Mr Loverman release date, cast and episodes as Walking Dead star appears in new BBC drama
In an adaptation of Bernardine Evaristo's 2013 best-selling novel, new BBC drama Mr Loverman covers the touching love story between two men spanning 60 years
by Mike Taylor · Wales OnlineMr Loverman sees The Walking Dead's Lennie James play a married man who has lived a double life for several decades. In an adaptation of Bernardine Evaristo's 2013 best-selling novel, Mr Loverman covers the touching love story between two men spanning several decades.
Barry lives in Hackney with his wife Carmel (Sharon D Clarke) who believes he has been cheating on her with other women. Yet he has been in a secret, passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris (Ariyon Bakare).
Barry doesn't think he is gay but instead "Barry-sexual" as he grapples with the final stage of his life and big choices to make. The BBC series is released on Monday, October 14, but many will be wondering who appears in the new drama, its number of episodes and how to watch the series.
What is the plot of Mr Loverman?
Barry lives a secret life with his best friend Morris and he has a choice to make about his marriage, family and lifestyle. He makes decision to leave Carmel so that he can live in secret with Morris, but he also realises he has to come out as gay.
A plot synopsis from the BBC reads: "Barrington Jedidiah Walker, Barry to his mates, is a seventy-four year old, Antiguan born, exuberant Hackney personality, renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits.
"Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women. Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris.
"Now facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their futures."
Screenwriter Nathaniel Price hopes the series will address cultural myths and stereotypes, as well as "just how deep and far-reaching the consequences of prejudice and fear can be."
When is Mr Loverman released and how many episodes are there?
BBC One will air the first two episodes of Mr Loverman back-to-back on Monday, October 14 at 9pm. The entire series will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer on the same date.
There will be eight episodes of Mr Loverman, with each episode around 30 minutes in length.
Who appears in Mr Loverman?
Star of The Walking Dead and Line of Duty Lennie James plays the exuberant protagonist Barrington Jedidiah Walker, with three-time Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke as Carmel Walker, Barrington’s wife of five decades.
Ariyon Bakare, who has appeared in Life and His Dark Materials, plays Barrington’s best friend and soulmate, Morris De La Roux, and Tamara Lawrance of Get Millie Black and Time fame and Sharlene Whyte star as Barrington and Carmel’s daughters, Maxine and Donna.
Small Axe and Death in Paradise actor Tahj Miles plays Daniel, who is also Donna’s son and Carmel and Barrington’s grandson.
Keenan Munn-Francis, who also appeared in Black Dog and Passing Strange, appearas as a young Barrington opposite Gabin Kongolo as a young Morris. Whitstable Pearl actress Lauren Akosia also joins the cast as a young Carmel, known as Carmelita.
The full cast is as follows:
- Barrington (Barry) Jedidiah Walker – Lennie James (also an Executive Producer)
- Carmel Walker – Sharon D Clarke
- Morris De La Roux – Ariyon Bakare
- Maxine Walker – Tamara Lawrance
- Donna Walker – Sharlene Whyte
- Daniel – Tahj Miles
- Augusta – Juliet Garricks
- Odette De La Roux – Suzette Llewellyn
- Reuben Dempsey - Lochlann Ó Mearáin
- Miss Drusilla – Llewella Gideon
- Miss Merty – Hopi Grace
- Miss Candaisy – Doreene Blackstock
- Young Barry – Keenan Munn-Francis
- Young Morris – Gabin Kongolo
- Carmelita – Lauren Akosia
- Hubert – Clint Dyer
- Tony – Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Merle – Jessica Murrain