Everything We Know About The New LGBTQ+ Series, Mr Loverman
From Apple TV’s Lessons in Chemistry to Netflix’s Red, White & Royal Blue, we can’t get enough of book-to-screen adaptations, and it seems like streaming platforms can’t either, as a new one is set to land later this year.
The BBC is working on adapting the acclaimed novel Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. From big stars to the twisting plot, here’s everything you need to know…
Everything We Know So Far About Mr Loverman
Lennie James, star of The Walking Dead and Line of Duty, is set to play the central character of Barrington Jedidah Walker, an eccentric Hackney man with a love of retro suits. He’s kept a secret from his wife of 50 years—he’s been having an affair with another man, Morris, for years, and the story of the choices he must make is one about family, love and regrets.
Who is behind the series?
Mr Loverman is being brought to screens by Nathaniel Price, who’s also worked on Noughts & Crosses and The Outlaws, and the novel is split into eight parts.
Booker prize-winning Evaristo said, “I am thrilled that Mr Loverman is being adapted into television drama. I love the idea of them [the characters] stepping beyond the pages of the novel and into people’s living rooms and lives.” Barrington Jedidah Walker, or simply Barry to those close to him, revels in standing out and wearing dapper clothes and has lived his seven decades so far to the fullest.
Barry is the heart and soul of the novel and its exploration of the British Caribbean community. His wife, the devoutly religious Carmel has been at his side ever since they married 50 years ago, and while she loves him, she’s begun to wonder from his behaviour if he’s having an affair with other women. But he’s been having an affair with his longtime soulmate and lover Morris.
Barry feels it’s time to finally admit his affair to his wife and divorce his now dead-end marriage, but he feels constrained. Not only does he know the announcement will upset his wife, but he also feels that he is not yet ready to come out as gay, and fears the social repercussions. The novel (and series) explores the damage of prejudice and fear and themes of family, parenthood, and sexual orientation, as Barry makes some big life choices that put him at a crossroads.
When will it hit screens?
The rest of the cast has yet to be announced, though we know the series will likely come to BBC One and iPlayer at the end of the year or early next year. The powerful story will be told in eight 30-minute parts, and filming is underway.
