Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham join forces for hard-hitting new drama, Help
Set in a fictional Liverpool care home
They are two of the biggest English actors in the world, thanks to their roles on major TV shows such as Killing Eve and Line of Duty, but now fans are in for a treat as Liverpool's finest talents Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham have teamed up.
Jodie, who plays assassin Villanelle in hit drama Killing Eve, has joined the cast of a brand new Channel 4 drama called Help, alongside Time actor Stephen Graham.
The new series from BAFTA-Award winning writers Jack Thorne and Marc Munden, will be set in a fictional Liverpool care home, telling the story of a relationship between a care home worker and patient, played by Jodie and Graham respectively.
Help will feature a moving storyline of the two whose lives are changed by the arrival of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Jodie plays the character of Sarah, a smart girl who has struggled to fit in. Despite not achieving much in her education, Sarah lands herself a job at Bright Sky Homes, forming a special connection with Stephen's character Tony.
Tony, a 47-year-old, has Young Onset Alzheimer’s which causes periods of both confusion and violent outburst which other members of staff struggle with, but not Sarah.
However, things are soon thrown into chaos when the Coronavirus pandemic hits in March 2020, as Sarah and her colleagues are left helpless by the powers that be. Although Sarah goes above and beyond to protect Tony and others in her care, she's pushed into a dark corner, desperately looking for a way out.
Stephen Graham says about the new drama: “Jack is one of the greatest and most truthful writers of our generation and in Help he has crafted a profoundly important piece of social realism. I’ve wanted to work with Jodie for ages, and together we’re hugely passionate about shining a light on one of the biggest tragedies of our time and the people at the heart of it.”
Jodie Comer added: “I am, of course, thrilled to finally be working alongside Stephen and the supremely talented Jack, Marc and those at Channel 4. For us to be able to explore such a relevant and emotive story through the eyes of such beautifully real characters, and in our home city of Liverpool, is a real honour. We’re determined to do justice to so many of the untold stories and heroes that have been affected as a result of this crisis and to handle them with care.”
Check out all of the TV shows you've seen Jodie Comer in:
Holby City
In 2009, 16-year-old Jodie played the role of patient Ellie Jenkins in hospital drama Holby City.
Waterloo Road
Jodie went on to join the cast of Waterloo Road in 2010, playing the role of Sarah Evans. However, her spell on the show was short-lived, with Jodie only featuring in one episode in series six.
Justice
Jodie got her first major role in 2011, playing the character Sharna Mulhearne in BBC legal drama Justice.
Doctors
Teenager Jodie appeared in a single episode of Doctors in 2012, playing the role of struggling single mum called Kelly Lowther.
Silent Witness
Crime drama series Silent Witness has been one of the BBC's most popular shows over the years, and in 2012, Jodie appeared in a two-part episode, playing the role of Eve Gilston.
Casualty
You can't appear on Holby City and not land a starring role on Casualty! Jodie played the role of patient Maddy Eldon in a 2012 episode of the hit hospital drama.
Law & Order UK
Jodie went on to appear in an episode of the UK adaptation of Law & Order, playing the role of Jess Hays for a one-off episode.
Vera
Also in 2013, Jodie appeared in a one-off episode of Vera, playing the role of Izzy Rawlins, the girlfriend of a man who was found burnt to death in a river.
Inspector George Gently
Another BBC crime drama ticked off the list. In 2013 Jodie played the role of Justine Leyland in Inspector George Gently.
Remember Me
Jodie starred in TV mini-series Remember Me in 2014, playing the role of teenage care assistant Hannah Ward.
My Big Fat Mad Diary
Between 2013-2015, Jodie played the role of Chloe Gemell in E4 comedy My Big Fat Mad Diary. Jodie's character Chloe was the best friend of main star Rachel, played by actress Sharon Rooney.
Thirteen
Jodie then went on to appear in BBC mini-series Thirteen in 2016, playing the lead role of Ivy Moxam, a girl who went missing at the age of just 13.
Rillington Place
Another major role for Jodie saw her appear in 2016 drama Rillington Place, where she played the role of Beryl Evans, living under the same roof as a serial killer with her on-screen husband Tim Evans.
