The full trailer has been released for BBC’s new period drama, The Gallows Pole, directed by Shane Meadows. A release date has also been announced for the end of this month.
English writer and director Shane Meadows is perhaps most widely known for his 2006 drama, This is England. Hailing from the small town of Uttoxeter, Meadows’ work has often centred around the lives of the Northern working-class, but this time he’s going way back – all the way to 18th Century Yorkshire.
The Cragg Vale Coiners (also known as the Yorkshire Coiners) were a real-life group who became notorious for their criminal activities during the rule of King George III. Fronted by “King” David Hartley, who others also dubbed as the “Duke of York,” they used the process of “clipping” gold coins in order to create counterfeits. Brutal betrayals and a cat-and-mouse chase led to his arrest and subsequent hanging in York in 1770.
The reign of the Coiners was dramatised in the 2017 novel, The Gallows Pole, by Durham-born author, Benjamin Myers. Meadows’ told Radio Times he was hesitant about creating a period piece before he read the book, stating, “That’s obviously my problem because I’m sort of assuming it’s going to be all frills and carriages, and then obviously read the book and was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
Many of the cast are familiar faces for the director. “King” David himself will be played by Michael Socha, who had the small role of Harvey in This is England. Thomas Turgoose, who played young Shaun in the same film, will star alongside him as the youngest Hartley brother, William – one of many Williams in the novel. More additions to the cast include; George MacKay, the lead of Sam Mendes’ Oscar-nominated 1917, The Souvenir’s Tom Burke, and Downton Abbey’s Sophie McShera.
A24, who have had success with shows like Euphoria and, more recently, Beef, came on board during production back in 2021. The miniseries has been produced by Element Pictures (Normal People) and 6 episodes have been confirmed for the BBC.
You can read Gemma Nettle’s review of Beef right here.
The first episode of The Gallows Pole will premiere Wednesday the 31st of May at 9pm on BBC2. Following episodes will air weekly, but you’ll be able to catch the first three episodes of the series on BBC iPlayer from the 31st.
Words by Libby Briggs
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