The Hour (2011– )

A behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme.

Creator:

Abi Morgan

Stars:

Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, Dominic West

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ben Whishaw	...	Freddie Lyon (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Romola Garai	...	Bel Rowley (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dominic West	...	Hector Madden (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anna Chancellor	...	Lix Storm (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Oona Chaplin	...	Marnie Madden (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lisa Greenwood	...	Sissy Cooper (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Joshua McGuire	...	Isaac Wengrow (11 episodes, 2011-2012)
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Angus McCain (11 episodes, 2011-2012)
Paul Chahidi	...	Ron (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anton Lesser	...	Clarence Fendley (6 episodes, 2011)
Hannah Tointon	...	Kiki (6 episodes, 2012)
Peter Sullivan	...	Commander Laurence Stern (6 episodes, 2012)
Tom Burke	...	Bill Kendal (6 episodes, 2012)
Filippo Delaunay	...	Camera man (6 episodes, 2011)
Kostas Katsikis	...	Vision Mixer (6 episodes, 2011)
Robert Demeger	...	Malcolm Lyon (5 episodes, 2011)
Adetomiwa Edun	...	Sey Ola (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Peter Capaldi	...	Randall Brown (5 episodes, 2012)
Vincent Riotta	...	Raphael Cilenti (5 episodes, 2012)
Morgan Watkins	...	Norman Pike (5 episodes, 2012)

Storyline

A behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2011 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Hornsey Town Hall, The Broadway, Haringey, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kudos Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.140 (2011)

User Reviews

A good mixture between mystery and mad men

I just watched the first episode of the Hour on BBC. It was better than I thought it would be.

I had heard it was supposed to be a lot like Mad Men, or at least very similar. There are a lot of similarities, and in the first episode I think they overdid it at times the fact that it is 1950 where gender roles are quite specific. Apart from that it is not that much like Mad Men at all. This is not so much a show where men are the main characters and it is their work life and how they have to use their strong character to get ahead in a difficult business.

In the Hour it seems to be more about a journalist's life at the time, no matter if you are a man or a woman. Although gender roles will play a part, it is not necessarily the core of the show like in Mad Men. It is not as glamours either.

What I really like about the Hour that there is also a mystery part to it, almost like a police show. In the beginning of the pilot we are introduced to a murder. The police are calling it a robbery, but one of the journalists finds out there are more to the story. The episode then switches between finding out the truth, at the same time as we learn about the life of journalists in the BBC, and how men and women work together to make a new, current affairs show that covers important moments in history. I'm sure historic moments will be highlighted in the show as well.

So a mixture between Mad Men and a police mystery (that doesn't necessarily get solved in every episode).

So so far, very good.