The White Princess
In a contrast to her previous roles, in 2017 Jodie played Elizabeth of York in medieval drama The White Princess, which was based on Philippa Gregory's 2013 novel.
Doctor Foster
Perhaps one of her more well-known roles to date, Jodie starred alongside the likes of Suranne Jones and Bertie Carvel in popular BBC drama Doctor Foster in 2017.
England Is Mine
Jodie played the role of Christine in 2017 movie England Is Mine, a film about Morrissey and his early-life in the 1970s.
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
In 2018, Jodie starred in all-female cast of Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives, a series created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Jodie starred in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, playing the role of Rey's mother.
Killing Eve
In 2018, BBC drama Killing Eve took the world by storm, giving Jodie the platform to showcase her amazing acting skills by portraying Russian assassin Villanelle.
The show is now onto its fourth series, with the whole world crediting Jodie for her amazing part in the show.
Talking Heads
Jodie appeared in Talking Heads in 2020, a remake of Alan Bennett's monologues. Jodie's episode was titled 'Her Big Chance' (1988), which was directed by Josie Rourke.
Free Guy
Jodie starred alongside Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy. Originally slated for release in December 2020, the film was sadly pushed back due to the pandemic and was then released in August 2021.
The Last Duel
Jodie starred in medieval film The Last Duel, released in 2021 after production was postponed during the pandemic. Based on a book by Eric Jager, Jodie portrayed Marguerite de Carrouges, the wife of Matt Damon's character Jean de Carrouges who takes part in the last ever legally sanctioned duel in France.
Help
In September 2021, Jodie joined fellow Liverpudlian actor Stephen Graham in hard-hitting Channel 4 drama Help. The one-off drama showed the difficulties care homes suffered during the Coronavirus pandemic, with Jodie playing the role of a young care worker called Sarah.
In May 2022, Jodie was awarded with a BAFTA TV Award in the Leading Actress category for her portrayal in the drama.
Prima Facie
In October 2021, Jodie confirmed she would be making her West End debut, playing the role of a criminal barrister in Suzie Miller's new play Prima Facie, which took place in 2022.
It was announced in June 2022 that the show would be going on Broadway in 2023, with Jodie writing on social media: 'I am so honoured to play a part in the telling of this story and beyond thrilled that next week isn't the end. It means so much to see and hear so many of your positive responses. Thank you to all of you who have supported the show and a special shout out to those who have travelled thousands of miles, now it's our turn. I love you Tess, we're going to BROADWAY!' (sic) In March 2023, Jodie won an Olivier Award for her performance in the play, in the Best Actress category.
In June 2024, Jodie confirmed the NT live recording of the Prima Facie run in London's West End would be screening worldwide in cinemas from 12th September.
The End We Start From
Jodie landed a new film role in apocalyptic thriller The End We Start From. In September 2022, she shared a first-look photo of herself from the film and wrote: 'Meet Zeb and Woman'. The movie then hit cinemas in January 2024. Jodie stars alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie, where she also acted as an Executive Producer.
In June 2024, the film landed on streaming platform Netflix.
The Bikeriders
Jodie appears in The Bikeriders, taking on the role of Kathy as she stars alongside Austin Butler and Tom Hardy. The film was released in cinemas on 21st June 2024 and is inspired by the book of the same name, which depicts the lives of members of a Chicago motorcycle club.
Award-winning writer Jack Thorne says of the drama: “About two years ago Stephen Graham came to me with an idea to write something for him and Jodie Comer. I tried to think of something and got nothing. Then this crisis happened, and we saw care homes getting squashed and battered by the government.
"It's been both a long process and a short one, trying to find a way to tell this story, the amazing thing has been sharing in working out the story with Stephen, Jodie, the amazing Marc Munden, Beth Willis and everyone at the Forge and Channel 4. 30,000 people have died unnecessarily in these care homes because of the indifference and incompetence of our government. Hearing the stories of those at the frontline, having people break down in tears on zoom in front of us has been incredibly moving and galling.
"Getting the story right will be incredibly important, we are aware of the pressure upon us, this has to be written and made with anger and precision. We hope we do it justice.”
Help is due to arrive on Channel 4 in the coming months.
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