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David Blair(II)

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Writer
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David is one of the UK's most prolific and respected directors, working extensively in both TV and features.

He won BAFTAs for his 6-part TV series, Takin' Over The Asylum, a show he commissioned - a first-starring role for David Tennant - and another for The Street, starring Timothy Spall. Along the way, his work has been rewarded with numerous BAFTA, RTS and International Emmy wins and nominations, as well as accolades across Europe; these include Donovan Quick starring Colin Firth, and Common with Sir Michael Gambon. Best Actor nods, under his stewardship, include those for Olivia Coleman, Jim Broadbent, Bob Hoskins and Christopher Eccleston.

He has worked with some of the greatest names in British and international cinema and TV, including John Hurt, David Soul, Mark Strong, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Gemma Arterton, Eddy Redmayne, Steve Coogan and Tim Roth, to name a few.

He also had a long, productive working relationship with the UK writer Jimmy McGovern, starting with the first serial of The Lakes in 1997, concluding with the TV movie, Care in 2018, both BAFTA nominated.

During 2021 David produced Crime, the 6-part serial by Irving Welsh, starring Dougray Scott whose performance won an International Emmy; he also directed three of the episodes. At the beginning of 2022, his serial Four Lives, about the Grind-r killer Stephen Port, starring Stephen Merchant, transmitted on the BBC, to great critical acclaim.

In development, David has collaborated with Tariq Ali on an adaptation of the latter's acclaimed novel Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree. Other projects pending, include Storm Witch a tale about the hunt and persecution of a putative witch, in 17th century Scotland. The Cairn, reigniting David's long-time collaboration with Donna Franceschild, about a woman coming to terms with a dark and complex past and The Gospel According to Billy McGee by Don McPherson, about two teenagers whose fight for a better world becomes a fight for survival.
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  • Won 2 BAFTA Awards

Photos

David Blair, Krystof Hádek, and Milo Gibson at an event for Mission of Honor (2018)

Known for

Away (2016)
Away
6.5
  • Director
  • 2016
Takin' Over the Asylum (1994)
Takin' Over the Asylum
8.6
TV Mini Series
  • Director
Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks, Timothy Spall, and Sue Johnston in The Street (2006)
The Street
8.3
TV Series
  • Director
The Lakes (1997)
The Lakes
8.1
TV Series
  • Director

Credits

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Director

  • Memet Ali Alabora, Sheridan Smith, and Robert Emms in Four Lives (2022)
    Four Lives
  • Dougray Scott in Crime (2021)
    Crime
  • Isolation Stories (2020)
    Isolation Stories
  • Sheridan Smith in Care (2018)
    Care
  • The Block (2018)
    The Block
  • Marcin Dorocinski, Iwan Rheon, and Milo Gibson in Mission of Honor (2018)
    Mission of Honor
  • Away (2016)
    Away
  • Tim Roth in Reg (2016)
    Reg
  • The Messenger (2015)
    The Messenger
  • Paddy Considine in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (2011)
    The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
  • Common (2014)
    Common
  • Playhouse Presents (2012)
    Playhouse Presents
  • Sean Bean, Anne-Marie Duff, and Robert Sheehan in Accused (2010)
    Accused
  • Bert & Dickie (2012)
    Bert & Dickie
  • Best Laid Plans (2012)
    Best Laid Plans

Producer

  • Warts and All (2022)
    Warts and All
  • Dougray Scott in Crime (2021)
    Crime
  • Tell Tale Hearts
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

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