Guilt (British TV series)
| Guilt | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Neil Forsyth |
| Directed by | Robert McKillop |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Neil Webster Kirstie MacDonald Jules Hussey |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Scotland BBC Two |
| Release | 30 October – 14 November 2019 |
Guilt is a 2019 dark comedy-drama four-part series, which was the first drama commission of the new BBC Scotland channel before being broadcast on BBC Two. Written and created by Neil Forsyth, the show centres on two brothers played by Mark Bonnar and Jamie Sives who get involved in a hit and run. Guilt was broadcast on BBC Two between 30 October and 14 November 2019.[1] The series was confirmed to return for a second season, to be broadcast in 2021.[2]
Cast
- Mark Bonnar as Max
- Jamie Sives as Jake
- Ruth Bradley as Angie
- Sian Brooke as Claire
- Emun Elliott as Kenny
- Bill Paterson as Roy Lynch
- Moyo Akandé as Tina
- Noof McEwan as Cameron
Production
Forsyth was keen to write a show about siblings, which he has called “the most interesting dramatic relationship” and a show with a leitmotif that ran through all the characters, in this case guilt.[3] He spent several years developing the show, before finding a home for it at the BBC. Guilt was produced by Happy Tramp North and Expectation Entertainment and directed by Robert McKillop.
Guilt became the first drama commission for the new BBC Scotland channel, which premiered the show’s episodes a week before UK-wide transmission on BBC Two. Guilt was shot in Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Edinburgh, locations included Calton Hill and Charlotte Square.[4] In Glasgow, a studio was built at Parkhouse Business Park and other locations included Clydebank Docks, Aberfoyle and the Lanarkshire town of East Kilbride.
Plot
The show begins with two brothers, Max and Jake, in a car returning from a wedding. When they accidentally run over and kill an elderly man on an Edinburgh street, they make the decision to try and cover up the crime. As the show progresses, the brothers’ difficulties intensify and the story opens up to bring in other characters and storylines, within a thematic narrative of guilt.[5]
Reception
Guilt received strong viewing figures[6] and a highly positive critical reception. The Times called it, “An absolute cracker”,[7] The Observer, “an utter triumph, a word-of-mouth dazzler”,[8] with “welcome Coen brothers echoes”.[9] The Telegraph called it a “stealth hit”[10] which “felt like Fargo relocated to Leith, or Midnight Run reimagined by Irvine Welsh”.[11] The Independent termed it “the unexpected treat of the year”,[12] The Guardian described it as a “darkly delicious tale” that was “fast becoming a word-of-mouth hit”,[13] the Radio Times called it “Hitchcockian”[14] and The Herald deemed it the most impressive Scottish small screen debut since the 1987 comedy drama Tutti Frutti.[15]
Guilt currently has a rare 100% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.[16]
Trivia
The Hibernian football jersey that Jamie Sives wears in a scene in Guilt is the actual one worn by former Hibernian player Mickey Weir in the 1991 Scottish League Cup final.[17]
References
- ^ "BBC Scotland - Guilt - The real-life 'bromance' behind Guilt began in high school". BBC.
- ^ "Award-winning drama Guilt set to return for a second series on BBC Two and BBC Scotland". BBC.
- ^ "New BBC drama Guilt". The Herald.
- ^ "New BBC drama Guilt starts filming in Edinburgh". The Scotsman.
- ^ "Guilt, series one, episode two review". Herald Scotland.
- ^ "Guilt, series one, episode two review". Herald Scotland.
- ^ Clay, Joe. "Guilt reivew". The Times.
- ^ "The week in TV". The Guardian.
- ^ "The week in TV". The Guardian.
- ^ Singh, Anita (20 November 2019). "Guilt, episode four review". The Telegraph.
- ^ Hogan, Michael (30 October 2019). "Guilt, episode one review". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Guilt, BBC Two, Review". iNews.
- ^ Virtue, Graeme (6 November 2019). "Guilt should be your next binge watch". The Guardian.
- ^ "Guilt". Radio Times.
- ^ "Guilt, series one, episode two review". Herald Scotland.
- ^ "Guilt: miniseries review". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Scottish footie kits". Twitter.
External links
- Guilt at BBC Online
- Guilt at IMDb
