
Excited is an understatement.
Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham are two of the most iconic actors of our time. Just as Jodie demanded we empathise with a trained assassin in her role as Villanelle in Killing Eve, Stephen is renowned for his vulnerable depictions of less-than-likeable characters, such as Combo in This Is England, and prison guard Eric in Time.
As luck would have it, they’re also great mates. In fact, it was Stephen who introduced Jodie to his agent, Jane Epstein, who later became Jodie’s agent. In her speech after winning a BAFTA in 2019, Jodie thanked Stephen, saying, “Stephen, if I didn’t owe you a pint before then, I do now. Thank you for the generosity you showed me all those years ago and for introducing me to Jane.”
And the time has finally come that we can see our favourite actors on-screen together. Set in Jodie and Stephen’s hometown of Liverpool, Help is one of the first dramas to take place during the Covid-19 pandemic, with Jodie starring as a care-worker who forms a connection with one of her residents, played by Stephen.
Stephen tweeted that Help will be coming to Channel 4 soon, saying,”Thank you to each and every person who helped to make this.”
Here’s everything we know about Help so far, including cast, plot, trailer, and release date:
What is Help about?
Written and directed by Jack Thorne and Marc Munden, Help takes place in a care home as the Covid-19 pandemic grips the UK. According to the shows official synopsis, Help follows a care-worker called Sarah who, “Goes to extraordinary lengths to protect those in her care, whose conditions make their suffering and isolation all the more traumatic.
“But the staff’s unwavering commitment, compassion and heroic efforts can only do so much, and Sarah is pushed into a dark corner and desperately looks for a way out.”
Sarah has “a special talent for connecting with the residents, including one in particular, 47-year-old Tony [Stephen Graham] […] Sarah’s success at managing Tony and the other patients helps build her confidence and restore her self-belief.”
Who stars in Help?
With Jodie and Stephen in the lead roles, Angela Griffin (Coronation Street), Mike Noble (Mr Selfridge), and John McGrellis have also been confirmed.
What have the actors said about Help?
Stephen has said that, “Jack [Thorne] is one of the greatest and most truthful writers of our generation and in Help he has crafted a profoundly important piece of social realism. I’ve wanted to work with Jodie for ages, and together we’re hugely passionate about shining a light on one of the biggest tragedies of our time and the people at the heart of it.”
Jodie has said, “I am, of course, thrilled to finally be working alongside Stephen and the supremely talented Jack, Marc and those at Channel 4. For us to be able to explore such a relevant and emotive story through the eyes of such beautifully real characters, and in our home city of Liverpool, is a real honour. We’re determined to do justice to so many of the untold stories and heroes that have been affected as a result of this crisis and to handle them with care
When will Help be released?
All we know is that it’s ‘coming soon’. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted when we get an official release date.
Is there a trailer for Help?
Not yet. In the meantime, feel free to watch Jodie Comer’s fab conversation with GLAMOUR, in which she discusses working with Stephen.
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