TV Tonight: What To Expect From Mr Loverman
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1 month ago
Bernadine Evaristo’s book is coming to the small screen
Six years before she bagged the Booker Prize for Girl, Woman, Other (2019), Bernardine Evaristo published her seventh novel, titled Mr Loverman (2013). It traces the lives of members of Britain’s older Caribbean community, specifically centring on Barry, a 74-year-old Antiguan Londoner – and closeted homosexual. More than 10 years after it was originally published, the BBC has adapted the acclaimed novel into an eight-part drama, beginning tonight at 9pm with a double bill. Here’s what to expect.
Mr Loverman: Plot, Cast, Release Schedule & More
Morris De La Roux (ARIYON BAKARE) & Barry Walker (LENNIE JAMES) in Mr Loverman. (BBC/Fable Pictures/Des Willie)
What Is Mr Loverman About?
Mr Loverman centres on Barrington Jedidiah Walker (Lennie James), Barry to his mates – a 74 year old, Antiguan born, exuberant Hackney personality renowned among his peers for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. He’s been married to Carmel (Sharon D Clarke) for 50 years, and she has begun to suspect Barry is cheating on her with other women. Cheating, yes. Other women, no.
Little does Carmel know, Barry has embarked on a secret, passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris (Ariyon Bakare). Now facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has huge choices to make – choices that will force his whole family to question their futures.
Intrigued? Get a taste of the action below.
The Cast
- Lennie James as Barry (Barrington Jedidiah Walker)
- Sharon D Clarke as Carmel Walker, Barry’s wife
- Ariyon Bakare as Morris De La Roux, Barry’s best friend and secret lover
- Tamara Lawrance as Maxine Walker, Barry and Carmel’s daughter
- Sharlene Whyte as Donna, Barry and Carmel’s daughter
- Tahj Miles as plays Daniel, Donna’s son and Carmel and Barry’s grandson
- Keenan Munn-Francis as young Barry
- Gabin Kongolo as young Morris
- Lauren Akosia as young Carmel, aka Carmelita
- Suzette Llewellyn as Odette De La Roux
- Lochlann Ó Mearáin as Reuben Dempsey
- Hopi Grace
- Llewella Gideon
- Doreene Blackstock
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Juliet Garricks
- Clint Dyer
Young Barry (KEENAN NUNN-FRANCIS) & Young Morris (GABIN KONGOLO) in Mr Loverman. (BBC/Fable Pictures/Des Willie)
Is It Based On A True Story?
No, Mr Loverman is not based on a true story, but it is based on Bernadine Evaristo’s 2013 novel of the same name. That said, Evaristo was inspired by a patchwork of real stories to write her book. ‘Everybody knows about the Windrush generation now,’ she told the BBC. But: ‘we don’t really hear stories about that generation being gay.’
Now 64, Evaristo is a London-born woman of Nigerian descent, and says, ‘I’m not a complete stranger to that world. As a writer, I’m absorbing people all the time. I’m very curious, even nosy… I’ve been around enough Caribbean people of an older generation to feel comfortable to write those kinds of characters.’
Hackney, where Mr Loverman is set, is also, of course, a real setting – one in which Evaristo has worked and visited friends and family throughout her life. In writing her novel, she says she wanted ‘to capture the Hackney that I remember when you would see these old Caribbean people hanging out, walking down the street – some of these old Caribbean men were very flamboyant dressers.’
Miss Candaisy (DAREENE BLACKSTOCK), Miss Merly (HOPL GRACE), Miss Drusilla (LLEWELLA GIDEON) & Carmel Walker (SHARON D CLARKE) in Mr Loverman. (BBC/Fable Pictures/Des Willie)
Release Date
Mr Loverman airs on BBC iPlayer at 9pm on 14 October 2024, with the first two 30-minute episodes airing back to back.
When Is The Next Episode?
Episodes of Mr Loverman will air weekly on Mondays from 9pm on BBC One. The release schedule is as follows:
- 9pm Monday 14 October 2024
- 9.30pm Monday 14 October 2024
- 9pm Monday 21 October 2024
- 9.30pm Monday 21 October 2024
- 9pm Monday 28 October 2024
- 9.30pm Monday 28 October 2024
- 9pm Monday 4 November
- 9.30pm Monday 4 November
Maxine Walker (TAMARA LAWRANCE) & Daniel Walker (TAHJ MILES) in Mr Loverman. (BBC/Fable Pictures/Des Willie)
Where Can I Stream Mr Loverman?
All eight episodes of Mr Loverman are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
