Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Filming has started on new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two drama, When Harvey Met Bob, which follows one of the most iconic moments in 20th-century history, Live Aid; the biggest televised international charity event in history. Produced by Great Meadow Productions for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, for transmission this autumn, the film was announced today as part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two autumn/winter season launch.

Janice Hadlow, Controller Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two says: "To mark the 25th anniversary of Live Aid, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two celebrates with an ambitious single drama which tells the story behind the biggest televised international charity event in history and the two inspiring men that made it happen."

This one-off, 90-minute drama stars Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows) as Bob Geldof and Ian Hart (Backbeat, Five Daughters) as Harvey Goldsmith, the two men who together changed the politics of international aid forever.

In October 1984 Bob Geldof arrives home to find his wife, Paula, watching the legendary Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ broadcast by Michael Buerk from the feeding camps in Eritrea province. Bob takes his eyes from the screen only once to see Paula holding their baby and weeping.

Deeply affected, Bob moves into action. First he persuades a host of rock stars to give their name and talent for free to the Band Aid record – Do They Know It's Christmas? – which sells millions of copies. But when he goes to Ethiopia to ensure the proceeds from the record will reach the starving people, he realises that so much more needs to be done. He needs to raise even more money to fulfill his promise that every penny from the record will get there. It is at this point that he conceives the idea of a global music event to feed the world.

Enter Harvey Goldsmith, the famous and well respected music promoter. This is the start of the roller-coaster ride that is the humorous, warm, tension-filled and ultimately deeply moving story of the relationship between the odd couple, as they go from a mad-cap idea and a list of unconfirmed acts, to the biggest televised international charity event in history.

Kate Triggs of Great Meadow Productions, said: "We were inspired by this story because it has, at its heart, a fantastic relationship that is funny, moving and borne out of the real drama of trying to achieve something huge and unprecedented. It's a film about two men who are prepared to think the unthinkable and achieve the seemingly impossible."

Great Meadow Productions' other recent credits include the award-winning Margaret for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Margaret Thatcher – The Long Walk To Finchley for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four, Bradford Riots for Channel 4 and the hugely popular series Messiah for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One.

When Harvey Met Bob is written by Joe Dunlop, directed by Nick Renton and produced by Catherine Magee. The executive producers are Robert Cooper and Kate Triggs for Great Meadow Productions and Stephen Wright and Bethan Jones for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. It was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two and Ben Stephenson, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama Commissioning. Filming is currently underway in Dublin for a transmission in autumn 2010 on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two and RTE.

PPR