''Joe Maddison's War'' is a 2010

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

written by

Alan Plater Alan Frederick Plater (15 April 1935 – 25 June 2010) was an English playwright and screenwriter, who worked extensively in British television from the 1960s to the 2000s. He is best known for the sitcom ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' and th ...

about strained family and social relations in wartime. Directed by Patrick Collerton and filmed partly on location in

South Shields South Shields () is a coastal town in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England; it is on the south bank of the mouth of the River Tyne. The town was once known in Roman Britain, Roman times as ''Arbeia'' and as ''Caer Urfa'' by the Early Middle Ag ...

, it presents a view of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

through the eyes of shipyard worker and

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

veteran Joe Maddison (played by

Kevin Whately Kevin Whately OBE (born 6 February 1951) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Neville "Nev" Hope in the comedy drama ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet''; Robert "Robbie" Lewis in the British crime drama ''Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000) ...

) who serves in the

Home Guard Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense. The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting ...

during

the Blitz The Blitz (English: "flash") was a Nazi Germany, German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, for eight months, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941, during the Second World War. Towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940, a co ...

while his son and son-in-law are enlisted for oversea service.

Cast (main)

as Joe Maddison * Sammy Dobson as Sheila Maddison * Angela Lonsdale as Polly Maddison * James Baxter as Alan Maddison *

John Woodvine John Woodvine (born 21 July 1929) is an English actor who has appeared in more than 70 theatre productions, as well as a similar number of television and film roles. Early life Woodvine was born in South Shields, the son of Rose (née Kelly) ...

as Father Connolly *

James Atherton James Atherton (born James Conway; 16 July 1987) is an English actor, known for his roles as Will Savage on ''Hollyoaks'' and Jamie Bowman on ''Coronation Street''. In 2017, he appeared in the stage production of ''Rita, Sue and Bob Too''. In 2 ...

as Tommy Cowell *

Robson Green Robson Golightly Green (born 18 December 1964) is an English actor, singer-songwriter and television presenter. His first major TV role was as hospital porter Jimmy Powell in BBC drama series '' Casualty'' in 1989. He then went on to portray F ...

as Harry Crawford *

Melanie Hill Melanie Jane Hill is a British actress, known for playing Hazel Redfern in ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' (1985–1986), Aveline in ''Bread'' (1989–1991), Rita Dolan in Kay Mellor drama '' Playing the Field'' (1998–2002), Maggie Budgen in the BB ...

as Selina Rutherford * Trevor Fox as Eddie Turnbull * Nick Versteeg as Billy Nicholson *

Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen as well as for his work at the Royal National Theatre, he has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a BAFTA Award, two ...

as Major Simpson * Jackie Phillips as Lily Parkinson *

Madelaine Newton Sheila Madelaine Whately, better known by her stage name Madelaine Newton, is a British actress best known for her portrayal of Dolly in 1970s BBC television drama ''When the Boat Comes In''. Since 1984 she has been married to actor Kevin Whately, ...

as Jenny Barlow * Charlie Richmond as Sergeant Bull * Hayden Chippy as a Young Boy

References

External links

* * Sweeting, Adam
Writer Alan Plater on Joe Maddison's War
at

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

, 15 October 2010 2010 television films 2010 films British television films British World War II films Television series by ITV Studios Television series by Mammoth Screen {{WWII-film-stub