Channel 4 WLTM... (Would Like To Meet)

5 February 2013

Ben Chaplin (Thin Red Line), Sheridan Smith (Quartet), Andrew Scott (Sherlock), Neil Maskell (Utopia), Oona Chaplin (The Hour), Greg McHugh, (Fresh Meat), Will Mellor (Two Pints of Lager..), Katie McGrath (Merlin), Gemma Chan (Secret Diary of A Call Girl), Montana Thompson (Story of Tracey Beaker), Sian Breckin (Tyrannosaur)

Cast announced for Dates, a new 9-part drama series from the creator of Skins

Ever wanted to know what the two people who are clearly on a first date at the table next to you are talking about? Bryan Elsley, creator of the seminal, award-winning E4 series, Skins, is set to answer our collective curiosity by taking Channel 4 on a series of Dates (9 x 30) with an ensemble cast of leading British screen talent. 

Let’s face it, we’ve ALL wanted to know what’s being said, how it’s going, how it ended, whether they met The One, didn’t meet The One, had the most disastrous date of all time…. 

From the confusion and misunderstandings of school teacher Jenny’s first encounter with city trader Nick, through to the urbane cool of Mia’s first date with Stephen, Dates is an episodic slice of modern life, following eleven unconnected people as they embark on a series of first encounters lured by the promise of romance. Or something. Whatever. They'd just like to meet somebody, maybe.

But what happens when the white lies spun in that all important online profile are revealed, or bigger lies are told to cover up the smaller, seemingly more innocuous ones – the crisis of confidence, the sexual confusion? And what happens when the bread sticks run out and the bill for one has to be paid?

Dates is set to showcase major acting talent in dramatic two handers telling the story of a date and the two people who meet on it. As the dating progresses, so too do the relationships; some resulting in further encounters, some ending, either in disaster, or a mutual, touching agreement that ‘this’ is just not working. 

Stepping into the social minefield that is  21st century dating; where confessions, lies, role-playing, crises of confidence and sexual confusion abound, Dates aims to draw the audience in as the individual stories slowly begin to intertwine.

Hopeful, surprising, awkward, sexy as hell, probably more than a little bit sweaty and often playing quite hard to get, Dates, leans in and invites you to take a seat at the table to find out.

Currently filming in London, Dates (9 x 30’) is written by Bryan Elsley, Nancy Harris, Ben Schiffer, Laura Hunter, Jamie Chann and Jamie Britain.

There are five directors, John Maybury (Love is the Devil, Rome), Charles Sturridge (Shackelton, Scapegoate), Philippa Langdale (Skins, Waking the Dead), Sarah Walker (Crash), Paul Andrew Williams (London to Brighton, Song for Marion).

Producer is Bradley Adams and executive producers are Chris Clough, Bryan Elsley and Harry Enfield for Balloon Entertainment Ltd.  Dates was commissioned for Channel 4 by Piers Wenger for broadcast in summer 2013.

 

Twitter:  @Dramaon4