Real-life drama of newspaper office
Tabloid TV series thrown into chaos as art immitates life
professional dilemmas with their personal lives.
They try to balance work and play, ambition and integrity – amid the never-ending pressure of what is now a 24-hour global news cycle and an industry in turmoil.
The ensemble cast includes
Actor Ben Chaplin stars in Press Charlotte Riley as Holly Evans, deputy news editor of The Herald, as she faces off with editor of The Post, Duncan Allen, played by Ben Chaplin. Supporting roles are played by Paapa Essiedu, Shane Zaza, Ellie Kendrick, Al Weaver, Brendan Cowell and Hercule Poirot himself, David Suchet. Charlotte said: “There were one or two storylines we filmed that then actually happened in real life, so they didn’t make the cut. “We couldn’t then use them as they were too close to reality. With Holly, you’re seeing somebody who is passionate about their job and what they do – and then how that leaves them in quite a vulnerable place personally.”
Ben Chaplin’s character is just as flawed. He revealed: “We meet Duncan at the start of a mid-life crisis. He’s become numb, I think.” Creator Mike Bartlett said he based his approach on Yes Minister and the way it dealt with subjects that would always be topical.
He added: “It’s an industry facing massive challenges that affect us all. There’s an increasing lack of trust in what we receive.
“I wanted to explore if journalists were passionate truth-tellers or cynical hacks keen to get clicks.”
Press is screened on BBC One on Thursdays at 9pm.