Kevin Whately (Lewis, The Children) heads the cast as shipyard worker Joe Maddison in the final drama written by the late award-winning playwright and screenwriter Alan Plater (The Last of the British Bombshells, A Very British Coup).
Whately stars alongside Robson Green (Wire in the Blood, Northern Lights), Derek Jacobi (The Old Curiosity Shop, Cadfael), Melanie Hill (Stardust, The Street), Trevor Fox (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Emmerdale), and John Woodvine (Vanity Fair, Z Cars).
Set in Newcastle in 1939, Joe Maddison’s War features shipyard worker Joe (Kevin Whately). Too old to serve in the war, he feels unwanted and over the hill, and then his wife leaves him for a younger naval officer. Needing a new challenge, Joe and his friend Harry (Robson Green) reluctantly volunteer to join the Home Guard – a decision which leads Joe on a journey of self-discovery during which he learns lessons of heroism and friendship, and also love…
Cast: Kevin Whately (Joe Maddison), Robson Green (Harry Crawford), Derek Jacobi (Mr. Simpson), Melanie Hill, Sammy T. Dobson (Sheila Maddison), James Atherton (Tommy Cowell), Angela Lonsdale (Polly Maddison), James Baxter (Alan Maddison), John Woodvine (Father Connolly), Trevor Fox (Eddie Turnbull), Niek Versteeg (Billy Nicholson), Jackie Phillips (Lily Parkinson), Charlie Richmond (Sergeant Bull)
Writer: Alan Plater / Executive Producers: Michele Buck and Damien Timmer / Producer: Howard Ella
UK / ITV – Mammoth Screen / 1×85 minute episode / Broadcast 2010