Real Men is a two-part British television crime drama series, written by playwright Frank Deasy and directed by Sallie Aphramain, that first broadcast on BBC Two on 12 and 13 March 2003.
The series stars Ben Daniels as Detective Inspector Matthew Fenton, who after re-opening the cold case of a missing child, finds himself drawn to a local orphanage where he suspects the caretaker of sexual improprieties with the minors.
Contents
Production
The script for the series took writer Frank Deasy more than four years to write. Daniels commented on the role of Fenton; "Fenton is a deeply moral man, he's likable and kind. But, best of all for an actor, he really changes during the course of this piece. I love the fact that as the drama progresses, his veneer of perfection cracks. We gradually see that he's quite arrogant and emotionally stunted."
Producer David Snodin praised Deasy, writing "The moment I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. By exploring the links between the perpetrators of abuse and their victims, I believe that Real Men provides the deepest examination of this subject in a drama to date. This piece is drenched in truth, so it can't be exploitative. Frank's writing may be dangerous and close to the bone, but it's always truthful. You get drawn into the world of these characters - you don't approve of it, but Real Men just shows you how it is."
The series was considered so-hard hitting that the Radio Times published an article on the week of the programme's broadcast, entitled A fit subject for drama?.
Availability
The series has never been repeated, nor released on DVD.
Cast
Main cast
Ben Daniels as DI Matthew Fenton
Charles Dale as DS Barry Grimes
Ewan Stewart as Alistair Jackson
Zoe Telford as Christina Leith
Christine Tremarco as DS Paula Savage
Caroline Catz as Liz Fenton
Harry Eden as Russell Wade
Steve John Shepherd as Brian Marshall
Stephen Lord as Alex Collins
Emil Marwa as DC Daniel Norbury
Supporting cast
Jill Baker as Julie Ferguson
Nicola Cowper as Deborah Wade
Anthony Flanagan as James Mulgrew
Matthew Marsh as DCI Norton
Selva Rasalingam as Ron Dixon
Amanda Ryan as Greta Banham
Desmond Bayliss as Terence Sandals
Tom Charnock as Charley Meikle
Sally Walsh as Joanna Collins
Pauline Jefferson as Delores Fenton
Faye Cook as Samantha Fenton
Ben McGawley as Simon Fenton
Helen Kay as Angela Jackson