Talking Heads FIRST LOOK: Jodie Comer wows in new show still for remake of hit Alan Bennett series

The first look at the remake of Alan Bennett’s masterpieces, Talking Heads, has been revealed.

The monologue series, starring the likes of Jodie Comer, Imelda Staunton and Martin Freeman, will debut on BBC One with a double-bill on Tuesday 23 June – 22 years since the second series aired and 32 years since the first. 

In a new show still, it sees Jodie, who will be performing the role of Lesley in a remake of Her Big Chance, originally acted by Julie Walters in 1988, posing on a bed. 

The Killing Eve star, 27, wows in the first look picture as she wears a typically 80s-inspired ensemble. 

Jodie dons a white shirt with dramatic shoulder pads, high-waisted jeans, oversized pearl earrings and a gold bar necklace. 

The Liverpudlian actress’ hair is styled into a high ponytail fastened with a velvet scrunchie and she has a slick of 80s-style make-up.

A different show still sees Imelda, 64, who will star as Irene Ruddock in a remake of A Lady Of Letters, originally acted by Patricia Routledge in 1988, posing in an arm chair.

The Downton Abbey star wears a long chequered blue skirt with a pink shirt and copper cardigan as she sternly stares at the camera.

Imelda’s locks are styled into a permed hairdo while a crochet blanket, floral wallpaper and tasselled lamp can be seen in the background. 

Another show still sees Kristin Scott Thomas, who will star in The Hand Of God, originally performed by Eileen Atkins in 1998, pose as her character Celia.

The English Patient star, 60, looks unrecognisable with a permed hairdo and 80s patterned cardigan with a long purple skirt.

A different first look sees Martin Freeman, who will star in A Chip In The Sugar, originally performed by creator Alan Bennett in 1988, pose as his character Graham.

The Sherlock star, 48, wears beige trousers with a blue zip-up top as he poses in an 80s-decorated room.

Other show stills see Lucian Msamati in Playing Sandwiches, Sarah Lancashire in An Ordinary Woman, Monica Dolan in The Shrine and Tamsin Greig in Nights In The Garden Of Spain. 

The first look snaps also show Harriet Walter in Soldiering On, Maxine Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet, Lesley Manville in Bed Among The Lentils and Line Of Duty star Rochenda Sandall in The Outside Dog. 

The remake will debut on BBC One with a double-bill on Tuesday 23 June and all 12 episodes will be able to stream on BBC iPlayer.

In April it was announced that the BBC were remaking Alan Bennett’s monologue masterpieces, Talking Heads, recruiting the likes of Jodie and Imelda.

It was confirmed that the series would begin filming later that month – 22 years since the second series aired and 32 years since the first.

The iconic monologues featured major actors such as Maggie Smith, Julie Walters, Patricia Routledge and the writer himself, Bennett, and was later adapted into a stage play.

The BBC have remade ten of the critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning monologues, with the addition of two new pieces written by Bennett last year. 

The BBC’s decision to bring back the series – which debuted in 1988 with a decade-long gap before Talking Heads 2 aired in 1998 – is in part down to the current COVID-19 crisis, with the theme of isolation heavily featured throughout.

With the UK in lockdown, and production on many series halted, the minimal cast and crew required for Talking Heads has encouraged the BBC to start the remakes.

The contained nature of Bennett’s monologues allowed the opportunity to tell timely and relevant stories while following the latest government guidelines on safe working practices during the pandemic, the BBC have said.

Bennett added: ‘In such difficult circumstances, that the BBC should choose to remount both series of Talking Heads, and produce two entirely new ones, is a comfort and a huge compliment.

‘I hope a new generation of actors will get and give as much pleasure as we did twenty and thirty years ago.’ 

Filming took place at BBC Elstree Studios using existing sets and the BBC stressed that, ‘the Talking Heads production team are following the latest government guidelines to ensure that the series is made safely and responsibly’.

The original monologues – which also starred the likes of Stephanie Cole, Thora Hird, Eileen Atkins, David Haig and Penelope Wilton – won two BAFTAs, an RTS award and have also since been included on the A-level and GCSE English Literature syllabus.

They were also performed in Los Angeles and Off-Broadway in the states in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Prior to the 1988 Talking Heads 1 series, a one-off staring Patricia Routledge as the self-important Miss Schofield was made in 1982, titled A Woman of No Importance.

Routledge – known later for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances [1990–1995] – went on to star in two further monologues in the subsequent series.

Typically, the episodes were set in Yorkshire, and focused on themes such as illness, guilt, delusion, death, mental health, repressed homosexuality, alcoholism and adultery.

Talking Heads will debut on BBC One with a double-bill on Tuesday 23 June.