PRODUCTIONS - QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING

Synopsis

Investigative journalist Jack Parlabane is struggling with the hangover from hell when he stumbles upon the aftermath of a murder in the flat downstairs: a bizarrely mutilated doctor, killed in what looks like a burglary gone wrong. Not a great start to the morning, and it soon gets worse. Before he can even put his trousers on, Paralabane's the prime suspect, being interrogated by the police and trailed by the real, but hopeless, hitman Darren Mortlake. And he hasn't even met the deadly landlady Mrs Kinross yet....or her loveable but doomed dog Tyson.

This adaptation of Christopher Brookmyre's award winning novel is a wickedly funny black comedy, starring some of the UK's biggest acting talent including James Nesbitt, Annette Crosbie, Daniela Nardini and Mark Benton. It aired on ITV1 in Autumn 2004 to great acclaim and was nominated for an RTS award.

Running Time: 2 Hours

Cast

Based on the novel by Christopher Brookmyre

Distributor BBC Worldwide

Interviews

James Nesbitt Interview

"I think investigative journalism is a noble profession, the idea of having a hunger to get to the truth of something. Parlabane is a man with a quest and I admire him for that. But there's also something beautifully ironic about me playing a journalist considering I've had such fun with them in the past!

I'd read the book about five years ago and at the risk of sounding very arrogant I said to my wife 'someone will make a film of this and I wish I could play the part'. I think the story is a magnificent marriage of the very dark and very funny.

It's a sharp and biting satire with almost an American feel to it in the sense of having a good story, well observed, sharply written and not formulaic. That was the challenge of making it.

He's a character I haven't really played before. I like Parlabane; he's more optimistic than Tommy Murphy, my character in Murphy's Law. I empathise with him. QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING takes Parlabane on a journey of redemption, not only professionally but also for his soul.

It's forgotten in this country because of the reputation of the tabloids that journalism is an important profession. It's a very exacting discipline and you're often on your own. Hopefully we can help to redress the balance.

I worked with a fantastic, eclectic cast. Kevin McMonagle who plays McGregor was magnificent and taught me a lot, while Mark Benton is one of our great character actors. Also in Murray Ferguson we had the most extraordinary producer. Collaboration is the most important thing. It's increasingly not about stars but everyone being on the same wavelength."

James' many starring roles include Cold Feet, Bloody Sunday, Wall of Silence, Welcome to Sarajevo, Passer By, Murphy's Law, The Canterbury Tales, Playing The Field and the feature films Waking Ned, Wild About Harry, Hear My Song, Resurrection Man and Women Talking Dirty.

Christopher Brookmyre Interview

"I think it's terrific, very funny and even though it's not slavishly faithful to the book, it is definitely faithful to the spirit of the book. I am very happy with the finished result. The book was first published in 1996 and optioned fairly soon afterwards. A number of people were interested in buying the option when it expired, including John Hannah and Murray Ferguson at Clerkenwell. They got it, which was great.

Clerkenwell have certainly done justice to my novel. When it was first published it was lauded as being unconventional, and now a few years down the line it is interesting to see a television drama that is unconventional. That quality of mischief which I tried to put in the book has been retained.

I met Stuart Hepburn, who adapted it, a few times but I just let him get on with it. I made a few suggestions but nothing major because I know it's a different discipline. I always say that once you have cashed the cheque you waive your right to whine. But happily I do not have any complaints."

The original inspiration for the novel came from Christopher's wife Marisa.

"Marisa was an anaesthetic consultant working at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and she would come home ranting to me every night about what was happening in the NHS. She enjoyed the film enormously and was in fits laughing.

The locations are perfect. The flat that Parlabane wakes up in is exactly how I saw it, as are the hospital scenes. And the Edinburgh locations have a real cinematic quality. They show how beautiful and varied the city is."

Reviews