Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing on the Edge

CD93CD93 Posts: 13,939
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Award-winning dramatist Stephen Poliakoff blows open the volatile world of 1930s London, in a story about a black jazz band’s rise to success, before violence and prejudice brings it crashing back to earth.

Advert Link <- all ads need to be that fun

Writer & Director: Stephen Poliakoff
Louis: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Pamela: Joanna Vanderham
Stanley: Mathew Goode
Sarah: Janet Montgomery
Lady Cremone: Jacqueline Bisset
Masterson: John Goodman

With Jane Asher, Tom Hughes, Anthony Head, Angel Coulby and Jenna-Louise Coleman.

Now, does anybody know when this will be airing on BBC Two?
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Comments

  • AlexSRAlexSR Posts: 17
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    This should be airing in the new year. The word is that it's very good.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,832
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    CD93 wrote: »
    Advert Link <- all ads need to be that fun

    Needs a password to view that link.
  • Wynne EvansWynne Evans Posts: 1,066
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    Just finished watching The Lost Prince so i'm looking forward to this.
  • AlexSRAlexSR Posts: 17
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    Full synopsis of the link is :

    "Award-winning dramatist Stephen Poliakoff (The Lost Prince; Close My Eyes) blows open the volatile world of 1930s London, in a story about a black jazz band's rise to success, before violence and prejudice brings it crashing back to earth.

    Set in an extraordinary period of immense change, the Louis Lester Band arrives at the forefront of an emerging musical movement: jazz. As the band grows in popularity and starts to mix with the upper classes, the intoxicating combination of music and parties pull the characters into a gilded but perilous world. Soon the band begins to feel immune from the prejudice hovering beneath the surface of society, but the sudden death of one of the band members creates a catastrophic turn in their fortunes. They immediately find themselves confronted by betrayal, and their privileged position is torn away from them as they begin to discover who their friends are. A stellar cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor(American Gangster; Salt), John Goodman (The Big Lebowski; The Artist), Matthew Goode (A Single Man; Brideshead Revisited) and Jacqueline Bisset (Bullitt) star in this explosive new drama, where for a moment music transcends the divisions of class and race, until fear and hate once again tear them apart."
  • oldhagoldhag Posts: 2,539
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    I'll have to remember this one!
  • AlexSRAlexSR Posts: 17
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    If the advance word is correct, it should be worth remembering.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,151
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    Caught the trailer for this over new year. I can see Merlin's Queen Guinevere stealing the show in the first episode. And there's the new Who companion too.

    Come on BBC give us a start date.
  • AlexSRAlexSR Posts: 17
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    9pm on Sunday 4th Feb, so two weeks time.
  • guestofsethguestofseth Posts: 5,303
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    AlexSR wrote: »
    9pm on Sunday 4th Feb, so two weeks time.

    I don't think that's right, Brian Cox's Wonders of Life, a five part series, starts on Sunday 27th at 9.
  • Ed R.MarleyEd R.Marley Posts: 9,130
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    Whenever I hear Steven Polly-wotsit's name, I can't help but think of a load of luvvies at a Hampstead kitchen dinner party.
    I've seen the trails for this and in my opinion: meh:sleep:
  • LushnessLushness Posts: 38,158
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    Looks wonderful! It's right up my street, can't wait! :)
  • sheila bligesheila blige Posts: 8,010
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    I've only seen a couple of Poliakoff's work. I find him very hit and miss. I enjoyed The Lost Prince but found Close My Eyes one of the most boring, pretentious loads of rubbish I've ever seen (despite having a fabulous cast led by Alan Rickman).

    I may give this a try though as I love John Goodman.
  • CD93CD93 Posts: 13,939
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  • CD93CD93 Posts: 13,939
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    CD93 wrote: »

    These are actually now available - ahead of next week's start :)
  • Virgil TracyVirgil Tracy Posts: 26,805
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    oh no ... Jazz . :(
  • CD93CD93 Posts: 13,939
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    Surprising choice from a jazz band.
  • NaturalDancerNaturalDancer Posts: 5,128
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    Sounds good :)
  • NaturalDancerNaturalDancer Posts: 5,128
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    oh no ... Jazz . :(

    Yeah worst music ever imo. But then there's jazz and there's jazz; I'm hoping it's not jazz but happy if it's jazz :D IYKWIM ;)
  • roger_50roger_50 Posts: 6,895
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    My favourite Poliakoff drama was The Tribe.

    For obvious reasons. :cool::D
  • Ed R.MarleyEd R.Marley Posts: 9,130
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    roger_50 wrote: »
    My favourite Poliakoff drama was The Tribe.

    For obvious reasons. :cool::D

    Anna Friel was never shy about taking her kit off back in the day:D
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 20
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    Anna Friel was never shy about taking her kit off back in the day:D

    haha .. happy 90s memories of Anna Friel was the topic of another thread just now.

    Back on topic, I like Polly, and I've already heard a couple of reviews of this via twitter saying it's good. Looking forward to it - will make a change from weeks of vanilla tv.
  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 32,491
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    I'm looking forward to this.
    The dance bands in the big hotels were all British names in the thirties and there were a lot of them.

    http://www.dennydennis.co.uk/dennydennis/British_Dance_Bands.html

    So is it just a drama? Or was there actually a similar band of black musicians and singers?

    Very few black musicians enjoyed success in the thirties in the UK.

    The exception was probably "Hutch" (Leslie Hutchinson), a cabaret pianist/singer the only name I can think of who was black and very popular with society in those days. Often featured on the radio.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XKk2Yl3tsw
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 20
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    According to a couple of articles I read , it's based on several real musicians who did have success, with the main characters a kind of mixture of them.

    Time Out review :

    http://www.timeout.com/london/tv-and-radio-guide/dancing-on-the-edge

    "all the makings of a synthesis of glamour and grit"

    song from the show : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_cpljdE2Xo
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