Best Interests is a four-part British television drama series, written by Jack Thorne.[1][2] It stars Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen as a married couple, fighting for their disabled daughter's medical care. It premiered on 12 June 2023.[3]

Best Interests
GenreDrama
Written byJack Thorne
Directed byMichael Keillor
StarringSharon Horgan
Michael Sheen
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producersSharon Horgan
Michael Sheen
Sophie Gardiner
Toby Bentley
Michael Keillor
Jack Thorne
Lucy Richer
ProducerJenny Frayn
Running time56 minutes
Production companiesChapter One Pictures
One Shoe Films
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release12 June (2023-06-12) –
20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)

Plot

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13-year-old Marnie (Niamh Moriarty) has a rare form of muscular dystrophy that was diagnosed when she was a baby. When she ends up in intensive care after a chest infection, Marnie's doctor Samantha questions whether her treatment should be continued. Marnie's parents, Nicci (Sharon Horgan) and Andrew (Michael Sheen), fight to have her treatment continued but are driven apart by conflicting attitudes towards the battle.[4][5][6]

Cast

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Episodes

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No.Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [3]U.K. viewers
(millions)
1Michael KeillorJack Thorne12 June 2023 (2023-06-12)2.76
2Michael KeillorJack Thorne13 June 2023 (2023-06-13)N/A
3Michael KeillorJack Thorne19 June 2023 (2023-06-19)2.76
4Michael KeillorJack Thorne20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)N/A

Production

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The series was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama and Charlotte Moore, BBC's Chief Content Officer. The series began filming in London in March 2022.[7]

Reception

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Best Interests was chosen as one of the 10 best TV shows of 2023 by The Daily Telegraph.[8]

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2023 Series Mania Best Actor in International Competition Michael Sheen Won [9]
2024 TV Choice Awards Best New Drama Best Interests Nominated [10][11]
Best Actor Michael Sheen Nominated
Royal Television Society Programme Awards Best Limited Series Best Interests Nominated [12]
British Academy Television Awards Best Limited Drama Best Interests Nominated [13][14]
Best Actress Sharon Horgan Nominated
Banff Rockie Awards Best Limited Series Best Interests Won [15][16]

References

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  1. ^ Ritman, Alex (16 March 2022). "Sharon Horgan, Michael Sheen to Lead Jack Thorne's Disability Drama 'Best Interests' for BBC, Endeavor Content". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  2. ^ Goldbart, Max; Tartaglione, Nancy (16 March 2022). "Sharon Horgan & Michael Sheen To Lead Jack Thorne's 'Best Interests'; 'The Witchfinder' Cast; Sky Super League Trailer; 'Downton Abbey' Podcast; BBC Studios Creator Residencies – Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Marland, Sean (1 June 2023). "Best Interests: release date, plot, cast, and everything we know". What to Watch. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  4. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (16 March 2022). "Michael Sheen, Sharon Horgan Lead Jack Thorne's Disability-Focused BBC Drama 'Best Interests'". Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  5. ^ Mangan, Lucy (12 June 2023). "Best Interests review – Sharon Horgan is magnificently ferocious as a mum in agony". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ^ Hilton, Nick (13 June 2023). "Best Interests review: Unflinching Sharon Horgan drama imagines parents' ultimate nightmare". The Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen lead cast for Jack Thorne's original four-part BBC series Best Interests". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ^ Bennion, Chris (12 December 2023). "The 10 best TV shows of 2023 – and the five worst". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Best Interests". Festival Séries Mania. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  10. ^ "VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS AND STARS!". TV Choice. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  11. ^ "YOUR 2024 WINNERS". TV Choice. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  12. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2024". Royal Television Society. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  13. ^ "BAFTA Television 2024: The Nominations". www.bafta.org. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  14. ^ TV, Guardian (12 May 2024). "Bafta TV awards 2024: the full list of winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  15. ^ Schneider, Michael (21 March 2024). "'Abbott Elementary,' 'The Last of Us,' 'Gen V' Among Banff's 2024 Rockie Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Rockie Awards ★ 2024 Winners & Nominees ★". rockies.playbackonline.ca. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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