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Episode 1

Episode 1 of 6

Drama. November 1957. Freddie has been fired, leaving Bel struggling to keep Hector in line, as a new head of news is welcomed to The Hour.

It is late 1957 and while Macmillan claims people have 'never had it so good', the reality for the public is a mounting atmosphere of fear, permeating from a world of rising criminality and a growing Soviet threat. On the streets of Britain, organised crime is booming and nowhere more so than in the seedy back rooms and bars of Soho where racketeering and a growing sex trade make millions.

A year has passed since The Hour was unceremoniously taken off air for their controversial interview with Lord Elms, and much has changed. Freddie has been fired and gone travelling, while Bel fought to stay. She has grappled to improve the ratings and keep Hector in line as he is sucked deeper into the destructive world of celebrity. The nation's attention is focused on the Soviet nuclear threat, but Bel thinks The Hour should be focusing on the rise in crime on Britain's streets. Her whole life has become her work and, in Freddie's absence, has she come to realise just how deep her feelings for him run?

All eyes are now on the arrival of the new head of news, Randall Brown, as a force for change. His unexpected first act is to reinstate Freddie, who returns more maverick than ever. Lix too has reason to watch Randall as they have an emotional and complex history.

Meanwhile, unsettled by Marnie's decision to establish her own career, Hector finds himself drawn to the late night clubs of Soho and closer to a world of vice that could destroy his marriage and career.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 14 Nov 2012 21:00

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Shirley Bassey

    Burn my Candle

  • Leosbel Jimenez Licea

    No Siente

  • Humphrey Lyttelton

    Bad Penny Blues

  • Alma Cogan

    You, Me and Us

  • Cliff Richard & The Drifters

    Move It

  • Claude Debussy

    Clair de Lune

  • Henri Salvador

    Rock 'n' Roll Mops

  • Dick Walter

    Five over Four

  • Lord Kitchener

    My Wife's Nightie

  • Chris Laurence & John Horler

    Love of Life

  • Hannah Tointon

    Never do a Tango with an Eskimo

Music credits

Saxes - Phil Todd, Jamie Talbot, Sam Walker, Martin Robertson, Alan Barnes

Trumpet - John Barclay, Patrick White, Derek Watkins

Guitar - Arthur Dick

Bass - Steve McManus

Drums - Matt Skelton, Ralph Salmins

Marimba - Sam Walton, Rob Farrer   

Alto sax - Martin Robertson

Acoustic bass - Chris Lawrence

Vocal - Helen Hamilton

Sound recordist - John Mooney

Recorded and mixed by Steve Parr

Sound maintenance engineer - Stuart McCutcheon 
Sound assistant - Lee Sharp 
Choreographer - Samantha Murray
Music supervisor - Catherine Grieves
Composer -  Kevin Sargent 

Credits

Role Contributor
Freddie Lyon Ben Whishaw
Bel Rowley Romola Garai
Hector Madden Dominic West
Lix Storm Anna Chancellor
Angus McCain Julian Rhind-Tutt
Randall Brown Peter Capaldi
Camille Mettier Lizzie Brochere
Bill Kendall Tom Burke
Marnie Madden Oona Chaplin
Isaac Wengrow Joshua McGuire
Sissy Cooper Lisa Greenwood
Raphael Cilenti Vincent Riotta
Laurie Stern Peter Sullivan
Kiki Delaine Hannah Tointon
Rosa Maria Ramirez Hannah John-Kamen
Sey Ola Adetomiwa Edun
Trevor Joe Cole
Detective Attwood Robert Whitelock
Minister Howard Satchell Laurence Kennedy
McCains Young Man Max Fowler
Mrs Goldman Gillian Raine
Mr Goldman Alfred Hoffman
Floor Manager John Cummins
Society Photographer Dominik Golding
Book Dealer Peter Silverleaf
Writer Abi Morgan
Director Sandra Goldbacher
Producer Ruth Kenley-Letts

Broadcast

  • Wed 14 Nov 2012 21:00

'A big theme is an inability to confront emotional truths'

'A big theme is an inability to confront emotional truths'

Kevin Sargent writes for the BBC's Love TV blog.