- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Alison Graham
Stephen Poliakoff’s louche 1930s drama continues to lure us into a silken trap, its pathway strewn with feints and dramatic sleights of hand. After last week’s bloody discovery, Louis, the band and their feckless little group of hangers-on are traumatised and adrift. The police are crawling around a cavernous, echoing Imperial Hotel that’s all dressed up for the festive season and they are persistently, politely interested in Louis (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He, in turn, is keeping a close eye on excitable, odd Julian.
In all, it’s not much of a Christmas, but things liven up when the foxy Lady Cremone (a glowing Jacqueline Bisset) throws an opulent New Year party at her lovely country home. Meanwhile, out in the wider world, Germany has a new Chancellor and mischievous fixer Stanley (Matthew Goode) decides to have some fun at the German Embassy.
About this programme
3/5. Louis is interviewed by police about events on the night of Jessie's attack, telling them he saw Julian when he should have been on a train to Paris. The band are unsettled when a table of racist Germans walks out during a performance at the Imperial Hotel's Christmas Lunch, but Stanley later engineers a fitting revenge. Lady Cremone hosts a New Year's Eve party on her estate and everybody is surprised when Julian turns up, announcing he has been in France exploring a new business idea.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Stanley Mitchell
- Matthew Goode
- Louis Lester
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Jessie
- Angel Coulby
- Schlesinger
- Mel Smith
- Pamela Luscombe
- Joanna Vanderham
- Sarah
- Janet Montgomery
- Carla
- Wunmi Mosaku
- Mr Wax
- Allan Corduner
- Rosie
- Jenna-Louise Coleman
- Donaldson
- Anthony Head
- Masterson
- John Goodman
- Lady Cremone
- Jacqueline Bisset
- Sarah's father
- Rob Edwards
- Mrs Mitchell
- Maggie McCarthy
- Prince George
- John Hopkins
- Julian Luscombe
- Tom Hughes
- Mick
- Jamie Crew
- Harry Thornton
- Miles Richardson
- Mrs Luscombe
- Jane Asher
- Nurse Pollock
- Nicola Sloane
- Gunson
- Gerard Horan
- Eric
- Sam Hoare
- Horton
- David Dawson
- Young nurse
- Kirsty Oswald
- Young waiter
- Jack Farthing
Crew
- Director
- Stephen Poliakoff
- Producer
- Nicky Kentish Barnes
- Producer
- Faye Ward
- Writer
- Stephen Poliakoff
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