Close to the Enemy

*Close to the Enemy*
Close to the Enemy
Genre	Period drama
Written by	Stephen Poliakoff
Directed by	Stephen Poliakoff
Starring	Jim Sturgess; Freddie Highmore; Charlotte Riley; Phoebe Fox; Alfred Molina; Ciara Charteris; Lindsay Duncan; Alfie Allen; Angela Bassett; August Diehl; Antje Traue; Lucy Ward; Sebastian Armesto; Julian Bleach; Charity Wakefield; Aleksandar Jovanovic; Robert Glenister;
Composer	Adrian Johnston
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	7
Production
Executive producers	Hilary Bevan Jones; Helen Flint; Colin Callender;
Producer	Helen Flint
Running time	58 minutes
Production companies	Little Island Productions; All3Media International; Endor Productions;
Original release
Network	BBC Two
Release	10 November –; 22 December 2016

Close to the Enemy is a British period drama television miniseries set in 1946 in London. It is written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff, starring Jim Sturgess, Freddie Highmore, Charlotte Riley, Phoebe Fox, Alfred Molina, Ciara Charteris, Lindsay Duncan, August Diehl, Alfie Allen, Angela Bassett, Antje Traue, Lucy Ward, Sebastian Armesto, Julian Bleach, Charity Wakefield, Aleksandar Jovanovic, and Robert Glenister. It premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 10 November 2016.

Summary

Just after World War II ends, Dieter Koehler, a German engineer who specialised in jet aeroplane technology, is seized along with his young daughter Lotte by T-Force. They are taken to Great Britain and detained, where Captain Callum Ferguson is assigned the task of getting Koehler to co-operate with the British government. Ferguson is pressured to get results quickly, while Koehler resists his efforts, resentful of the treatment he and Lotte receive. Encountering various other characters in and around the Connington Hotel, Callum wrestles with the ethics of his mission as London society slowly rebuilds.

Cast

Jim Sturgess as Captain Callum Ferguson
Freddie Highmore as Victor Ferguson
Charlotte Riley as Rachel Lombard
Phoebe Fox as Kathy Griffiths
Alfred Molina as Harold Lindsay-Jones
Ciara Charteris as Lucy Lindsay-Jones
Lindsay Duncan as Frau Bellinghausen
Alfie Allen as Ringwood
Angela Bassett as Eva
Robert Glenister as Brigadier Wainwright
August Diehl as Dieter Koehler
Antje Traue as Bergit Mentz
Lucy Ward as Lotte Koehler
Sebastian Armesto as Alex Lombard
Julian Bleach as Geoffrey Slater
Charity Wakefield as Julia
Aleksandar Jovanovic as Horst Kleinow
Andrew Price as Maître D'

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[1]
1	"Episode 1"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	10 November 2016 (2016-11-10)	3.22
2	"Episode 2"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	17 November 2016 (2016-11-17)	2.40
3	"Episode 3"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	24 November 2016 (2016-11-24)	2.25
4	"Episode 4"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	1 December 2016 (2016-12-01)	2.11
5	"Episode 5"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	8 December 2016 (2016-12-08)	2.28
6	"Episode 6"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	15 December 2016 (2016-12-15)	2.12
7	"Episode 7"	Stephen Poliakoff	Stephen Poliakoff	22 December 2016 (2016-12-22)	2.14

Production

The Stephen Poliakoff-created seven-part series was announced by BBC Two in March 2015, along with an all-star cast consisting of Jim Sturgess, Freddie Highmore, Charlotte Riley, Phoebe Fox, Alfred Molina, Lindsay Duncan, Robert Glenister, August Diehl, Antje Traue, Angela Bassett and Alfie Allen.^[2] The series was acquired for the United States by Starz in September 2015.^[3]

Principal photography began in Liverpool in March 2015 with Martins Bank Building, Croxteth Hall, the Adelphi Hotel being amongst some of the locations utilised.^[4]^[5] Filming also took place at the ruins of Witley Court, Worcestershire, the University of Salford, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Manchester Town Hall, Capesthorne Hall, London^[6] and Kent at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.^[7]

An accompanying interview with the writer, titled Know Your Enemy - Stephen Poliakoff in Conversation, was broadcast on 1 December 2016.^[8]

References

^ "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB.
^ "BBC Two announces new Stephen Poliakoff drama with stellar cast". BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
^ Petski, Denise (14 September 2015). "Starz Acquires Stephen Poliakoff's 'Close To The Enemy' Miniseries". Deadline Hollywood.
^ Wright, Jade (18 May 2015). "Liverpool filming continues for Stephen Poliakoff drama Close to the Enemy". Liverpool Echo.
^ Coen, Susie (12 November 2016). "Seven Liverpool locations featured in Poliakoff's drama". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
^ Jaafar, Ali (31 March 2015). "BBC Unveils New Stephen Poliakoff Drama 'Close To The Enemy' With All-Star Cast". Deadline Hollywood.
^ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Close to the Enemy Article".
^ "BBC Two - Know Your Enemy - Stephen Poliakoff in Conversation".

External links

Close to the Enemy at BBC Online
Close to the Enemy at IMDb
Close to the Enemy, Close to the Truth? at the University of Kent

[ratings-1] "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB.

[2] "BBC Two announces new Stephen Poliakoff drama with stellar cast". BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

[3] Petski, Denise (14 September 2015). "Starz Acquires Stephen Poliakoff's 'Close To The Enemy' Miniseries". Deadline Hollywood.

[4] Wright, Jade (18 May 2015). "Liverpool filming continues for Stephen Poliakoff drama Close to the Enemy". Liverpool Echo.

[5] Coen, Susie (12 November 2016). "Seven Liverpool locations featured in Poliakoff's drama". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 October 2017.

[6] Jaafar, Ali (31 March 2015). "BBC Unveils New Stephen Poliakoff Drama 'Close To The Enemy' With All-Star Cast". Deadline Hollywood.

[7] Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Close to the Enemy Article".

[8] "BBC Two - Know Your Enemy - Stephen Poliakoff in Conversation".

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