jodie Comer & Stephen Graham
Click image to read the interview with the Observer.
Stephen Graham interviews Jodie Comer for her HUNGER cover feature.
Click image to read the interview with the Hunger.
The Times Magazine interview Stephen Graham
Click the image to read Stephen’s interview with The Times.
WATCH: Jodie and Stephen join Alex Scott and Jermaine Jenas on BBC’s The One Show.
Click the image to watch Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham on BBC’s The One Show on iPlayer.
PODCAST: Radio Times launch their new podcast with Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham
Listen to the Radio Times podcast with Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer on your preferred channel here.
Reviews
Early reviews label Help a ‘must-watch’.
Digital Spy: ‘a must watch’,’one of the most important shows of the Covid era’. Read the full review here.
Help transmits in the UK on Channel 4 on 16th September at 9pm and is then available in the UK on streaming service All4.