Mayflies: Release date and latest news for Martin Compston drama
Martin Compston and Tony Curran star in the new two-part BBC drama.
New BBC drama Mayflies debuts tonight (Wednesday 28th December) and is set to be a heartbreaking tale of friendship, love and loyalty. The Scottish series is based on the 2020 book of the same name and stars The Rig's Martin Compston, alongside his real-life friend and fellow actor Tony Curran.
Speaking about the series, Compston revealed that Mayflies is "by far the most emotionally challenging job I’ve ever done".
As well as being a deeply emotional tale, the new series is also a "poignant, beautiful story that hopefully people enjoy", according to Curran. He hopes that with topics like terminal illness and euthanasia, the drama will "start a conversation as well".
But what exactly is the new two-part series about and who else stars with Compston and Curran? Read on for everything you need to know about Mayflies on BBC One.
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When will Mayflies be released?
Mayflies will be made up of two parts and is set to air over two nights during the Christmas period.
The first episode will air at 9pm on BBC One on Wednesday 28th December, while the second will air one day after, at 9pm on Thursday 29th December.
For viewers in Scotland, they will get to see the drama a day early, as episode 1 will air on BBC Scotland at 10pm on Tuesday 27th December and episode 2 will air on the channel at 10pm on Wednesday 28th.
What is Mayflies about?
Mayflies is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Andrew O'Hagan, and tells the story of lifelong friends Jimmy and Tully.
The official synopsis for the series says: "Everyone has a Tully Dawson (Tony Curran) - the friend who defines your life. In the summer of 1986, in a small Scottish town, Jimmy (Martin Compston) and Tully ignite a brilliant friendship based on music, films and the rebel spirit.
"With school over and the locked world of their fathers before them, they rush towards the climax of their youth - a magical weekend in Manchester, the epicentre of everything that inspires them in working-class Britain. There, against the greatest soundtrack ever recorded, a vow is made: to go at life differently.
"Thirty years on, half a life away, the phone rings. Tully has the worst kind of news, and a request that will test their friendship, love, and loyalty to the limit...
"Mayflies is a memorial to youth’s euphoria and to everyday tragedy. A tender goodbye to an old union, it discovers the joy and the costs of love."
Mayflies cast - who stars with Martin Compston?
The full cast for Mayflies is as follows:
- Martin Compston as Jimmy
- Tony Curran as Tully
- Ashley Jensen as Anna
- Tracy Ifeachor as Iona
- Rian Gordon as Young Jimmy
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Young Tully
- Paul Gorman as Young Hogg
- Mitchell Robertson as Young Tibbs
- Elaine C Smith as Barbara
- Shauna Macdonald as Fiona
- Cal MacAninch as Tibbs
- Colin McCredie as Scott
- Matt Littleson as Young Limbo
Mayflies stars Martin Compston (Line of Duty) and Tony Curran (Your Honour) in the central roles as Jimmy and Tully, while Ashley Jensen (set to star in Shetland) and Tracy Ifeachor (Showtrial) plays Tully's partner Anna and Jimmy's wife Iona respectively.
Meanwhile, Rian Gordon (Karen Pirie) and Tom Glynn-Carney (SAS Rogue Heroes) fill out major roles as the younger versions of Jimmy and Tully.
Mayflies trailer
You can watch the trailer for Mayflies right here now.
Mayflies airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on 28th and 29th December 2022.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
