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The Halcyon

E1 of 8
About Episode Guide
The Halcyon

Series 1 - Episode 1

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Review

A hotel in the 1940s… a dance band… Charity Wakefield as a high-class prostitute. Oh no, it’s not another Stephen Poliakoff drama, not so soon after Close to the Enemy! Is it?

No, The Halcyon is more brisk and certainly more engaging even though you’ll feel you’ve seen it all before; it reeks of Downton Abbey and Mr Selfridge, with more than a sniff of Upstairs Downstairs.

It has a great cast, too, possibly better than the material deserves. There’s Alex Jennings as Lord Hamilton, The Halcyon’s owner, a man with a wandering eye, indeed a wandering everything (he’s squiring brassy floozy Miss Lambert, played by Charity Wakefield); Olivia Williams as his sad, humiliated, brittle wife; and Steven Mackintosh as the hotel manager, the man who keeps the secrets.

While Lord Hamilton hosts a hush-hush meeting of top professional men, all keen to appease Hitler, the staff must cover for his illicit liaisons.

Summary

Drama set in 1940 at a five-star London hotel, showing the impact of the Second World War on families, politics, relationships and work across every social strata. The Halcyon's owner Lord Hamilton holds a secret meeting that attracts the interest of American guest Joe O'Hara, while manager Richard Garland must deal with the arrival of Lady Hamilton a day earlier than expected. Starring Olivia Williams, Steven Mackintosh, Alex Jennings and Matt Ryan.

Cast & Crew

Lady Hamilton Olivia Williams
Richard Garland Steven Mackintosh
Lord Hamilton Alex Jennings
Freddie Hamilton Jamie Blackley
Toby Hamilton Edward Bluemel
Joe O’Hara Matt Ryan
Lillian Annabelle Apsion
Feldman Mark Benton
Tom Hill Alex Boxall
Skinner Nick Brimble
Wilfred Michael Carter
Kate Loughlin Lauren Coe
Emma Garland Hermione Corfield
Sonny Sullivan Sope Dirisu
George `Chef' Parry Kevin Eldon
Robbie Gordon Kennedy
Adil Joshi Akshay Kumar
Billy Taylor Ewan Mitchell
Betsey Day Kara Tointon
Charity Lambert Charity Wakefield
Peggy Taylor Liz White
Terry Jesse Rutherford
Lord Rowling Gerrard McArthur
Lady Alexandra Cooper Imogen Waterhouse
Producer Chris Rogers
Alistair Briggs Christopher Dane
Director Stephen Woolfenden
Executive Producer Sharon Hughff
Executive Producer Jack Lothian
Executive Producer Andy Harries
Producer Chris Croucher
Writer Charlotte Jones
Writer Jack Lothian
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Drama
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ITV axes The Halcyon after just one series

The broadcaster had hoped the Second World War drama starring Alex Jennings, Olivia Williams, Steven Mackintosh and Kara Tointon would fill the gap left by Downton Abbey...

Axed ITV drama The Halcyon is looking for a new home – but time is running out

Who plays DS Rory Maxwell in ITV's Liar? Meet Danny Webb

Meet the cast of The Halcyon

The Radio Times Quiz of the Year 2017 – answers

How did The Halcyon star Matt Ryan transform himself into nosy American journalist Joe O'Hara?

Is The Halcyon the new Downton Abbey?

Was The Halcyon's Joe O'Hara a real person? Meet US war reporter Edward R Murrow

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Where is The Halcyon filmed? 12 May
The Halcyon episode three recap: an evil guest, a troubled chef and the case of the missing gun 21 Apr
Racial diversity in The Halcyon is not just "politically correct TV" – it's historically accurate 07 Apr
The Halcyon star Steven Mackintosh: Mr Garland is "more than he first appears" 07 Apr
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