Mr Loverman cast: Who stars alongside Lennie James?

As a fan of thought-provoking dramas, I must say that the cast of Mr Loverman is nothing short of impressive. Tamara Lawrance, Sharlene Whyte, and Tahj Miles bring their characters to life with such depth and authenticity that it feels like we’re peeking into their real lives.

Bernardine Evaristo’s book “Mr. Loverman” is being adapted into a television series by the BBC, with Lennie James portraying the lead character, Barrington Jedidiah Walker.

Barrie, often referred to by friends, has spent half a century with his spouse Carmel. They departed from the Caribbean to establish their lives in London, where they thrived, establishing a supportive network and nurturing two daughters. However, clouds of difficulty seem to be gathering…

Carmel suspects that Barry has been unfaithful to her, which has severely strained their marriage to its limit. Interestingly, however, the source of his infidelity lies hidden in plain sight for Carmel.

At 74 years old, Barry finds himself still deeply in love with his childhood friend Morris. Will he muster enough bravery to reveal this long-held secret to his family, and spend the remainder of his life with the man who’s been his soulmate since their teenage years?

Or is his secret simply too great to extricate himself from?

A number of recognisable faces appear alongside James, plus some you might not know.

Find the list of the main Mr Loverman cast below.

Mr Loverman main cast

Lennie James as Barrington
Ariyon Bakare as Morris
Sharon D Clarke as Carmel
Tamara Lawrance as Maxine
Sharlene Whyte as Donna
Tahj Miles as Daniel

If you’re curious to learn more about the characters and want to know where the performers portraying them have appeared previously, keep reading.

Lennie James plays Barrington

Barrington is a 74-year-old individual who hails from Antigua but has resided primarily in Hackney, East London for many years. He’s been married to Carmel for half a century and they share two daughters. However, his affection doesn’t lie with Carmel; instead, it’s Morris, his cherished friend and soulmate, who holds Barrington’s heart.

James mentioned that he received the book when it first came out, and he’s been a fan of it since then, always on the lookout for it,” said James.

Many actors find Barry an intriguing character they’d love to portray. He’s a complex individual, full of humor, impeccable style, and capable of harshness. Yet, he’s also a paradox – loyal yet disloyal, a mixed bag as a husband and father, and good and bad all at once. He exhibits equal amounts of love and hate. Every aspect of him is captivating, and that appeal extends to any actor. The prospect of playing him was an obvious choice.

Has Lennie James appeared in any other shows or movies aside from Line of Duty, Save Me, The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Jericho, Out of the Blue and Critical?

Ariyon Bakare plays Morris

Morris is the one who holds a special place in Barry’s heart. They go way back, having known each other since their teenage years. Back then, Barry moved to the UK with Carmel, following Morris. However, they have been keeping their relationship under wraps, finding private moments when they can. It should be noted that Morris was previously married, but that relationship ended.

In my perspective as an admirer, the bond between Barry and Morris is remarkably effortless, given that it’s a heartwarming tale of love, nurtured since their teenage years when they were 17. The challenge, however, lay in portraying the character across decades, but our exceptional hair and makeup team made it possible for me to craft this dynamic space for Morris and contribute significantly to the development of his character.

As a seasoned moviegoer, I can’t help but wonder about the versatile acting career of Ariyon Bakare. He has graced our screens in captivating roles on Doctors, His Dark Materials, Family Affairs, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Black Ops, Carnival Row, The Mosquito Coast, and Karen Pirie. If you haven’t seen him yet, I strongly recommend adding these titles to your watch list!

Sharon D Clarke plays Carmel

Who is Carmel? She’s Barry’s spouse, harboring suspicions that he might be unfaithful. Carmel yearns for Barry to reciprocate the love she once had for him, but their bond has weakened over time, and they now find themselves growing apart.

Clarke shared that on her wedding night, she had a dream about him, imagining their touches and life together in England. The dream included visions of quaint white picket fences and charming China tea sets,” he said.

In her thoughts, she envisioned a perfect life ahead with her kind, handsome, and respectable spouse. Having been raised by an abusive father, she carries the scars of domestic violence. She acknowledges that Barry is a good man, one who won’t hurt her and has always ensured their family’s well-being. However, deep down, she knows that he doesn’t share her feelings of love.

Has Sharon D Clarke appeared in any other productions aside from Holby City? She is particularly well-known for her roles in shows such as Doctor Who, Informer, and Witness for the Prosecution (Showtrial).

Tamara Lawrance plays Maxine

Who is Maxine? She is the youngest daughter of Barry and Carmel, and they share a strong bond with her. In her professional life, Maxine is a fashion stylist who has been striving to launch her own clothing line. Occasionally, she requests financial assistance from Barry, which he often finds difficult to refuse.

As I recount my experience watching the film, I found myself particularly moved by a poignant scene where the protagonist, Carmel, struggled with postpartum depression after giving birth to Maxine. This harrowing condition left her unable to physically interact or even be near her newborn, forcing her loving partner, Barry, to take on the crucial role of caring for Maxine.

“They have a great bond as he was the one looking after her when she was younger.”

Besides “Time”, Tamara Lawrance has also starred in “The Silent Twins”, “The Long Song”, the anthology series “Small Axe”, “Undercover” and “No Offence”.

Sharlene Whyte plays Donna

Donna is Barry and Carmel’s oldest child. She tends to align herself more with her mother, which has influenced her dynamic with her father. Additionally, she has a teenager for a son.

Clarke stated that for Carmel and Donna, a special bond exists since Donna functions as Carmel’s trusted confidant, and she refers to Donna affectionately as her ‘golden-eyed friend’,” (or “girl with golden eyes”).

“Not only has she bestowed upon her a handsome grandchild, but this brings immense pride to Carmel. It’s clear that Carmel and Donna care deeply for one another, always there to support each other.

Have you seen any other shows or films featuring Sharlene Whyte? Some titles where she has acted include Stephen, Sherwood, Small Axe, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Waterloo Road, and We Hunt Together.

Tahj Miles plays Daniel

Who is Daniel, you ask? He’s Donna’s 17-year-old child. He’s preparing to wrap up his college years and embark on a new journey at the university.

Nathaniel Price, the screenwriter, emphasized that ‘Toxic masculinity’ plays a significant role, not only concerning sexuality but also in terms of personal identity, self-definition, understanding manhood, and specifically, what it means to be a Black man. He questioned who has control over these aspects of identity, and who decides what it truly means to be Black.

“Daniel, Barry’s grandson, really goes through that ordeal in the series.”

What else has Tahj Miles been in? He is best known for Death in Paradise.

Additional cast includes:

Juliet Garricks as Augusta
EastEnders’ Suzette Llewellyn as Odette De La Roux
Lochlann Ó Mearáin as Reuben Dempsey
The Real McCoy’s Llewella Gideon as Miss Drusilla
Hopi Grace as Miss Merty
Doreene Blackstock as Miss Candaisy
Keenan Munn-Francis as Young Barry
Gabin Kongolo as Young Morris
Lauren Akosia as Carmelita
Clint Dyer as Hubert
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Tony
Jessica Murrain as Merle

All episodes of Mr Loverman are now streaming on BBC iPlayer. The first two episodes will air on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 14th October, with the remaining episodes airing weekly.

2024-10-14 12:04