Gideon’s Daughter (BBC-1 2006, Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt)

In drama Gideon’s Daughter it’s 1997 PR Consultant Gideon is asked by the New Labour Government to help co-ordinate the plans for the festivities for the Millennium. Things change for ever though following the death of Princess Diana and Gideon struggles to come to turns with situations in his own life, especially his relationships with his daughter and his friend Stella, who herself is struggling to come to terms with a terrible loss. Gideon’s relationship with his daughter is key, she is struggling with her own feelings towards him, knowing that he was never there for her mother, even when she was dying.

Another slice of classic Poliakoff who, here, directs as well as performs his usual writing duties. Again the subject matters is one of loss and displacement, a recurring theme in his work, as is the nature of how much life has actually changed in the last decade. Poliakoff believes that we sowed the seeds for our current celebrity worship obsession with the life and death of Diana.

As usual the casting is superb, actors will go to any length to be in a Poliakoff drama and big names here, besides the always superb Bill Nighy in the lead, include Miranda Richardson and Robert Lindsay.

production details
UK / BBC One – Talkback / 105 minutes / Broadcast 26 February 2006

Writer and Director: Stephen Poliakoff
Production Design: James Merifield
Costumes: Annie Symons
Music: Adrian Johnston
Producer: Nicolas Brown
Exceutive Producers: Peter Fincham, David M. Thompson

cast
BILL NIGHY as Gideon
MIRANDA RICHARDSON as Stella
EMILY BLUNT as Natasha
ROBERT LINDSAY as William Sneath
RONNI ANCONA as Barbara
TOM HARDY as Andrew
JOANNA PAGE as Diane
TOM GOODMAN-HILL as Dent
DAVID WESTHEAD as Bill
SAMANTHA WHITTAKER as Becca
KERRY SHALE as Badalamenti
DANIEL MENDOZA as Badalamenti Spokesman
GRAHAM CULL as Hospital Stranger
CATE FOWLER as Council Leader
MICHAEL FITZPATRICK as American Producer
JENNIFER HIGHAM as Girl playing Richard III
JULIA MALEWSKI as School Compere
BOBBY BRAGG as Miller
JASON MANFORD as Comic
REBECCA BRIDGES as Young Natasha
LEONARD DALRYMPLE as Sneath’s Son
NATASHA ALEXANDER as Gideon’s Wife
DAVID ANNAN as Gideon’s Father
SHANE ALLAN as Teenage Gideon
BAILY SCOUGAL-McCURRY as Young Gideon