Southcliffe

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox television | image = Southcliffe TV drama.jpg | image_size = 250 | caption = | runtime = 240 minutes | writer = [[Tony Grisoni]]<ref name="guardian harrowing">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jul/26/southcliffe-harrowing-tv-drama|title=Southcliffe: the most harrowing drama on TV|first=John|last=Robinson|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=26 July 2013|access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> | director = [[Sean Durkin]]<ref name="guardian harrowing"/> | executive_producer = Peter Carlton<br /> Sophie Gardiner | producer = Derrin Schlesinger | company = [[Warp Films]] | starring =  | language = English | country = United Kingdom | network = [[Channel 4]] | first_aired = {{Start date|2013|8|4|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|2013|8|18|df=y}} | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 4 | list_episodes = }} '''''Southcliffe''''' is a British drama series that aired on [[Channel 4]]. Set in a fictional town on the [[North Kent Marshes]], it employs a [[nonlinear narrative]] structure to tell the story of a series of shootings by a local man portrayed by [[Sean Harris]], the cause of the shootings and the effects on the town and residents. The series explores tragedy, grief, responsibility and redemption as seen through the eyes of a journalist returning to the small town of his childhood to cover the story.<ref name="C4 PR southcliffe"/>

The series was filmed in [[Faversham]] in North [[Kent]]<ref name="SC locations">{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_gazette/news/faversham-the-star-of-tough-4240|title=Faverham stars in gritty crime thriller 'Southcliffe' on Channel 4|publisher=[[Kent Online]]|date=5 August 2013|access-date=5 August 2013}}</ref> and was screened in the Special Presentation section at the [[2013 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="TIFF">{{cite web |url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/southcliffe |title=Southcliffe |access-date=17 August 2013 |work=TIFF}}</ref><ref name="Indiewire">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto-adds-75-titles-to-2013-edition-james-franco-alex-gibney-hayao-miyazaki-sean-durkin-and-kevin-macdonald-among-them?page=2 |title=Toronto Adds 75+ Titles To 2013 Edition |access-date=17 August 2013 |work=Indiewire|date=13 August 2013 }}</ref>

==Cast== * [[Rory Kinnear]] as David Whitehead * [[Sean Harris]] as Stephen Morton * [[Shirley Henderson]] as Claire Salter * [[Anatol Yusef]] as Paul Gould * [[Eddie Marsan]] as Andrew Salter * [[Joe Dempsie]] as Chris Cooper * [[Nichola Burley]] as Sarah Gould * [[Geoff Bell (actor)|Geoff Bell]] as Alan * [[Coral Amiga]] as Mattie * [[Kaya Scodelario]] as Anna Salter<ref>{{cite web |title=Southcliffe - Full Cast & Crew |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/southcliffe/cast/1000531620/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref>

==Production== In August 2012, Channel 4 announced that they had ordered a four-part drama series titled ''Southcliffe''. The drama was written by [[Tony Grisoni]] and produced by [[Warp Films]], with Peter Carlton and Sophie Gardiner serving as executive producers, and [[Sean Durkin]] as director.<ref name="tvwise southcliffe 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/08/channel-4-orders-four-part-drama-southcliffe|title=Channel 4 has announced that they have ordered a new four-part drama titled Southcliffe|work=TV Wise|date=23 August 2013|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref>

===Conception=== The story is of a fictional English [[market town]] devastated by a spate of shootings which take place on 2 November 2011. According to its writer Grisoni, "Southcliffe is a fictional market town inhabited by fictional characters, but with similarities to many actual people and places in Britain today; invisible people, anonymous places." He added that "''Southcliffe'' is an anthem to ordinary people's ability to reinvent themselves in the face of ultimate darkness."<ref name="C4 PR southcliffe">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/stellar-casting-announced-for-channel-4-drama-southcliffe|title=Stellar casting announced for Channel 4 drama Southcliffe|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|date=28 September 2012|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> He denied that ''Southcliffe''{{'}}s central conceit is exploitative. "It's not really a story of a spree shooting. It's a story of people who are suddenly robbed of someone very close to them." He insisted that it is vitally important not to portray the shooter as a cartoon monster but that he is a human being and should be treated as one.<ref name="guardian status quo">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jul/21/southcliffe-tv-threatens-status-quo|title=Southcliffe: TV that threatens the status quo|author=Rebecca Nicholson|work=The Guardian|date=21 July 2013|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref>

