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The novel Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo was published in 2013 and tells the story of a 74-year-old married Londoner who has been secretly in love with his best friend for over 60 years. Now, the BBC is adapting the novel into an eight-part drama series starring Lennie James from Line of Duty. The show is being filmed in a studio in Neasden, where the Walker family’s home has been reconstructed. The set, inspired by Evaristo’s vision, is a garish clash of beige geometric wallpaper, turquoise walls, and a patterned red carpet, with knick-knacks and family photos scattered throughout.
Evaristo visited the set, saying that “everything in here is absolutely perfect”, and that it’s a wonderful experience seeing a book she wrote come to life visually. She did not find it daunting to write about gay love in an older generation of Caribbean people, as she had absorbed stories from those around her. Evaristo grew up in Hackney and has frequently featured different parts of London in her stories, including Mr Loverman. The writer wanted to capture the Hackney that she remembered, where these older Caribbean men were flamboyant dressers, hanging out or walking down the street.
Evaristo says people questioned whether Mr Loverman could be adapted for TV as it was “triple niche,” with a black, old, and gay protagonist. Times have since changed and we’re more inclusive and progressive. Evaristo hopes that not only will people love the series, but they will also feel enlightened about people living lives that they may not be familiar with. The series will be available on BBC iPlayer from 14 October and the first two parts will be broadcast that evening on BBC One.
In bringing the characters she has inhabited so closely to life, Evaristo considers the TV adaption an adventure. The sets, which include Barry’s bar and rooms showcasing knick-knacks and family photos, have been designed by set designers who used passages from the book to bring the story to life. Regardless of the challenge, Evaristo is thrilled to see this wonderful novel come to life on screen
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