Coming up 2011 - Meet the future stars of tomorrow

21 June 2011

Jane Horrocks stars in Magic, part of the Coming Up strand starting this July on Channel 4.

Channel 4 continues its commitment to develop and nurture new drama talent in its annual Coming Up strand which showcases the future stars of British film and television.

Now in its tenth year, Coming Up offers a platform to emerging writers and directors in a season of seven original half hour dramas which will be screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on 24 June as part of the renowned Industry / New Talent / Trailblazer events. Coming Up 2011 presents fresh, original and inspiring films from some of the UK's most exciting new film-makers, writers and acting talent, and goes to air on Channel 4 from mid-July.

Highlights this year include Rough Skin, starring award-winning and BAFTA nominated actress Vicky McClure (This Is England, This is England 86); Hooked, featuring Anita Dobson (EastEnders) who plays Maggie, a woman prepared to go to extreme lengths to stop old age catching up with her; Home, featuring Johnny Harris (This is England 86, Law & Order: UK) who plays Tommy, one half of a homeless couple searching for a missing friend; and Magic, starring Jane Horrocks (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Absolutely Fabulous).

Another highlight is Geronimo written by Dean Stalham. Dean became interested in the arts during his second time ‘inside' and has since devoted his time to writing. He is founder of a community interest company called Art Saves Lives which offers support to marginalised artists and a platform for their work.

Coming Up still remains the only talent scheme in the UK offering up-and-coming writers and directors the opportunity to make an authored drama with a guaranteed network broadcast on national TV.  With an increasingly impressive list of alumni, Coming Up consistently serves to show the calibre of film makers who have achieved success through the scheme. Director duo Wayne Yip and Alex Garcia from last year's Coming Up 2011 (Would Like To Meet) are to direct the upcoming third series of BAFTA winning Misfits on E4.

Jack Thorne won Best Newcomer at the 2009 London International Film Festival. He wrote The Spastic King for Coming Up 2007 and has since gone on to write Skins, Cast Offs, The Scouting Book for Boys and is currently sharing writing credits with Shane Meadows for the award-winning This is England '86 for Channel 4.

Director Tom Harper (Spoil, Coming Up 2007) has directed The Scouting Book for Boys, Misfits and This is England '86; Director Yann Demange (A Man in a Box, Coming Up 2007) has gone on to direct Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Dead Set and Criminal Justice 2; Writer Tony Saint (Service, Coming Up 2006) went on to write Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley, Micromen and On Expenses and Nicole Taylor (Emo, Coming Up 2009) has written on Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Harley Street and Ashes to Ashes.

Ben Stoll, Channel 4's Commissioning Editor for Drama, says: "Coming Up is a fantastic scheme which highlights Channel 4's continued desire to support and build relationships with new talent. We constantly place special emphasis on reflecting diversity in our output and some of our industry's brightest stars, from Jack Thorne to Yann Demange, had their first break on Coming Up. This goes to illustrate its successful track record as a unique and invaluable launch pad for British writers and directors."