Olivier Award winning actor leads young ensemble cast

BBC One has announced the casting on powerful five-part, First World War drama The Passing Bells – part of the BBC’s programming to mark the Centenary of the First World War.

The drama, written by Tony Jordan (Hustle, Life On Mars) follows two very ordinary young men, Thomas and Michael, both of whom have enlisted in a war they expect will be over within months. Upcoming actors, Paddy Gibson (What Richard Did) and Jack Lowden (The Tunnel), will portray the two lead characters.

Over five chronological years, we follow their lives as they grow up, lose friends and find love amid the horrors of the war. Alongside them, a cast of young British and German actors play their supporting battalions, including Charles Furness, Brian Fletcher, Wilf Scolding, Hubert Burton, Felix Auer, Ben McGregor, Mark Burghagen and Matthew Aubrey.

Eryka Karkuszewska and Sabrina Bartlett will play the young men’s love interests.

The Passing Bells is a co-production from Jordan’s independent production company Red Planet Pictures and Apple Film Production through BBC Cymru Wales Drama. The executive producers are Tony Jordan and Belinda Campbell for Red Planet Pictures, Dariusz Jablonski for Apple Film Production and Bethan Jones for the BBC. The producer is Nick Pitt and Brendan Maher will direct.

Filming of The Passing Bells begins shortly in Poland.