Claire Foy leads 'disarming, sly and deeply romantic' BBC drama
Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen lead the cast for the BBC's romcom drama, You Are Here.
Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen are starring in a "disarming, sly and deeply romantic" comedy for the BBC.
The 42-year-old actress and the 51-year-old actor lead as Marnie and Michael, respectively, in the honest, witty and tender love story drama, You Are Here, adapted from 59-year-old David Nicholls’ critically acclaimed, best-selling novel of the same name.
The eight-part series' synopsis reads: "When a mutual friend throws them together, Marnie and Michael unexpectedly find themselves setting off on an epic walk.
"Against the odds, they end up on the brink of a relationship that neither was looking for, but which might be exactly the one they both need.
"You Are Here is about finding a connection when you least expect it and overcoming the obstacles of midlife.
"Treading the tricky path from loneliness to love, Marnie and Michael go coast-to-coast across the stunning (and sometimes soaking) English countryside, navigating an undeniable attraction that is as exhilarating as it is terrifying."
You are Here - penned by David and directed by 59-year-old Lenny Abrahamson - is set along the Coast to Coast walking trail from the Lake District to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire.
The show - produced by Element Pictures for the BBC and STARZ - will be filmed in the Lake District and around Manchester.
David declared Claire and Matthew as "just dream casting".
He said: "I’m so delighted to be working on You Are Here with Element, the BBC, STARZ and Lenny, whose work I’ve admired for many years.
"And Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic.
"The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that’s our ambition here too; to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion.
"We can’t wait to bring Marnie and Michael’s journey to the screen."
Lenny added: "As a huge admirer of David’s writing, I’m delighted to be collaborating with him to bring You Are Here to the screen. The novel is such a beautiful love story – funny, profound and ultimately deeply hopeful.
"I’m also extremely excited to have Claire and Matthew, two actors I hugely admire, playing Michael and Marnie."
Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama, is thrilled Claire and Matthew are leading the cast, and said viewers are "in for a treat" with You Are Here.
She commented: "Like countless others, I loved this book, packed full of charm, humour, heartache and joy.
"The combination of David’s wonderful scripts, Lenny back directing on the BBC, Element Pictures producing, and Claire and Mathew leading our cast is a real gift.
"I can’t wait for Marnie and Michael to spring off the page and onto the screen. BBC viewers are in for a treat."
Ed Guiney, executive producer, Element Pictures, thinks You Are Here is a "drama the world needs right now".
He said: "We are so delighted to be collaborating with David Nicholls and Lenny Abrahamson - two of the most talented creators working today - on the television adaptation of David’s gorgeous book, backed by the brilliant teams at BBC Drama and Starz.
"We’re also very excited to be working with our absolute dream cast in Matthew and Claire.
"You Are Here feels to us like a drama the world needs right now - life-affirming, positive, funny and full of charm."
And Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming, STARZ, declared You Are Here is a "perfect fit" for its audience.
She said: "You Are Here is disarming, sly and deeply romantic. It captures something true and aching about the way we love now.
"Together with our partners at the BBC, we are thrilled to be working with the dream team of David, Lenny, Claire, Matthew and Element Pictures to bring this beautiful love story to life.
"It’s a perfect fit for our STARZ audience."
Claire, Matthew, David, Lenny, and Ed serve as executive producers alongside Andrew Lowe and Emma Norton for Element Pictures, and Jonny Richards and Anna Ferguson for the BBC.
The series - of which an air date is yet to be announced - is produced by Clare Shepherd.
