New four-part bilingual Irish political comic drama ‘The Running Mate’ kicks off tonight, Wednesday September 26th, at 9.30pm on TG4, with a repeat on Saturday at 10.05pm.
Based on an idea by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, the 4x1 hour series was directed by IFTA award winner Declan Recks (Pure Mule, The Clinic) and written by Marcus Fleming, Nicky Murphy and Mark Canton.
The €2 million budget series, which was in development for over two years, stars Don Wycherley (Bachelors Walk), Dennis Conway (Alexander, The Tiger’s Tail), Frank Kelly (Father Ted), Eamon Hunt (Love is the Drug), Carrie Crowley (Anner House), Lesley Conroy (The Clinic) and a host of new acting talent including Linda Breathnach and Cillian O’Sullivan.
‘The Running Mate’ was shot over seven weeks almost entirely on location in Dingle, Co.Kerry in late 2006, and tells the tale of the political backbiting and intrigue that stems from the bid by a desperate politician to win a seat in a South Kerry constituency. It reveals the infighting and skulduggery that springs from constituency rivalry in rural Ireland. When his campaign begins to fall apart, Vincent Flynn(Conway) teams up with his hapless mate, Willie Costello (Wycherley), to form Carrigeen’s most unlikely political machine.
The series is produced by Rebecca O’Flanagan (Right Now Ladies & Gents) through Rubicon Films, with Paddy McDonald (The Mighty Celt) and Robert Walpole (Man About Dog) as executive producers. Finance is provided by TG4, the BCI, the Irish Film Board and S481.
The project was shot on High Def Sony 750 format by DOP Ruairi O’Brien, with costumes by Louise Stanton and Production Design by Caroline O’Connor. The series was edited Gareth Young of EGG post-production. (The Clinic, Pure Mule).
‘The Running Mate’ airs at 9.30pm, Wednesday September 26th on TG4. Repeated on Saturday at 10.05 pm.
