Filming has begun on Dun Breedin’, a series of 12 10-minute episodes of ‘drama with funny bits’ from the pen of writer and actor Julie Graham (Shetland, Benidorm). Set in Brighton, Dun Breedin’ explores the experiences of a group of women who have formed and forged relationships through marriages, births, deaths, depression, loss, domestic violence, wine and now… the menopause.
Under lockdown, filming is taking place in the homes and gardens of the cast, Tamzin Outhwaite, Denise Welch, Angela Griffin, Alison Newman and Tracy Ann Oberman. The performers are also enlisting the support of those who they are currently locked down with to take on crew roles and in some cases acting roles! Denise’s husband Lincoln Townley will play her character Doll’s boyfriend whilst son Louis Healy, who recently starred in Emmerdale, plays her grandson. There will even be a cameo performance from Vin Welch, Denise’s dad.
This is the ideal solution to getting a project developed and a pilot shot during tough times in the TV world and the aim is, of course, to get the project picked up by a broadcaster in the fullness of time. Writer Julie Graham had already been developing the idea with her friend executive producer Andrew Green. The pair decided to try this novel and inspirational approach to making entertainment at a time when so much of the broadcast world has gone dark.
Julie says, “The idea came from our producer Andrew Green. I’d been developing the series with his company and he saw this lockdown as potential to do something groundbreaking under these strange circumstances we all find ourselves in. Rather than wait for normal service to resume, why not seize the moment to be creative. It was very positive and everyone jumped at the opportunity. The thing that amazed me was, all the actors I approached to be part of this immediately said yes! Their enthusiasm for the project was overwhelming and so inspiring!”
Julie Graham and Alison Newman talked to us on the Funny Women Survival Guide podcast, out this Friday.
