Whatever It Takes
14/07/2009
Shane Richie returns to ITV in a tale of modern morality charting the highs and lows of our media obsessed celebrity culture. This 1 x 90min drama by BAFTA winning Paula Milne poses provocative and intriguing questions about the price of instant fame.
Daisy Cockram (Amy Beth Hayes – The Children, Doctor Who, Eve), a young police officer, wins a radio contest to attend a West End film premier and the VIP party afterwards. A famous premiership footballer picks her up and they are later caught in a sexual act in the back of his Range Rover. Her career in the police force is shattered, as is her complex relationship with her high flying father - a deputy Chief Constable.
But it seems Daisy has a saviour in the shape of J.J. Merrick (Shane Richie – Skins, Good Samaritan, What We Did on Our Holiday, EastEnders) – a ruthless, Svengali, publicity agent. He catapults her into the world of glamour modelling. For a while she rides high on her bubble of instant fame and becomes a millionaire with a lifestyle to match and her own entourage of hangers on. It also seems that she has found love, with a young soap star who J.J. also represents.
But fame without talent is hard to sustain – inevitably the lads’ magazines and ‘red tops’ turn the search light of their attention to the next instant celebrity. Betrayed by J.J., rejected by her family, abandoned by her boy friend (who had only been using their relationship as a publicity stunt), Daisy goes to desperate lengths to revive her floundering career and get herself back on the front page.
In J.J.’s words: “the way you earn fame is by hanging onto it – whatever it takes…”
Further casting includes: Gary Lucy (The Bill, Footballers Wives), Dave Berry (MTV, XFM), Lucy Gaskell (Blue Murder, Cutting It), Ron Cook (Hot Fuzz, Confetti), Annette Badland (Doctor Who, Poirot) and cameos from Chantelle Houghton (Celebrity Big Brother Winner 2006), Chico (The X Factor) and Sara Cox (Radio 1).
Laura Mackie, ITV’s director of Drama says “I’m delighted to have such a powerful film from Paula Milne that taps into such a provocative contemporary subject.”
WHATEVER IT TAKES is written and created by Paula Milne (The Virgin Queen, The Fragile Heart, The Politician’s Wife), produced by Nick Pitt (Robin Hood, Silent Witness, Monarch of the Glen), and directed by Andy Hay (Waking The Dead, Spooks, Trial and Retribution). Jamie Isaacs is executive producer.
Producer Nick Pitt, adds “To be glamorous and famous might be what we dream of, but "be careful what you wish for", says JJ Merrick (Shane Richie), who is our guide to the culture of 'unearned celebrity'. Shane brings his natural charm and humour to this dark and sexy story.”
WHATEVER IT TAKES is a Twenty Twenty production for ITV1.
