Career Drowning Not Waving

Moving On - John Mulligan (2009)

John Mulligan is an enigma. Not particularly bright at school and from a fairly deprived background. A childhood lived with "holes in his kecks" and on an estate where the kids rubbed shoulders with the druggies gave John a place to flee from and make something of himself. (BBC Press Pack, 15 April 2009)

Drowning Not Waving by Sarah Deane and executive produced by Jimmy McGovern, is the third in a five-part television series, 'Moving On'. which deals with "characters who are moving on in their lives". ("Moving On", Radio Times, 21-27 March, 2009)

He is apparently flawless and his social elevation seems to have cost him little effort, but John has perfected his skills and leaves nothing to chance. He is brilliant, effortless and confident. (BBC Press Pack, 15 April 2009)

Production notes

Cast
John Mulligan - Richard Armitage
Ellie Morgan - Christine Tremarco
Maria - Jo-Anne Knowles
Sue Morgan - Sharon Duce
Debt collector - Andrew Vincent

Executive Producer (LA Productions)
Jimmy McGovern

Executive Producer (BBC)
Liam Keelan

Series Producer
Colin McKeown

Director
Gary Williams

Writer
Sarah Deane

I enjoyed the simplicity of the storytelling, in that, this was mainly a four-hander which relied on the characterisation and the unfolding events to create a gripping story. (BBC Press Pack, pp 1 & 2 15 April 2009)

The dvd for Moving On may be purchased at:

Amazon.uk (region 2)

It felt real, colloquial, domestic yet dangerous ... the clash of the characters is where the drama is located. I found that challenging and new. (BBC Press Pack, 15 April 2009)

"You won't be needing those."

"Any more interest – in the house? … I thought we'd talk, over dinner. My treat."

"Fish and chips. Haddock. I think."

"I wasn't using you. I wouldn't do that."

"Talk about me but you think it's perfectly OK to spend thousands you don't have on stuff you don't need, borrowing cash from legalised loan sharks that you've no hope of ever paying back. But that's all right – because you're a good person."

"But you? You're going to have to wake up every morning looking at all the nice things around you, even the shoes on your feet, knowing that it was paid for with the same money that put me here. The same dirty tenner that some 12 year old kid in a dirty garage is shooting into his brains right now. Doesn't matter to me. Cause I'm just low life scum. But you – please tell me, what does that do to someone as perfect as you?"