Full disclosure: I’ve already penned a version of this article about the Boiling Point movie. But in light of the fact the BBC’s Boiling Point TV series is scheduled to arrive later this year, I think it’s high time we revisit the compelling case to watch some Stephen Graham and Vinette Robinson-led hospitality drama.
Similar to The Bear, the feature-length adaptation of Boiling Point is a character-driven masterpiece that authentically captured the frenetic energy of working in a kitchen — dare I say even more so than The Bear, given it didn’t offer any full-circle resolutions or financial deus ex machinas. And the follow-up promises to be no different… emotional violence and all.
The criminally underrated single-take masterpiece directed by Philip Barantini [SPOILERS] concluded in a rather open-ended fashion with drug-addicted Head Chef Andy Jones (Stephen Graham) teetering over the edge and succumbing to a heart attack.
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While it’s still unclear whether Stephen Graham’s Andy Jones survived — the show picks up eight months after the film ends with his former Sous Chef Carly (Robinson) “battling to forge a name for new Dalston restaurant Point North” with Andy’s old crew — we do know the character actor extraordinaire will be heavily involved; appearing onscreen in a starring role, potentially through flashbacks or on the sidelines while he grapples with sobriety, in addition to serving as co-creator alongside Barantini.
The official synopsis elaborates: “We follow the team as the stresses of keeping the restaurant running bear down on them amidst a hospitality industry in crisis. With the pressure to draw in new, hungry customers and the financial squeeze to keep the business profitable, the team must find a way to manage their complicated personal lives whilst creating quality food day in, day out.”
Speaking to Radio Times, Vinette Robinson revealed the Boiling Point TV series would “concentrate on Carly’s emotional journey and the psyche of the character.”
“It’s just really exciting. How often do you get the opportunity to dive deeper into a character you’ve already played? And that’s for all of us. To develop all those relationships and to work with the team again,” she said.
“It’s amazing to be able to flesh it out. You do all your work, your backstory and all of that for a film and you only see a little bit of it. But with this, we’re able to expand it more.”
Robinson added: “One of the things that people said about the film was that all the characters or the little vignettes that you had, the windows into those characters, you wanted to know more. So we get the opportunity to do that with a TV series.”
The forthcoming affair has been written and executive produced by James Cummings, who penned the original Boiling Point. Philip Barantini will once again helm the first two episodes, while Mounia Akl (Costa Brava, Lebanon) is directing episodes three and four.
Aside from Vinette Robinson and Stephen Graham, BBC’s Boiling Point TV series hails the return of Ray Panthaki as Freeman, Gary Lamont as Dean, and Áine Rose Daly as Robyn.
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Taz Skylar, Stephen McMillan, Hannah Walters, and Izuka Hoyle have also signed on to reprise their respective roles as Billy, Jamie, Emily, and Camille; with newcomers in the form of Canadian talent Steven Ogg, Ahmed Malek, Cathy Tyson, Stephen Odubola, Shaun Fagan, Joel MacCormack, and more.
BBC have confirmed the Boiling Point TV series kicked off principal photography in Manchester earlier this year (January 30th) with the four-parter expected to air/stream via BBC and BBC iPlayer sometime in 2023 — specific release date TBA; the first trailer is yet to be dropped.
In the meantime, check out the feature-length Boiling Point on Amazon Prime Video.
