Being Eileen
Being Eileen is a BBC comedy-drama which began as a six-part series on 4 February and ended on 11 March 2013. It began as a one-off Christmas special titled Lapland, broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 24 December 2011. A full series was later announced, with the title Being Eileen, consisting of six 30 minute episodes, due to the success of the single episode, which was viewed by 6.9 million viewers upon its original airing. The series also aired on BBC Two as part of Sign Zone, which features sign language throughout. The series was released on DVD on 1 April 2013.
| Being Eileen | |
|---|---|
Title card (series 1 onwards) | |
| Also known as | Lapland |
| Genre | Comedy drama |
| Created by | Michael Wynne |
| Written by | Michael Wynne |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Simon Lacey Mark Thomas |
| Opening theme | "Eileen" |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Rosemary McGowan |
| Production locations | Lapland Birkenhead |
| Editors | Jamie Pearson Mark Davies |
| Running time | 30 minutes (Formally 75 minutes, originally intended to be 90 minutes) |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One BBC HD BBC Two (Sign Zone) |
| Release | 24 December 2011 – 11 March 2013 |
The series, written by Michael Wynne, features an ensemble cast. Headed by Sue Johnston, who plays Eileen Lewis, the programme focusses on her, the widowed matriarch of a "large, close-knit and dysfunctional Northern family". The single episode focused on the family's visit to Lapland, whilst the series focusses on their life in Birkenhead. Elizabeth Berrington and Stephen Graham (later recast to Dean Andrews) play Eileen's children, whilst William Ash and Julie Graham play their partners. All the cast - Johnston, Berrington, Ash, Julie Graham and Keith Barron- a love interest for Eileen - returned for the series, with the exception of Stephen Graham and Zawe Ashton, who played Jingle Jill.