The Devil's Whore - Peter Flannery Interview

Back in the 90's Peter Flannery was responsible for writing what I and many others consider to be one of THE best drama serials British TV has ever produced - 'Our Friends In The North'. Almost fifteen years later it looks very much as though he has done it again. As excitement about the new Channel 4 serial 'The Devil's Whore' intensifies, Sally Brockway speaks to Peter directly after the press screening - and Peter explains his working method. (Downloadable audio interview.)

Anyone who has seen 'Our Friends In The North' will never forget Peter's ambition in setting out to tell the story of 30 years of British life from the very early 1960s through to the 1990's.

Or the power and impact of his views on how families shape our lives and loves as adults.

In this interview, snatched amid the noise and the bustle of the post screenwing reception for The Devil's Whore, Sally manage to get Peter to explain something of the way he works.

It's shorter than normal (about 15 minutes) as there were a lot ofpeople clamouring for his attention that night, but it's stillabsolutely fascinating.

Listen especially to what he has to say about how much research he carries out, how much time he spends thinking before he writes a script - and what he thinks of the rewriting process.

He makes some wonderful comments about why you should aim for a compression while you write, the ideal number of drafts he needs to go through, and generally describes how his attitudes to the nuts and bolts of writing have changed over the years.

Just to clarify - when he talks about Commercial Hours versus BBC hours, that possibly needs explaining. Because the BBC doesn't carry advertising, when you write an hour long drama for them your script normally comes in very close to 60 minutes. All the other channels DO advertise, so they need room in the hour to get the ads on screen, so in fact here in the UK a commercial 'hour' script is normally around 48-50 minutes long.

Just press the Play button to hear the interview in the site player.

Please feel free to download this file your computer and burn it ontoCD, or drop it onto your MP3 player so you can listen to it at yourleisure.

To do that just right-click here and save the file to your desktop.

And here's what Channel 4 have to say about the drama:

"The Devil's Whore tellsthe story of the seismic events of 17th-century England, when politicaldisobedience turned to revolution and civil war, and English historychanged forever. The story is told through the experiences of aspirited aristocratic woman, Angelica Fanshawe (Andrea Riseborough),who comes to know the key figures on both sides of this bitterconflict. It is a story not just of political and historicalsignificance, but of love, loss, murder, courage and betrayal.

Angelica is born in 1623, when England is divided bothpolitically and religiously. When Angelica's deeply religious mothergives up her daughter and flees to France to the sanctuary of aCatholic convent, the child Angelica curses God. Thereafter, at keymoments throughout the rest of her life, she is haunted by images ofthe Devil, seemingly cursed for her moment of rash blasphemy.

Asthe years pass, Angelica becomes part of the royal court of Charles I(Peter Capaldi), enjoying a life of carefree privilege. She is engagedto her childhood sweetheart, her cousin Harry Fanshawe (Ben Aldridge),and looks forward to their future together at Fanshawe House. But England is changing.

Outside Angelica's gilt-edged world,the people are poor, sick, hungry and angry; demanding society andgovernment change radically to ensure a better life for all. One suchman is John Lilburne (Tom Goodman-Hill), whose campaigning on behalf ofthe common man puts him at odds with the authorities. On the day of hermarriage, Angelica witnesses his brutal public flogging as his wifeElizabeth (Maxine Peake) looks on. That same day, a mercenary andsoldier for hire, Edward Sexby (John Simm), visits the palace, where heis captivated by Angelica's beauty.

Soonafter their wedding, Harry and Angelica are visited at home byElizabeth Lilburne, who has walked, heavily pregnant, from London, toplead with Harry to intercede on her imprisoned husband's behalf. LoyalRoyalist Harry dismisses her immediately, and is appalled when Angelicaquestions his decision. But for Angelica, the seeds of her politicalawareness are sewn. She persuades Sexby to take her to prison to visitLilburne, to hear what he has to say. In the meeting, Lilburne isflanked by two supporters, also paying a visit. They are ThomasRainsborough (Michael Fassbender) and Oliver Cromwell (Dominic West).

Soon afterwards, amidst mounting public pressure, Lilburne isreleased from prison. With the authority of the throne under threat,the King marches on parliament to arrest five rebels. They are tippedoff, and escape. It is a further humiliation. As the royal authoritybegins to crumble, so too does Angelica's marriage, her husband Harryunable to cope with such a spirited and modern woman as his wife.

Theroyal family are forced to abandon London, and take refuge in Oxford.Finally, the long-threatened war breaks out, with the Royalists andParliamentarians clashing at the bloody Battle of Edgehill. Thoseprominent in the Roundhead cause include Rainsborough, Cromwell andLilburne. During the battle Sexby, previously merely a soldier forhire, becomes troubled by his allegiance to the Royalists, disobeys hissuperior officer, Harry Fanshawe, and defects to the other side. In theheat of battle, Fanshawe all but kills him, but Sexby's vision ofAngelica helps him to survive.

By now, the lines are drawn, and England has begun one of thebloodiest periods of its history. Sexby has joined the Roundhead cause.King Charles calls upon the massed ranks of his own nobility, includingHarry Fanshawe, to support him. But Harry's wife has different ideas.

Itis the start of a road that will change inexorably not only Angelica'slife, but all of those with whom she comes into contact, including themost important figures of this tumultuous time. Ahead of her liesunaccustomed poverty, tragedy and triumph, love and loss on anunimaginable scale, with the Devil of her visions seemingly thwartingher every attempt at happiness.

For England, the future is equally radical. Village will fightagainst village, brother against brother, as the nation is torn apart.Friendships will be tested and loyalties broken - even among those incommand, and on the same side.

The drama has only just begun to play out.'

Sally said the episodes she saw at the press screening were astonishing. Personally I can't wait.

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