===Filming=== Filming began in October 2012 in Faversham, on an eight-week shooting schedule,<ref name="TIK filming 1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Faversham-takes-lead-role-new-Channel-4-drama/story-17067658-detail/story.html|title=Faversham takes lead role in new Channel 4 drama Southcliffe|work=[[Faversham Times]]|date=11 October 2012|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> and took place at various locations in and around Faversham, including local homes, town centre streets, the Faversham Creek, Hollowshore pub, The Shipwright's Arms, Faversham Recreation Ground, The Market Inn, [[Oare Marshes]], Uplees Cottage, as well as other locations in Kent such as [[Whitstable]], [[East Kent Railway]], [[Grain Power Station]], Teynham Court Farm, [[Canterbury]] Hospital, [[Sittingbourne]] Police Station, [[Sittingbourne Community College]], and others.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kent Film Office|url=http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/2013/08/southcliffe-2013/|title=Kent Film Office Southcliffe Film Focus}}</ref><ref name="TIK cash 1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Channel-4-drama-Southcliffe-brings-500k-cash/story-17647463-detail/story.html|title=Channel 4 drama Southcliffe brings £500k cash boost to Faversham|work=[[Faversham Times]]|date=19 December 2012|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> Faversham Enterprise Partnership estimated that the filming generated £500,000 for the local economy.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

==Reception== The critical response to the first two episodes was mostly positive. Benji Wilson of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' thought that with "its muted palette, protracted silences, dank fogs and seething unease, Southcliffe was anything but nice-cup-of-tea and a sit-down TV, but it was a mesmerising tragedy, nonetheless."<ref name="telegraph ep1 review">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10219739/Southcliffe-episode-one-Channel-4-review.html|title=Southcliffe, episode one, Channel 4, review|first=Benji|last=Wilson|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=4 August 2013|access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> [[Arifa Akbar]] of ''[[The Independent]]'' noted "its disturbing silences" and called it "a rare and brilliant Sunday-night viewing",<ref name="indie TV review">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/tv-review-southcliffe-might-not-be-cheery-but-this-is-rare-and-brilliant-sunday-night-viewing-8745428.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/tv-review-southcliffe-might-not-be-cheery-but-this-is-rare-and-brilliant-sunday-night-viewing-8745428.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=TV review: Southcliffe might not be cheery, but this is rare and brilliant Sunday night viewing|first=Arifa|last=Akbar|work=[[The Independent]]|date=5 August 2013|access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> while Paul Whitelaw of ''[[The Scotsman]]'' considered ''Southcliffe'' to be "a major work, and quite easily the best British TV drama of the year so far."<ref name="scotsman TV preview">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/tv-radio/tv-preview-southcliffe-steve-coogan-1-3029845|title=TV preview: Southcliffe, Steve Coogan| first=Paul| last=Whitelaw| work=[[The Scotsman]]| date=9 August 2013| access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref> The sentiment was shared by Euan Ferguson of ''[[The Observer]]'', who called it "the TV event of the year."<ref name="guardian review 2">{{citation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/aug/10/southcliffe-field-blood-make-german-review|title=Rewind TV: Southcliffe; The Field of Blood; Make Me a German – review|first=Euan|last=Ferguson|work=[[The Observer]]|date= 10 August 2013|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> Sam Wollaston of ''[[The Guardian]]'' thought that the drama series was a masterly study of a tragedy in smalltown England, one that "felt – and looked, and sounded – so utterly and terribly real", and that it was a "profound, chilling, moving piece of television".<ref name="guardian TV week">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/aug/18/top-of-the-lake-southcliffe-tv-review|title=Southcliffe; Top of the Lake; The Mill; The White Queen – TV review |first=Sam|last= Wollaston|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 August 2013|access-date=22 December 2013}}</ref>

Serena Davies of ''The Daily Telegraph'', however, voiced a contrary opinion and wondered if the level of violence in this show as well as other TV dramas was really necessary.<ref name="telegraph TV violence">{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10224867/Southcliffe-Is-there-too-much-violence-on-TV.html| title=Southcliffe: Is there too much violence on TV?|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]| first=Serena|last=Davies|date=6 August 2013|access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref>

==Episodes== {{Episode table |background=800000 |overall=5 |title=30 |titleR=<ref name="c4 progs">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/southcliffe/episode-guide|title=Southcliffe: Episode Guides|work=[[Channel 4]]}}</ref> |airdate=20 |viewers=14 |country=UK |viewersR=<ref name="ratings 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-30?_s=4|date=|publisher=[[BARB]]|title=Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)}}</ref> |episodes=

