THE creators of an upcoming TV adaptation of a critically acclaimed Andrew O’Hagan novel have revealed the first images of Scots stars Martin Compston and Tony Curran in their roles.
Directed by Peter Mackie Burns, known for the 2019 film Rialto, Mayflies – which also features Elaine C Smith and Ashley Jensen – tells the story of Jimmy (Compston) and Tully (Curran) who ignite an “unforgettable friendship” defined by music, films and their shared rebellious spirit in a small Scottish town in the 1980s.
After the end of school, the two friends travel to Manchester for a wild night, set against the backdrop of “the greatest soundtrack ever”, deciding that they would live their lives differently.
The story picks up 30 years later when Jimmy receives tragic news from Tully that will “test the limits of their friendship, loyalty and love”.
The show’s description reads: “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.”
Set and filmed in Scotland, Mayflies is a co-commission with BBC Scotland in association with All3Media International with support from Screen Scotland.
The cast also includes Tracy Ifeachor (Showtrial) as Iona, Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk) as young Tully and Rian Gordon (Vigil) as young Jimmy, Shauna Macdonald (The Descent) as Fiona, Cal MacAninch (Time) as Tibbs and Colin McCredie (River City) as Scott.
Mayflies is being produced by the Bafta-winning Synchronicity Films for the BBC and the show will air later this year.
