Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham to star in care home film set during pandemic

Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer is to join Line of Duty’s actor Stephen Graham in a new Channel 4 film set in a care home hit by coronavirus, with Ms Comer saying "we’re determined to do justice to so many of the untold stories and heroes that have been affected, as a result of this crisis".

The film, Help, will see Jodie Comer play a care home worker, Sarah, who builds a friendship with one of the residents at a fictional care home in Liverpool. At the age of 47, Tony has early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. Tony will be played by Stephen Graham.

Her family have always told her she will never amount to anything, but Sarah finds her calling as a care worker at Sunshine Homes where she forges a bond with Tony.

Then the pandemic hits and Sarah and her colleagues tirelessly fight to keep the residents safe despite being ill-equipped, poorly prepared, and seemingly forgotten by the government.

Care homes have been very much on the front line during the pandemic, with some care workers leaving their families and moving into homes for weeks on end to keep residents safe and nearly 20,000 care home residents dying from coronavirus.

'People have died in these care homes because of the incompetence of our government'

Jodie Comer said: “For us to be able to explore such a relevant and emotive story through the eyes of such beautifully real characters, and in our home city of Liverpool, is a real honour. We’re determined to do justice to so many of the untold stories and heroes that have been affected, as a result of this crisis, and to handle them with care.”

Channel 4 has commissioned BAFTA award-winning writer Jack Thorne who wrote His Dark Materials and National Treasure. The new film will be directed by Marc Munden.

Mr Thorne said: “About two years ago Stephen Graham came to me with an idea to write something for him and Jodie Comer.

“I tried to think of something, then this crisis happened, and we saw care homes getting squashed and battered by the government. It's been both a long process and a short one, trying to find a way to tell this story, the amazing thing has been sharing in working out the story with Stephen, Jodie, the amazing Marc Munden, Beth Willis and everyone at the Forge and Channel 4.

“Thirty thousand people have died unnecessarily in these care homes because of the indifference and incompetence of our government. Hearing the stories of those at the frontline, having people break down in tears on Zoom in front of us has been incredibly moving and galling. Getting the story right will be incredibly important, we are aware of the pressure upon us, this has to be written and made with anger and precision. We hope we do it justice.”

'Help responds to the government’s abandonment of care homes'

Tony’s young-onset Alzheimer’s has left him living out his days in Sunshine Homes as his mind slowly deteriorates. His illness causes periods of confusion and violent outbursts, which the other members of staff can’t handle, but with Sarah he begins to build a real bond.

Stephen Graham who plays Tony said: “Jack is one of the greatest and most truthful writers of our generation and in Help he has crafted a profoundly important piece of social realism. I’ve wanted to work with Jodie for ages, and together we’re hugely passionate about shining a light on one of the biggest tragedies of our time and the people at the heart of it.”

Help is currently scheduled to begin filming in Liverpool in 2021 when the UK starts to ease restrictions.

Marc Munden said: “It’s a privilege to be working with Jack Thorne and The Forge again on so urgent a subject and to have the incredible honour of directing Jodie and Stephen. Help is an angry and immediate film with an unlikely tender relationship at its heart and it responds to the government’s abandonment of care homes as a result of the pandemic, a Play for Today for our times.”

Beth Willis, executive producer, added: “Help will remind us to celebrate the unsung heroes whose homes were invaded by a relentless and invisible killer last March."