Diana And I (BBC-2 2017, Tuppence Middleton, Tamsin Greig)

In Diana and I, in the week that follows Princess Diana’s tragic death on 31 August 1997, four separate stories unfold as four ordinary lives are all affected in different ways.

Jack (Nico Mirallegro) is a shy 19 year-old, the only child of an adored mother who dies the same night as Princess Diana. He struggles to come to terms with her death while computing the loss of an icon who meant so much to both of them. Estranged from his father (Neil Morrissey), he seeks help from a young neighbour, Russell (Kingsley Ben-Adir).

Yasmin (Kiran Sonia Sawar) is unhappily married to Hassan (Asif Khan), a struggling businessman who can’t admit his failure. Affected deeply by news of Diana’s death, Yasmin’s patience snaps when their television is re-possessed while she is watching the coverage. Making a pilgrimage to London with their only daughter Aalia, she arrives unannounced on the doorstep of her Uncle Zaheer (Roshan Seth). Inspired by the public outpouring of emotion at Diana’s death, Yasmin goes on a journey of self-discovery.

Michael (Laurie Davidson) is a junior reporter on his honeymoon in Paris with his new wife Sophie (Charlotte Hope) when news of Diana’s death breaks. A fluent French speaker, Michael teams up with the charismatic Laura (Tuppence Middleton), a star reporter flown in to cover the story. Spending more and more time on the story at the expense of his honeymoon, Michael struggles to balance his career with his fledgling marriage.

Mary (Tamsin Greig) is a Glaswegian florist. Living alone with her mother (Gemma Jones) who is battling Alzheimer’s, she struggles for money. Mary hatches a plan to drive to London and sell flowers before Saturday’s funeral. With the help of her adoring friend Gordon (John Gordon Sinclair), she travels to the capital in an old coach filled with flowers. Unexpectedly caught up in the public expression of love for Diana, Mary discovers emotions she thought were long lost.

cast
Tuppence Middleton as Laura Phillips
Charlotte Hope as Sophie
Tamsin Greig as Mary McDonald
Laurie Davidson as Michael Lewis
Gemma Jones as Mrs. McDonald
Nico Mirallegro as Jack Taylor
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Russell
Neil Morrissey as Colin Taylor
Roshan Seth as Uncle Zaheer
John Gordon Sinclair as Gordon
Kiran Sonia Sawar as Yasmin
Elly Fairman as Julie
Asif Khan as Hassan
Paul Lancaster as Hospital Chaplain
Jassem Mougari as Kitchen Porter

crew details
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Writer: Jeremy Brock

production details
Country: UK
Network and Production Company: BBC Two – Big Talk
Duration: 1×90 minute episode
Aired From: Monday 4 September 2017 from 9.00pm-10.30pm