Two of the most well-known British actors on TV will be starring on a new Channel 4 one-off drama 'Help' set during the spring pandemic.
Jodie Comer is famously known for her assassin role as the Villanelle in Killing Eve, and Stephen Graham is known for playing Combo in the beloved This Is England.
The Liverpudlian pair were good friends before starring in the one-off episode, with Stephen having introduced Jodie to his agent, Jane Epstein before her career kicked off.
After winning a Bafta in 2019, Jodie had thanked Stephen for the help during her career saying "Stephen, if I didn't owe you a pint before then, I do now.
“Thank you for the generosity you showed me all those years ago and for introducing me to Jane.”
Channel 4 'Help'
The two have teamed up to bring us an all-new drama to indulge in and it’s sure not to disappoint with both actors playing leading roles.
The Channel 4 drama is based in their hometown of Liverpool and is one of the first dramas to be based on the Covid-19 pandemic.
Written and directed by Jack Thorne and Marc Munden, the drama takes place in a care home.
It aims to depict how lives changed during the pandemic in spring 2020.
Writer Jack explains the reasoning behind the drama to Channel 4 "About two years ago Stephen Graham came to me with an idea to write something for him and Jodie Comer.
“I tried to think of something and got nothing. Then this crisis happened, and we saw care homes getting squashed and battered by the government.
“It’s been both a long process and a short one, trying to find a way to tell this story”.
Adding “Getting the story right will be incredibly important, we are aware of the pressure upon us, this has to be written and made with anger and precision. We hope we do it justice.”
In the drama Jodie plays a young care-worker called Sarah who builds a relationship with a patient, Tony played by Stephen.
The drama shows the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and depicts how Sarah and her colleagues struggle through the unknown.
The official summary for the TV drama explains Sarah "Goes to extraordinary lengths to protect those in her care, whose conditions make their suffering and isolation all the more traumatic.
"But the staff's unwavering commitment, compassion and heroic efforts can only do so much, and Sarah is pushed into a dark corner and desperately looks for a way out.”
Following the recent announcement of the new TV drama, Jodie spoke to Channel 4 “I am, of course, thrilled to finally be working alongside Stephen and the supremely talented Jack, Marc and those at Channel 4.
“For us to be able to explore such a relevant and emotive story through the eyes of such beautifully real characters, and in our home city of Liverpool, is a real honour.
“We’re determined to do justice to so many of the untold stories and heroes that have been affected as a result of this crisis and to handle them with care.”
Co-star Stephen added: “Jack (the writer) is one of the greatest and most truthful writers of our generation and in Help he has crafted a profoundly important piece of social realism.
"I’ve wanted to work with Jodie for ages, and together we’re hugely passionate about shining a light on one of the biggest tragedies of our time and the people at the heart of it.”
There has not been a release date confirmed as of yet for the Channel 4 episode but an announcement “Coming soon” has been published.
The TV drama was first announced in November with the first image and teaser of the show released on Monday, August 9.
