Beecham House, un nouveau period drama signé Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha, la réalisatrice de Bend it like Beckham est en train de réaliser une nouvelle série en costumes pour ITV, Beecham House.



Tom Bateman a décroché le rôle principal. A ses côtés, on retrouvera Mark Warren, Dakota Blue Richards, Lesley Nicol (Mrs Patmore de Downton Abbey) et Gregory Fitoussi (c'est Bookish Love qui va être contente   )

Citation :

ITV has announced the cast for new period drama Beecham House – and it’s a long list of names.

The show is set to star *deep breath* Jekyll and Hyde’s Tom Bateman, Lesley Nicol (Mrs Patmore from Downton Abbey), Grégory Fitoussi (Henri Leclair in Mr Selfridge), Adil Ray (Mr Khan from Citizen Khan), Pallavi Sharda (Lion), Dakota Blue Richards (Shirley Trewlove from Endeavour), Leo Suter (Drummond from Victoria), Bessie Carter (Evie Wilcox from Howard’s End) and Marc Warren (Danny from Hustle).

So, what’s the show actually about? Set on the cusp of the 19th century in Delhi – just before the British ruled the region – Beecham House, a series penned by Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha, explores the complicated lives of those living in the titular mansion. Just think of it as Downton Abbey set in India, if that’s helpful.
Bateman is set to play John Beecham, an enigmatic former soldier who buys the house to begin a new life with his family. ITV say he’s “determined to escape his previous life” and is “haunted by his past”. Very mysterious indeed.
His family include “interfering” mum Henrietta (Nicol), alongside her friend Violet (Carter). They’re joined by John’s old pal Samuel Parker (Warren), who leaves the East India Company with John’s long-lost brother Daniel (Suter) to join him at Beecham House.
There’s also mercenary General Castillon (Fitoussi) in the mix, threatening to stop John’s business dealings.
But that’s not all. John’s neighbour Murad Beg (Ray) has a daughter whose English governess, Margaret Osborne (Richards), catches John’s eye.
Oh, and on top of that John is also caring for August, a child he’s turned up to Beecham House with. And nobody’s sure who’s the father or mother.

So, suffice to say, there’s a lot going on. But fortunately, we’ve got time to untangle this web of characters before the six-part drama hits our screens: Beecham House only starts filming this month.

Je ne suis pas tentée plus que cela par le sujet, mais il y a Tom Bateman alors...

J'ai bien peur que ça ressemble une fois encore à un bon gros soap opera de luxe. A voir ...

Gregory Fitoussi Eh oui, il n'y a pas que Bookish Love qui craque !!!

J'aime bien Bent it like Beckham et la relecture façon Bollywood de P&P de Gurinda Chadha donc je suis assez curieuse d'en savoir plus sur ce projet.
Et la présence de Tom Bateman est un atout non négligeable

J'aime aussi beaucoup le travail de Gurinder Chadha (sauf peut-être Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging qui ne m'a pas fascinée), et l'histoire de l'Inde m'attire en général par sa richesse donc je jetterai un coup d’œil, c'est sûr, mais je ne sais pas trop à quoi m'attendre... on verra ce que ça donnera !

La première photo du cast :



et deux du héros joué par Tom Bateman :

Cette nouvelle série arrive ce printemps sur ITV :

Citation :

This should be good: Take period drama veterans Tom Bateman (Vanity Fair), Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey), Bessie Carter (Howards End), Gregory Fitoussi (Mr Selfridge), Marc Warren (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell), Dakota Blue Richards (Endeavour), and Leo Suter (Victoria), and put them together in a story about the fortunes of the new residents of an imposing Delhi mansion in the late 1700s.

Beecham House cast. Courtesy ITV / Freemantle


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Throw in some intrigue: John Beecham, a wealthy businessman from the UK and the new owner of the glorious house, has filled his residence with relatives and friends. But the mansion has dark corners which crackle with conspiracy, disharmony and sinister intent, with building suspense over the course of the mini-series.
Mix with attention to period detail: Acclaimed writer and international renowned expert on this period in India, William Dalrymple, and Shahrukh Husain are historical consultants for the series. Joanna Eatwell, who designed the costumes in other period dramas like The Paradise, The Mill, Wolf Hall and The Miniaturist, will be responsible for the Georgian era costumes in all six episodes of Beecham House. (The period drama is set in 1795, so expect to see some Indian block printed fabrics and gowns like the ones we wrote about at length in our article on block printed fabrics in the Georgian era and when and why they show up in the historical British costume drama.)
Where were we? Right… Then add series co-creator, writer and director Gurinder Chadha (Bride & Prejudice, Viceroy’s House), and you get an epic and ambitious new period mini-series from a little seen perspective (it’s set before the Brits ruled Delhi), to air as part of the UK television channel ITV 2019 schedule. FremantleMedia International (Picnic At Hanging Rock) will act as the global distributor for the series, so don’t worry, the rest of the world should be able to watch it too, dates TBA.
Beecham House was filmed in part at a real mansion in India, surrounded by acres of exotic woods and pristine lawns.
Keep reading for more details on the upcoming period drama, the cast, first look photos, and some suggestions of movies and television series to watch that focus on Britain’s involvement in India.

Beecham House is Gurinder Chadha’s passion project, driven by the writer-director’s “commitment to telling diverse, emotionally engaging stories for mainstream international audiences.” She believes that period drama can be “entertaining, ambitious and relevant to key issues of today.” Hear, hear.
Chadha grew up watching Raj dramas like Jewel in the Crown, The Far Pavilions and A Passage To India, and has assembled “a vibrant cast of British and Indian actors to play original characters that will appeal to global audiences hungry to see stories from a unique point of view.” She said that Beecham House is her chance “to tell those stories from a British Asian perspective.”

