Holding (TV series)

*Holding*
Holding
Genre	Crime drama
Based on	Holding; by Graham Norton
Written by	Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Karen Cogan;
Directed by	Kathy Burke
Country of origin	Ireland; United Kingdom;
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	4
Production
Producer	Martina Niland
Production companies	Happy Prince; Port Pictures;
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	14 March –; 4 April 2022

Holding is a four-part television series based on the debut novel of the same name by Graham Norton. It premiered on ITV on 14 March 2022 and on Virgin Media More in Ireland on 12 April 2022.

Premise

Easy-going Garda Sergeant PJ Collins leads a peaceful life in the quiet Cork village of Duneen. It is disrupted by the discovery of an adult male skeleton at a building site owned by the Flynn brothers. Due to its location on the former Burke farm and its age, locals speculate that the skeleton is Tommy Burke. He had disappeared in mid-2001, about 20 years earlier. Cork City-based detective Linus Dunne investigates and orders the Burkes' graves opened for DNA sampling. PJ learns that Tommy had abandoned his fiancée Brid at the altar and simultaneously had an affair with Brid's then-best friend, Evelyn Ross. Brid and Evelyn rarely communicate thereafter. Brid married Anthony and they have two children. Evelyn lives with her sisters Abigail and Florence on the neighbouring dairy farm.

Brid begins drinking more heavily and struggles with community scrutiny. Evelyn dates teenager Stephen and works at the pub, while Abigail runs the dairy. Florence prepares to leave Duneen for America with her girlfriend and fellow school teacher, Susan. PJ observes Evelyn and Brid fighting each other, but avoids confronting them. Brid hides away from her family and the villagers. PJ discovers Brid and returns her home. DNA analysis determines that the skeleton is not the Burkes' son.

Cast

Main

Conleth Hill as Patrick Joseph ("PJ") Collins
Siobhán McSweeney as Bríd Riordan
Charlene McKenna as Evelyn Ross
Helen Behan as Abigail Ross
Amy Conroy as Florence Ross
Pauline McLynn as Eileen O'Driscoll
Olwen Fouéré as Kitty Harrington
Clinton Liberty as Linus Dunne
Gary Shelford as Anthony Riordan
Eleanor Tiernan as Susan Hickey
Sky Yang as Stephen Chen
Brenda Fricker as Lizzie Meaney

Supporting

Demi Isaac Oviawe as Aoife Akingbola
Calum Rea as Cathal Riordan
Jane Spollen as Carmel Riordan
Lochlann Ó Mearáin as Cormac Byrne
Jim O'Donnell as Willy McCarthy
Pat Kinevane as Martin Flynn
Anne Kent as Nora Goggin
Karl Quinn as John Flynn
Michael Fry as Alan Doddy
Felix Brown as Tommy Burke
Norma Sheahan as D.S. Norma Casey
Graham Norton as Radio DJ (voice)
Ivet Corvea as Doctor Walshe
Gary Murphy as Sgt Looney

Production

Development

It was announced in May 2021 that ITV had commissioned a four-part adaptation of Graham Norton's 2016 novel, Holding. Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Karen Cogan would write the script for ITV's label Happy Prince, with Kathy Burke directing and Martina Niland for Port Pictures.^[1]

Casting

Alongside the commission in May, Conleth Hill was cast as the lead character PJ Collins.^[2] It was later announced in July 2021 that Siobhán McSweeney, Charlene McKenna, Helen Behan, Pauline McLynn, and Brenda Fricker would star alongside Hill with the likes of Clinton Liberty, Amy Conroy, Olwen Fouéré, Eleanor Tiernan, Gary Shelford, Lochlann Ó Mearáin, Sky Yang, and Demi Isaac Oviawe also having joined the cast.^[3]

Filming

Principal photography took place on location in West Cork with support from Screen Ireland, beginning in July 2021 and wrapping in October. Filming locations included Drimoleague and Castletownshend.^[4]

References

^ "ITV commissions four part drama Holding". ITV Press Centre. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
^ Kanter, Jake (20 May 2021). "Conleth Hill To Headline ITV Adaptation Of Graham Norton's Debut Novel 'Holding'". Deadline. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
^ "Brenda Fricker, Siobhán McSweeney, Charlene McKenna, Helen Behan and Pauline McLynn cast alongside Conleth Hill in ITV drama Holding". ITV Press Centre. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
^ McCarthy, Esther (6 October 2021). "That's a wrap: Adaptation of Graham Norton book completes filming in Co Cork". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

External links

Holding at IMDb
Holding at British Comedy Guide

[1] "ITV commissions four part drama Holding". ITV Press Centre. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

[2] Kanter, Jake (20 May 2021). "Conleth Hill To Headline ITV Adaptation Of Graham Norton's Debut Novel 'Holding'". Deadline. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

[3] "Brenda Fricker, Siobhán McSweeney, Charlene McKenna, Helen Behan and Pauline McLynn cast alongside Conleth Hill in ITV drama Holding". ITV Press Centre. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

[4] McCarthy, Esther (6 October 2021). "That's a wrap: Adaptation of Graham Norton book completes filming in Co Cork". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

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