Apart from a move from Bristol to Barry in Wales, little has changed in the setting of Being Human as it returns for a third series, due to start on BBC Three on Sunday 23 January 2011. The well-known characters are back with Russel Tovey as werewolf George and Sinead Keenan as his werewolf girlfriend Nina. Aidan Turner returns as vampire Mitchell. But Lenora Crichlow as ghost Annie is stuck in purgatory and is trying to escape.
Creator Toby Whitehouse admitted in the official BBC press release that he had some worries about leaving Bristol. "Our concern was that moving from Bristol and losing the iconic pink house would be detrimental to the show but, actually, we found that it really reinvigorated it," he said. "It allowed us to kick off the series with a fresh start and with a renewed energy and provided us with heaps more material than we imagined."
Their new home in Barry is a bed-and-breakfast hotel called Honolulu Heights, which has a handy basement for George and Nina during full moons.
The Actors in Being Human
Russell Tovey was on screen last year as Steve in the BBC comedy Him & Her and before that as lovable Midshipman Alonso Frame on the spaceship Titanic in Doctor Who. He also appeared in one episode of Ashes to Ashes as Marcus Johnstone. Other roles include Budgie in Gavin & Stacey, John Chivery in Little Dorrit, Ben in Annually Retentive and Bill in Mud. And he starred as Rudge in the 2006 film The History Boys.
Aidan Turner’s roles include Dante Gabriel Rossetti in Desperate Romantics and Ruairí McGowen in The Clinic. He also played John Schofield in Hattie and he is due to play Kili in the upcoming movie The Hobbit.
Lenora Crichlow first became known as Shirley Moss in The Bill and later as Sugar in Sugar Rush. Her other roles include Alice Jackson in Collison and Ali Redcliffe in Material Girl.
Sinead Keenan starred as Lisa Cassidy in the 2001 TV series The Cassidys but is better known as Kelly Hawkins in Moving Wallpaper. She had a guest role as the alien Addams in the Doctor Who “End of Time” episode and she is playing Naomi Silverlake in Silent Witness.
Scottish actress Amy Manson, who plays new regular Daisy, is about to star in the BBC's latest science-fiction drama Outcasts.
Guest stars include Lacey Turner in her first role after Eastenders as Lia, who Mitchell meets in purgatory; Robson Green (Wire In The Blood) as primitive werewolf McNair; Michael Socha (This Is England '86) as McNair's son Tom; Paul Kaye (It's All Gone Pete Tong) as twisted vampire Vincent; Craig Roberts (Young Dracula) as teenage vampire Adam; Nicola Walker (Spooks) as social worker Wendy; James Fleet (Vicar Of Dibley) as George's father George Senior; and Jason Watkins making a return as vampire leader Herrick.
The Team Behind Being Human
Being Human is a Touchpaper Television production for BBC Wales, created by Toby Whithouse of Torchwood and Doctor Who fame and produced by Phil Trethowan (Sold). Executive producers are Rob Pursey for Touchpaper Television (City Of Vice and Single-Handed), Eleanor Moran for BBC Wales and Toby Whithouse. Being Human was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC drama commissioning, and Danny Cohen, previous controller of BBC Three.
Series three writers are Toby Whithouse (episodes one, seven and eight), Brian Dooley (episode two), Jamie Mathieson (episode three), John Jackson (episode four), Sarah Phelps (episode five) and Lisa McGee (episode six). Set designer is Andrew Purcell.
USA Remake of Being Human
An American remake of Being Human is being produced and is due to start on 17 January 2011. It is being made by Syfy and is being written by Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke.
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
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