Close to the Enemy
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = Period drama
| writer = Stephen Poliakoff
| director = Stephen Poliakoff
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Jim Sturgess
- Freddie Highmore
- Charlotte Riley
- Phoebe Fox
- Alfred Molina
- Ciara Charteris
- Lindsay Duncan
- Alfie Allen
- Angela Bassett
- August Diehl
- Antje Traue
- Lucy Ward
- Sebastian Armesto
- Julian Bleach
- Charity Wakefield
- Aleksandar Jovanovic
- Robert Glenister}}
| narrated =
| composer = Adrian Johnston
| theme_music_composer =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_episodes = 7
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Hilary Bevan Jones
- Helen Flint
- Colin Callender}}
| producer = Helen Flint
| cinematography =
| editor =
| runtime = 58 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Little Island Productions
- All3Media International
- Endor Productions}}
| network = BBC Two
| first_aired = {{start date|2016|11|10|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2016|12|22|df=yes}}
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| num_series = 1
| budget =
}}
Close to the Enemy is a British period drama television miniseries set in 1946 in London. It is written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff, starring Jim Sturgess, Freddie Highmore, Charlotte Riley, Phoebe Fox, Alfred Molina, Ciara Charteris, Lindsay Duncan, August Diehl, Alfie Allen, Angela Bassett, Antje Traue, Lucy Ward, Sebastian Armesto, Julian Bleach, Charity Wakefield, Aleksandar Jovanovic, and Robert Glenister. It premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 10 November 2016.
Summary
Just after World War II ends, Dieter Koehler, a German engineer who specialised in jet aeroplane technology, is seized along with his young daughter Lotte by T-Force. They are taken to Great Britain and detained, where Captain Callum Ferguson is assigned the task of getting Koehler to co-operate with the British government. Ferguson is pressured to get results quickly, while Koehler resists his efforts, resentful of the treatment he and Lotte receive. Encountering various other characters in and around the Connington Hotel, Callum wrestles with the ethics of his mission as London society slowly rebuilds.
Cast
- Jim Sturgess as Captain Callum Ferguson
- Freddie Highmore as Victor Ferguson
- Charlotte Riley as Rachel Lombard
- Phoebe Fox as Kathy Griffiths
- Alfred Molina as Harold Lindsay-Jones
- Ciara Charteris as Lucy Lindsay-Jones
- Lindsay Duncan as Frau Bellinghausen
- Alfie Allen as Ringwood
- Angela Bassett as Eva
- Robert Glenister as Brigadier Wainwright
- August Diehl as Dieter Koehler
- Antje Traue as Bergit Mentz
- Lucy Ward as Lotte Koehler
- Sebastian Armesto as Alex Lombard
- Julian Bleach as Geoffrey Slater
- Charity Wakefield as Julia
- Aleksandar Jovanovic as Horst Kleinow
- Andrew Price as Maître D'
Episodes
{{No plot|section|date=December 2018}}
{{Episode table |background=#2C272E |overall=6 |title=18 |director=20 |writer=20 |airdate=20 |viewers=10 |country=UK |viewersR={{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/|publisher=BARB|title=Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)}} |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|10|df=y}}
|Viewers = 3.22
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Episode 2
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|17|df=y}}
|Viewers = 2.40
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Episode 3
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|11|24|df=y}}
|Viewers = 2.25
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Episode 4
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|12|1|df=y}}
|Viewers = 2.11
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Episode 5
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|12|8|df=y}}
|Viewers = 2.28
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = Episode 6
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|12|15|df=y}}
|Viewers = 2.12
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Episode 7
|DirectedBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|WrittenBy = Stephen Poliakoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|12|22|df=y}}
|Viewers = 2.14
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 2C272E
}}
}}
Production
The Stephen Poliakoff-created seven-part series was announced by BBC Two in March 2015, along with an all-star cast consisting of Jim Sturgess, Freddie Highmore, Charlotte Riley, Phoebe Fox, Alfred Molina, Lindsay Duncan, Robert Glenister, August Diehl, Antje Traue, Angela Bassett and Alfie Allen.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/close-to-the-enemy|title=BBC Two announces new Stephen Poliakoff drama with stellar cast|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 March 2015}} The series was acquired for the United States by Starz in September 2015.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/09/star-stephen-poliakoff-close-to-the-enemy-miniseries-1201526178/|title=Starz Acquires Stephen Poliakoff's 'Close To The Enemy' Miniseries|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=14 September 2015}}
Principal photography began in Liverpool in March 2015 with Martins Bank Building, Croxteth Hall, the Adelphi Hotel being amongst some of the locations utilised.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/liverpool-filming-continues-stephen-poliakoff-9282136|title=Liverpool filming continues for Stephen Poliakoff drama Close to the Enemy|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Jade|last=Wright|date=18 May 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Coen|first1=Susie|title=Seven Liverpool locations featured in Poliakoff's drama|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/tv/seven-liverpool-locations-featured-poliakoffs-12165390|website=Liverpool Echo|access-date=13 October 2017|date=12 November 2016}} Filming also took place at the ruins of Witley Court, Worcestershire, the University of Salford, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Manchester Town Hall, Capesthorne Hall, London{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/bbc-announces-new-stephen-poliakoff-drama-close-to-the-enemy-announces-all-star-cast-1201401827/|title=BBC Unveils New Stephen Poliakoff Drama 'Close To The Enemy' With All-Star Cast|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|first=Ali|last=Jaafar|date=31 March 2015}} and Kent at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.{{cite web|author=Kent Film Office|url=http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/2016/11/close-to-the-enemy-2016/|title=Kent Film Office Close to the Enemy Article|date=8 November 2016 }}
An accompanying interview with the writer, titled Know Your Enemy - Stephen Poliakoff in Conversation, was broadcast on 1 December 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084l0n9|title = BBC Two - Know Your Enemy - Stephen Poliakoff in Conversation}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{BBC programme}}
- {{IMDb title|id=4696944|title=Close to the Enemy}}
- [http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/munitions-of-the-mind/2016/12/23/close-to-the-enemy-close-to-the-truth/ Close to the Enemy, Close to the Truth?] at the University of Kent
{{Stephen Poliakoff}}
Category:Starz original programming
Category:2016 British television series debuts
Category:2016 British television series endings
Category:2010s British drama television series
Category:2010s British television miniseries
Category:BBC television dramas
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:Television series set in the 1940s
Category:Films directed by Stephen Poliakoff
Category:Television shows set in England
Category:Television shows set in London
Category:Television series by All3Media