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Press Releases
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama commissions Consenting Adults for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama has commissioned Consenting Adults, a Lion Television Scotland production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four.
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The 75-minute special is set against the deliberations of the Wolfenden Committee, established by the then Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Secretary to look into the law relating to Homosexual Offences and Prostitution in September 1954.
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Consenting Adults follows the diverse members of the committee as they struggle towards their radical conclusions.
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Its principal recommendation – the decriminalisation of homosexuality – remains a turning point in British social, legal and cultural history, even though the legislation took another ten years to come to the statute book (and even longer in Scotland and Northern Ireland).
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The film will unravel the inherent drama of the situation, using the transcripts of the original committee hearings, the rich cast of committee members, witnesses, contemporary court cases and fictionalised moments in the corridors of power.
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But the public drama is mixed with the more private but equally compelling personal conflict between Wolfenden and his son, Jeremy, then a brilliant undergraduate at Oxford.
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Committee chairman John Wolfenden, played by Charles Dance (Bleak House, Fingersmith), thought homosexuality "an abomination", but he knew that his own son Jeremy, played by Sean Biggerstaff (Oliver Wood in Harry Potter), was an active homosexual.
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Despite his personal views he led the committee to conclude that the law should not interfere in the private lives of consenting adults or enforce any particular pattern of behaviour. It was a triumph of reason over instinct.
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Richard Fell, Executive Producer for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, comments: "The Wolfenden Report was the turning point in the legalisation of homosexuality in this country. What is much lesser known is that Wolfenden himself struggled with his own feelings of shame and fear in finding out his son was gay.
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"Julian Mitchell's script beautifully uncovers the highly controversial findings of the committee alongside the troubled relationship between father and son."
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Colin Cameron, Managing Director, Lion Television Scotland, says: "Consenting Adults, Lion TV's first drama, not only focuses on the ground–breaking work of the Wolfenden Committee, but will unravel the highly charged conflict between the realms of public and private, moral and professional judgement, and the relationship between father and son.
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"Although historically based, the drama explores social issues that are still hugely relevant today."
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Consenting Adults continues in the rich footsteps of recent Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four drama triumphs, including The Alan Clark Diaries and the award–winning Fantabulosa!
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Consenting Adults is a Lion Television Scotland production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Fiction, and Janice Hadlow, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four.
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The drama, written by Julian Mitchell, will be directed by Richard Curson-Smith, produced by Robert Dawson-Scott and executive produced by Colin Cameron for Lion Television Scotland.
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It will be executive produced by Richard Fell for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four.
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