We spoke with Greek actor Alexis Georgoulis right before he caught a plane to Corfu, the Ionian Island where he will be filming “The Durrells” – together with a superb cast – for British channel ITV. Watch the interview below:
The brand new six part series is based upon Gerald Durrell’s classic trilogy of Corfu memoirs including the much loved ‘My Family and Other Animals’. Set in 1935, this timeless drama is full of warmth, humour and fun.
Keeley Hawes (Line of Duty, Ashes to Ashes) will play Louisa Durrell in “The Durrells”, written by acclaimed screenwriter Simon Nye and produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd. International film star Leslie Caron (An American in Paris, Gigi) will also star in the series.
The story focuses upon Louisa Durrell (Hawes) whose life is in meltdown. Her husband died years ago and his money has all but run out. Her four unruly ‘children’ Larry, 21, played by Josh O’Connor (Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders), Leslie, 18, a role taken by newcomer Callum Woodhouse, Margo, 17, played by Daisy Waterstone (Silent Witness, Testament of Youth) and Gerry, 11, with Milo Parker (Mr Holmes, Ghosthunters) cast in the role, are going off the rails. Gerry is obsessed with animals and about to be thrown out of school; Larry is a would-be novelist but the worst estate agent in Bournemouth, and the middle two are hitting adulthood like a car-crash. It is the 1930s, and a woman’s options are limited.
Louisa realises she can carry on struggling, marry someone comfortably off but oppressive, or make a radical change and escape… from a domestic pressure-cooker, British weather, uptight Englishness and narrow horizons. This is a rescue mission to somewhere her family can heal itself before it’s too late. So, they uproot and move to Corfu!
Over six episodes we’ll follow the Durrell family as they adjust to their new life. Along the way they’ll meet new friends, rivals and lovers.
Alexis Georgoulis (My Life In Ruins, Eisai to Tairi mou), the hugely popular Greek actor, will be playing the handsome Spiro Hakaiopulos – an all round Mr Fix It, who Margo at first thinks her mother should marry, but Louisa has other ideas.
Leslie Caron stars as the shrewd and exotic Countess Mavrodaki who employs Margo as her companion.
A local, Theodore, played by renowned Greek actor Yorgos Karamihos, will welcome the Durrells. He’s sane, wise and knows everything there is to know about the animals and plant life of Corfu, so is an ideal informal teacher for Gerry.
Gerry befriends a convict, Kosti, played by Christopher Sciueref (300: Rise of An Empire, Skyfall), and when Margo and Louisa dig into his past, they are horrified by what they discover.
Each of the episodes will be written by Simon Nye (Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, Just William, Men Behaving Badly). The Durrells will be produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd and executive produced by the company’s founder, BAFTA award winning filmmaker Sally Woodward Gentle (Whitechapel, Any Human Heart, Enid). Sid’s Managing Director Lee Morris (Da Vinci’s Demons, Any Human Heart, The Jury) will also executive produce together with Simon Nye. Christopher Hall (Critical, Dracula, Murder on the Home Front) will produce the series, and Steve Barron (Merlin, Treasure Island) will direct.
ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea have commissioned The Durrells.
Filming will take place in Corfu from September 2015 and will continue production in London.
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