Miscellany

Richard Armitage as romantic hero, February 2008

In autumn 2007, The Romantic Novelists' Association asked its members to name the man they found most inspirational as a romantic hero in their writing.

The results, published on Valentine's Day 2008, showed that Richard Armitage was voted fourth, behind Johnny Depp, Daniel Craig and Sean Bean, but ahead of Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and George Clooney.

Richard Armitage at the Radio Times Covers Party 2008

The Radio Times (9-15th February 2008) includes an article on their Cover Party, to which those featured on their front cover during the previous year are invited. Richard Armitage was among them, as he and Keith Allen were featured on the cover in October 2007. He is pictured at the party with Allen, and also with Patsy Kensit.

Speaking about his next role (now known to be Spooks), he said "I start an exciting project at the end of the month. It's a cutting-edge, quality drama, not a soap. I can't say anything other than it's 'top secret'. And on playing Gisborne, he said, "Guy is a dream part and I can't wait to start filming the third series in Hungary in May. But it will be weird without Lucy [Griffiths]. To kill the woman you love is a very hard part to play. I questioned the writers, and I'm still not sure I agree with it. I've had so much aggressive mail since, I'm a proper baddie now."

See the article about the party here... and here...

Richard Armitage at St Pauls Cathedral, December 2007

Richard Armitage was one of several celebrity readers at the 'Celebration of Christmas' held at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 19th December 2007. The cathedral's choir was accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia, and other readers included Joanna Lumley and Tamsin Grieg.

Women in Film and Television Awards, December 2007

At the WFTV's annual award ceremony on 7th December, Richard Armitage presented the award for Project Management to Jane Wright, Head of Rights and Commercial Affairs for BBC Films.

The awards, sponsored by Channel Five, celebrate the achievements of women in the film and television industry. Over 900 members of the industry attended the special luncheon, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. It was hosted by Jenny Eclair, and presenters included Sir Jeremy Isaacs, Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Cowell and Sharon Small. Among the awards was a Lifetime Achievement Award for Verity Lambert, who died two weeks before the ceremony, and a Script Award for JK Rowling.

Women in Film and Television was set up in 1990 to promote the status and interests of women working in the film, television and digital media industries. Further information and pictures of the award ceremony can be seen at its website.

Inspired by 'John Thornton'

Such was the power of the BBC adaptation of North and South, and in particular, Richard Armitage's performance as John Thornton, that some of its fans started writing 'fan fiction'. Some of this writing imagined how the story of John Thornton and Margaret Hale would continue, and some retold it in a modern setting. These stories have been posted on Internet messageboards and websites for other fans of the series to enjoy.

Most of the writers had never written fiction before. Two of them, Phillipa Ashley and Rosy Thornton, later moved on to writing original fiction and both have since been published.

Coincidentally, their first novels were both published by HodderHeadline within a few weeks of each other in the autumn of 2006. Phillipa Ashley's Decent Exposure is part of the Little Black Dress series of romantic fiction and it won her the Romantic Novelists Association's 'Joan Hessayon New Writers Award' in 2007. Her second novel for Little Black Dress, Wish You Were Here, is as funny and sassy as her first and has now been published in paperback.

Rosy Thornton also writes romantic comedy, but with a twist of satire. Her first book, More Than Love Letters, is an epistolary novel told in letters and emails. A hero called Richard and a heroine called Margaret are not the only references to North and South that fans of the series may spot. Her second novel, Hearts and Minds, is set in a Cambridge college and was published in November 2007.

Although Phillipa and Rosy both write romantic comedy, they each have a unique voice. Their novels are witty and highly entertaining, and if you'd like to try them, you can follow the links above to buy them on Amazon UK.

(They can also be ordered from Amazon USA by following these links: Decent Exposure, Wish You Were Here, More Than Love Letters and Hearts and Minds.

North and South featured in 'Classic Drama - The DVD Collection'

'Classic Drama - The DVD Collection' is a fortnightly part-work magazine that comes with a DVD of a classic drama in each issue.

The magazine contains articles about the drama and the novel on which it is based, and background information about the writer and the context of the novel. Parts 6 and 7 featured North and South and were published in the UK in June and July 2007.

Part 6 The magazine features a short article about the casting of Richard Armitage as John Thornton, information about Elizabeth Gaskell and the novel, a summary of the characters and an article about the textile industry. There is also an interview with Daniela Denby-Ashe (Margaret) and an article about the Victorian parlour. The DVD contains episodes 1 and 2 of the series.

Part 7 The magazine contains an interview with Jo Joyner (Fanny), another article about Elizabeth Gaskell, information about the locations used in the series, and articles about Victorian unions and inventions. There is also a cut-away diagram of 'Marlborough Mills' (based on Dalton Mills, Keighley, where the exteriors were filmed). The DVD has episodes 3 and 4, together with extras that include an interview with Richard Armitage (as in the original BBC release of the DVD).

To order these two parts, see the publisher's website, or phone 0871 277 0096 (UK), 1890 719993 (ROI), 03 9872 4000 (Australia), 09 308 2871 (New Zealand), 011 265 4308 (South Africa) or 2366 7209 (Malta).

Update, March 2008 - these two issues are now available in newsagents in Australia.

British Academy of Film and Television Awards, May 2007

Richard Armitage presented the award for Best Drama Serial at the British Academy Television Awards ceremony on Sunday 20th May at the London Palladium. The 'BAFTAs' are the most important annual awards in British television.

Pictures and video clips of Richard at the ceremony can be seen here...

The Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special was one of the nominees for the Pioneer Audience Award for the Best Programme of 2006, but it was beaten by Life on Mars. This award is the only one that's voted for by viewers.

The British Academy Children's Film and Television Awards, November 2006

Richard Armitage presented an award at the Children's BAFTA Awards, held at the Hilton Hotel in London on 26th November 2006.

In an interview in The Sunday Mercury on 17th December that year, he said "I went to the Children's BAFTA's to present an award and these three lads, aged about 14, came up to me. One said 'Can I give you a hug? We love Robin Hood, we watch it every week.' He was so excited. That really moved me and made my year."

National Television Awards, November 2006

On 1st November 2006, Richard Armitage and his co-stars from Robin Hood, Jonas Armstrong and Lucy Griffiths, presented the award for Most Popular Drama at the National Television Awards.

These awards are voted for by the British public and are held at the Royal Albert Hall. The Most Popular Drama award went to Doctor Who, and was accepted by David Tennant, Billie Piper and other cast members.

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