Who's who in the upcoming series?

Tom Bateman as John Beecham. Courtesy ITV / Freemantle
Vanity Fair’s Tom Bateman takes the role of enigmatic, soulful John Beecham, a handsome former soldier who has purchased the magnificent mansion, Beecham House, to begin a new life with his family.
Wealthy and distinguished, John has witnessed profiteering and exploitation during his time with the controlling East India Company and has resolved to conduct his business as a trader in a more equitable manner. Determined to escape his previous life, John appears haunted by his past, but is inspired to become an honorable member of the region’s trading community.
In spite of John’s good intentions, his life is shrouded in mystery and when he arrives at the house with an ‘olive-skinned‘ child named August and two Indian nursemaids, Chanchal (Shriya Pilgaonkar) and Maya (Trupti Khamkar), it causes speculation and gossip amongst the servants that he may be the boy’s father. One of the Indian nursemaids, the beautiful Chanchal, is overly protective and particularly fond of the child. Could she be John’s lover and the mother of August?

Viveik Kalra, Tom Bateman, Lesley Nicol, Bessie Carter. Courtesy ITV / Freemantle
Downton Abbey’s Lesley Nicol is John’s robust, interfering mother Henrietta who has travelled from England to India to stay with her son. She traveled with a young family friend Violet, played by Bessie Carter (Howards End) who she is determined to help form a union with John.

Marc Warren as Samuel Parker. Courtesy ITV / Freemantle
The pair are accompanied by an old friend of John’s, Samuel Parker, played by Marc Warren (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell) who has also left the East India Company and has returned to India for a fresh start.

Tom Bateman and Leo Suter in Beecham House. Courtesy ITV / Freemantle
Samuel helps John to find his brother Daniel who he has not seen for 10 years. John convinces Daniel, Leo Suter (Victoria), to leave the East India Company and join him at Beecham House.
Mr Selfridge’s Gregory Fitoussi plays General Castillon, a French mercenary working for the Emperor at a time when the French are challenging the East India Company for India. Castillon is suspicious of John and his motives and conspires to stop John being granted a trading license.

Bateman and Dakota Blue Richards in Beecham House. Courtesy ITV / Freemantle
Adil Ray is John’s neighbour Murad Beg who dislikes General Castillon intensely and agrees to help John secure a trading license. Murad’s daughter, Roshanara, (Kanika Kapur) has an English governess Margaret Osborne, played by Endeavour’s Dakota Blue Richards whose beauty and intelligence catches John’s attention. (There’s one of those block printed cottons we mentioned!)

However, when beautiful Chandrika (Pallavi Sharda) arrives at Beecham House with her entourage she is shown to luxurious guest quarters and immediately insists on seeing August. What secrets does Chandrika bring with her to Beecham House?

Merci pour l'info, Emjy, je serai au rendez-vous au moins pour le pilote !

Oui moi aussi je tenterai pour Tom Bateman

Titine75 a écrit:

Gregory Fitoussi Eh oui, il n'y a pas que Bookish Love qui craque !!!

+1


Merci pour les photos Emjy !

Qui a regardé la première saison de Beecham House ? Malgré des ressorts narratifs assez convenus, un aspect soap peu subtil et un exotisme parfois de pacotille, l'ensemble n'est pas si mal. Ce n'est clairement pas la série du siècle mais c'est dépaysant à souhait, les décors sont plutôt beaux et les comédiens pas mal.

John Beecham est un ancien soldat installé à Delhi avant la domination britannique. Il souhaite se lancer dans le commerce entre l'Inde et le Royaume-Uni, cependant un soldat français, Benoit Castillon, enquête à son sujet, le soupçonnant d'être encore aux ordres de l'armée anglaise. Tandis qu'il s'installe dans une magnifique demeure, beaucoup s'interrogent sur ses origines et la présence d'un bébé qu'il héberge. Sa mère, s'étant mis en tête de le marier maintenant qu'il a fait fortune en Inde, se présente chez lui accompagnée de Violet Woodhouse et d'un ancien camarade anglais Samuel Parker, qui va devenir son associé. J'ai beaucoup aimé la présence de Dakota Richard Blues qui incarne Margaret Osbourne, une demoiselle de compagnie dont il va se rapprocher assez vite. Nous suivons au fil des épisodes les péripéties de John Beecham tentant de séduire les Maharadjas afin d'obtenir un droit de commerce tandis que le français incarné par Grégory Fitoussi va lui mettre des bâtons dans les roues. Entre romance et complot, c'est un bon petit divertissement, mais il ne faut pas chercher plus. On découvrira au fil des épisodes qui est l'enfant abrité au sein de sa maison et pourquoi il le cache. Le frère de John Beecham, un soldat séducteur rejoint aussi le récit. Le dernier épisode appelait clairement une deuxième saison, toutefois ITV a apparemment annulé la série suite à de mauvaises audiences. On n'en saura donc pas davantage sur cette histoire.

En ces temps de confinement je vous conseille cette petite série sans prétentions.

Je n'étais pas très tentée après avoir vu les premiers teasers mais j'essaierai tout de même alors.

J'aime bien Tom Bateman (décidément trop rare) et Grégory Fitoussi.

Le dvd de la série sort le 3 février chez Koba :

Ahhh cette jaquette ! Tom Bateman

Je me suis faite exactement la même réflexion