{{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |Title = The Hollow Shore |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|8|4|df=y}} |Viewers = 2.77 |ShortSummary = A local handyman, Stephen Morton, meets a young soldier, Chris Cooper, who has returned home from the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]], and invites him to a training mission. Morton presents himself as a former [[Special Air Service|SAS]] soldier; however, Cooper later discovers this is untrue, and together with his uncle, beats and humiliates Morton. The morning after his humiliation Morton goes on a [[killing spree]], starting with his elderly bedridden mother for whom he was caring. |LineColor = 800000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |Title = Light Falls |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|8|5|df=y}} |Viewers = 2.27 |ShortSummary = Stephen Morton goes to Chris Cooper's house and shoots Cooper's girlfriend, but spares Cooper. Pub landlord Paul Gould learns his wife and two young daughters were amongst the victims. The daughter of Claire Salter, a social worker caring for Morton's mother, is also shot dead. The reporter David Whitehead, who grew up in Southcliffe and knew Morton as a child, arrives at the crime scenes after hearing of the major incident in the town. Morton hides in a storm drain in the marshes and is then reported to have killed himself. |LineColor = 800000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |Title = Sorrow's Child |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|8|11|df=y}} |Viewers = 1.79 |ShortSummary = David Whitehead finds many of the townspeople reluctant to talk. In a fit of rage, he rants that the town asked for it and deserved the tragedy that befell the community. The families of the victims try to come to terms with their loss. Paul Gould, ridden with guilt and grief at the loss of his family, jumps off a foot bridge. |LineColor = 800000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |Title = All Souls |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|8|18|df=y}} |Viewers = 1.58 |ShortSummary = A year later the people affected are still traumatised by the event. David Whitehead returns to Southcliffe to investigate the possibility that Stephen might not have died. He becomes concerned at the mental state of Chris Cooper and stops him from trying to kill himself. |LineColor = 800000 }} }}

==Awards and nominations== The drama series received the most nominations at the [[2014 British Academy Television Awards]] together with ''[[The IT Crowd]]'', with four nominations each.<ref name="nom">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bafta-tv-awards-2014-this-years-nominations-9392195.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bafta-tv-awards-2014-this-years-nominations-9392195.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Bafta TV awards 2014: This year's nominations |author=Neela Debnath |date=18 May 2014 |work=The Independent}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Award !! Category !! Recipient !! Results !! Ref. |- |rowspan="5"| 2014 |[[Broadcasting Press Guild|Broadcasting Press Guild Awards]] |Best Actor |[[Rory Kinnear]] |{{nom}} |align="center"|<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-02-20/chiwetel-ejiofor-battles-david-tennant-for-best-actor-at-broadcasting-press-guild-awards |title=Chiwetel Ejiofor battles David Tennant for Best Actor at Broadcasting Press Guild Awards |author=Emma Daly |date= 20 February 2014 |work=Radio Times }}</ref> |- |rowspan="4"|[[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA TV Awards]] | [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] | [[Sean Harris]] | align="center" {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/may/18/broadchurch-bafta-television-awards |title=Baftas 2014: Broadchurch scores a hat-trick on a bad night for the BBC |author1=John Plunkett |author2=Hannah Ellis-Petersen |work=The Guardian |date= 19 May 2014}}</ref> |- | [[British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] | Rory Kinnear | align="center" {{nom}} | align="center" rowspan="3" |<ref name="nom"/> |- | [[British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] | [[Shirley Henderson]] | align="center" {{nom}} |- | [[British Academy Television Award for Best Mini-Series|Best Mini-Series]] | ''Southcliffe'' | align="center" {{nom}} |}

==See also== * [[Cumbria shootings]] * [[Dunblane school massacre]] * [[Hungerford massacre]] * [[Monkseaton shootings]]

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * {{official website|www.channel4.com/programmes/southcliffe|Southcliffe}} – official site * {{IMDb title|id=2446726|title=Southcliffe}} * {{epguides|Southcliffe|Southcliffe}}

[[Category:2010s British drama television series]] [[Category:2013 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2013 British television series endings]] [[Category:Television series created by Tony Grisoni]] [[Category:Television series set in 2011]] [[Category:2010s British crime television series]] [[Category:2010s British television miniseries]] [[Category:British thriller television series]] [[Category:Channel 4 television dramas]] [[Category:English-language British television shows]] [[Category:Television shows set in Kent]] [[Category:Television shows shot in Kent]]