Anne-Marie Duff Loves That ‘Reunion’ Is on BBC, Not a Streamer: TV Is “Quite an Expensive Hobby”

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Actress Anne-Marie Duff from the show “Bad Sisters” expresses her delight that her most recent venture, the revenge thriller series titled “Reunion,” which is based in the deaf community and will premiere in the U.K. on Monday, has been scheduled to air on the public broadcaster BBC and its streaming platform, BBC iPlayer.

Since it’s the BBC, you understand that its content will reach a wide audience, not just those who pay for streaming services. This matters because television viewing has become quite costly these days. Moreover, the notion that what we produce can matter and that everyone, regardless of their background, gets to see themselves represented is very comforting.

A four-part drama titled here, features Matthew Gurney portraying a deaf man who finally gets released from prison after many years, alongside Lara Peake, Eddie Marsan, and Rose Ayling-Ellis. This compelling story was penned by William Mager, a deaf screenwriter hailing from Sheffield, and produced by Warp Films, a production company based in Sheffield, known for creating the Netflix hit series Adolescence. The unique aspect of this series is that it’s bilingual, being filmed in both British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken English, around the city of Sheffield.

Beginning on Monday night, the show will debut on BBC One, the network’s primary channel. Simultaneously, the full series can be streamed on iPlayer. Additionally, following the release of some promotional images in February, BBC Studios is marketing the series globally.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to step foot at Reunion, a set that offered an exclusive look behind the scenes of their inclusive filming process – observing crew members learning sign language daily before filming began. This year, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of this redemption thriller titled “Reunion.” In it, we follow the gripping journey of Daniel Brennan, portrayed by Gurney (Name Me Lawand), a deaf man on a mission to set things right after his time in prison. Struggling to find his place in both the hearing and deaf worlds, Daniel is met with rejection from those closest to him – friends and members of the wider deaf community alike.

In the midst of his solitude, Brennan’s most significant bond is with his estranged daughter Carly, portrayed by Lara Peake (known for ‘How to Have Sex’, ‘Rivals’), whom he hasn’t communicated with since his imprisonment a decade past. Anne-Marie Duff (recognized from ‘Bad Sisters’ and ‘The Salisbury Poisonings’) plays Christine, a woman determined to locate Brennan and uncover the truth about his actions. Eddie Marsan (famous for ‘Back to Black’, ‘Ray Donovan’) stars as Stephen Renworth, Christine’s caring partner, while Rose Ayling-Ellis (acclaimed in ‘Summer of Rockets’ and ‘As You Like It’) portrays their daughter, Miri.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the masterful director Luke Snellin, known for films like “One Day” and “Wanderlust,” led the charge for the engrossing hour-long episodes of “Reunion.” In addition, he served as the executive producer. Helen Ostler, recognized from shows like “The Last Kingdom” and “Crime,” took on the role of producer, while Siobhan Morgan, a familiar face in productions such as “Waterloo Road” and “Hollyoaks,” functioned as associate producer. Mark Herbert, who’s worked on notable projects including “Four Lions,” “The Virtues,” and “This Is England,” served as executive producer for Warp Films, alongside creator and writer Mager. Lastly, Rebecca Ferguson and Jo McClellan, both with the BBC, held their positions as executive producers for this captivating series.

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2025-04-07 13:24