Lesley Manville (Mum, Harlots) has joined the cast of Lennie James’ Sky Atlantic series Save Me for its second season. “I couldn’t be more delighted to be joining this phenomenal series”, Manville said. “Save Me was a major highlight of 2018, a testament to Lennie James’ writing and acting and the exceptional cast and creative team.”
Manville will play Jennifer Charles, the wife of Gideon Charles. Jennifer is forced to make an almost impossible choice that will place her in direct conflict with Nelly, following the return of the vulnerable girl, Grace (Olive Gray), who Nelly rescued whilst searching for his own daughter Jody.
Created by Lennie James, Save Me tells the story of Nelson Nelly Rowe and his search for Jody, his missing daughter. The drama series is produced by World Productions and stars Lennie James, Suranne Jones, Stephen Graham, Thomas Coombes, Kerry Godliman, Nadine Marshall, Susan Lynch and Jason Flemyng. Lizzie Rusbridger is the series producer, while Jim Loach and Coky Giedroyc are directing. The executive producers are Lennie James, Simon Heath, Jessica Sykes and Kara Manly. Filming gets underway this month ahead of a 2020 premiere.
The show’s second season picks up fourteen months after the events of season one, which saw Nelly left devastated after his desperate search for Jody was unsuccessful. He had been dragged into a dangerous underworld, taken risks that had proved precarious for himself and those closest to him and challenged Nelly to re-evaluate many of the decisions he had made about his life, all to find Jody. Now, fourteen months down the road, is he still looking? What hope is there of finding Jody? And if new evidence were to emerge, what would it force Nelly and those close to him to do next?
“The first series of Save Me was an absolute must-see, showcasing bold, British drama at its finest. The show really has been part of a step change for Sky drama, alongside Patrick Melrose and Chernobyl, achieving widespread critical acclaim as well as an army of fans”, said Sky’s Director of Drama Cameron Roach, who commissioned the show’s second season alongside Sky’s Managing Director of Content for the UK and Ireland Zai Bennett. “We’re thrilled to now bring our viewers the second series of this unique story, to see the return of our much loved characters alongside new cast members including Lesley Manville”.
While Simon Heath, Executive Producer for World Productions, added: “We’re delighted to welcome the brilliant Lesley Manville for the second instalment of Nelly Rowe’s gripping quest. A huge thanks to the Sky audience, who made Save Me the fastest binged Sky box set ever and to the Sky team, who have given Lennie’s unique vision such brilliant support from day one”
