The Hour (drama series)


Genre: 	Period drama
Created by: 	Abi Morgan
Written by: 	Abi Morgan
Starring: 	Dominic West
Romola Garai
Ben Whishaw
Anton Lesser
Julian Rhind-Tutt
Anna Chancellor
Joshua McGuire
Lisa Greenwood
Oona Chaplin
Ken Bones
John Bowe
Vanessa Kirby
Tim Pigott-Smith
Juliet Stevenson
Country of origin: 	United Kingdom
No. of series: 	1
No. of episodes: 	6 (List of episodes)

Executive producer(s): 	Jane Featherstone, Derek Wax, Abi Morgan, Lucy Richer
Producer(s):	Katie Swinden
Running time: 	60 minutes
Production company(s): 	Kudos Film and Television

Original channel: 	BBC Two, BBC HD
Original run: 	19 July 2011 (2011-07-19) – present


    

The Hour is a 2011 BBC six-part television drama series, written by Abi Morgan and starring Ben Whishaw, Dominic West, Romola Garai and Anna Chancellor. It is set on a British topical news programme in 1956, at the time of the Suez Crisis. It premiered on BBC Two on 19 July 2011.

With a highly competitive, sharp-witted and passionate love triangle at the heart of the series, it's through the lives of enigmatic Bel and her rivals, Freddie and Hector, that viewers will witness the decade on the threshold of change – from the ruthless sexual politics behind the polite social façade of the Fifties to the revelations that redefined the world for a new generation. Over the six episodes, the interplay and intense ambitions between our rising news team play out against the backdrop of a mysterious murder and Freddie's controversial and dangerous investigation (BBC).
[edit] Characters

Ben Whishaw plays Freddie Lyon, a brilliant and outspoken journalist, whose passion endlessly lands him in trouble. Getting to the truth of a story can be a dangerous and risky business, and it's Bel, his contemporary and best friend, who is always there to bail him out. For Freddie, Bel is so much more as well – if only he were brave enough to tell her.

Romola Garai plays Bel Rowley, spirited and ambitious, and facing the most exciting and daunting challenge of her life – running The Hour. Can her passion for the truth survive the political pressure the job will bring – and will her friendship with Freddie survive her undeniable attraction to front man Hector?.

Dominic West plays Hector Madden, charming, charismatic – a man whose upbringing and education have instilled in him a sense of entitlement, and whose glamorous young wife has the family connections to get him the job as front man on The Hour. But beneath the confident façade Hector has a lot to prove. Bel provides the challenge – and the spark.
													Supporting Cast and Producers

The Hour's supporting cast includes Tim Pigott-Smith and Juliet Stevenson as Lord and Lady Elms, Anton Lesser as Clarence Fendley, the BBC's Head of News, Anna Chancellor as Lix, The Hour's brave and maverick hard-drinking foreign correspondent, Julian Rhind-Tutt as Angus McCain, the Prime Minister's eyes and ears, and Oona Chaplin as Marnie Madden, Hector's spoilt beautiful wife (BBC).

The Hour is a 6x60 minute drama series, commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two, and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning.

Executive producers are Jane Featherstone, Derek Wax and Abi Morgan for Kudos Film and Television and Lucy Richer for the BBC. The producer is Ruth Kenley-Letts and the lead director is Coky Giedroyc.