New versions of Alan Bennett’s classic series Talking Heads will air on BBC One starting on Tuesday 23 June with a double bill. All twelve Talking Heads – including new ones – will then be available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with the series continuing on BBC One across the following weeks.

 

Here are first look pictures of Jodie Comer, Monica Dolan, Martin Freeman, Tamsin Greig, Sarah Lancashire, Lesley Manville, Lucian Msamati, Maxine Peake, Rochenda Sandall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Imelda Staunton and Harriet Walter are released.

Talking Heads first aired on BBC Television in 1988 and 1998. Ten of the original pieces will be remade under Covid19 safety guidelines, with the addition of two new ones written by Bennett last year. They are produced by Nicholas Hytner’s London Theatre Company and Kevin Loader and will air in the coming months on BBC One.

Alan Bennett says: "In such difficult circumstances, that the BBC should choose to remount both series of Talking Heads, and produce two entirely new ones, is a comfort and a huge compliment. I hope a new generation of actors will get and give as much pleasure as we did 20 and 30 years ago."

Nicholas Hytner, Bennett's long-term collaborator and Lead Director and Producer, says: "Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads are among the masterworks of one of the very greatest writers in TV, film and theatre history.

"It has been a profound and fascinating experience to work out a way of making them again, this time with a company of phenomenal actors who are the equal of those who first made them; with a group of leading theatre directors, colleagues and friends of long standing; and with a team behind the camera that represents the best of the British TV and film industries.

The monologues which will air on BBC One are as follows, in alphabetical order:

• Jodie Comer in Her Big Chance (1988), directed by Josie Rourke
• Monica Dolan in The Shrine (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner
• Martin Freeman in A Chip In The Sugar (1988), directed by Jeremy Herrin
• Tamsin Greig in Nights In The Garden of Spain (1998), directed by Marianne Elliott
• Sarah Lancashire in An Ordinary Woman (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner
• Lesley Manville in Bed Among The Lentils (1988), directed by Nicholas Hytner
• Lucian Msamati in Playing Sandwiches (1998), directed by Jeremy Herrin
• Maxine Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet (1988), directed by Sarah Frankcom
• Rochenda Sandall in The Outside Dog (1998), directed by Nadia Fall
• Kristin Scott Thomas in The Hand Of God (1998), directed by Jonathan Kent
• Imelda Staunton in A Lady Of Letters (1988), directed by Jonathan Kent
• Harriet Walter in Soldiering On (1988), directed by Marianne Elliott

Filming was at BBC Elstree Studios using existing sets.