Patrick Melrose is a drama television miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role. All five episodes were directed by Edward Berger and written by David Nicholls, who adapted the Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn.How Benedict Cumberbatch became Patrick Melrose, by Henry Alford, Vanity Fair, April 3, 2018
Premise Over five decades from the 1960s to the early 2000s, wealthy Englishman Patrick Melrose attempts to overcome his addictions and demons rooted in abuse by his cruel father and negligent mother.
Cast Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose Sebastian Maltz as young Patrick Melrose Jennifer Jason Leigh as Eleanor Melrose Hugo Weaving as David Melrose Jessica Raine as Julia Pip Torrens as Nicholas Pratt Prasanna Puwanarajah as Johnny Hall Holliday Grainger as Bridget Watson-Scott Indira Varma as Anne Moore Anna Madeley as Mary Melrose Blythe Danner as Nancy Celia Imrie as Kettle Harriet Walter as Princess Margaret Allison Williams as Marianne Morfydd Clark as Debbie Hickman Amanda Root as Virginia Watson-Scott Marcus Smith as Robert Melrose
Production
It was announced in February 2017 that Benedict Cumberbatch would star in and produce a television adaptation of Edward St Aubyn’s Patrick Melrose book series, that would air on Showtime in the United States and Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom. David Nicholls wrote the five episodes of the series, with Edward Berger directing. In July, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hugo Weaving joined as Patrick’s mother and father, and Anna Madeley was cast as Patrick’s wife.Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving Board Showtime Miniseries 'Patrick Melrose' Allison Williams and Blythe Danner joined in August 2017, with filming begun by October in Glasgow.‘Patrick Melrose’: Allison Williams To Guest Star In Showtime Limited Series
Release The first trailer debuted in April 2018, and the series premiered on May 12 on Showtime.‘Patrick Melrose’ Trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch Loses His Mind in Brilliant New Look at Showtime Series Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Patrick Melrose’ Sets Showtime Premiere Date The series consecutively streamed new episodes on CraveTV in Canada.SHOWTIME® Teases New Limited Series PATRICK MELROSE It was shown on Sky Atlantic in the UK, and Sky Vision handled international sales of the series.
Episodes
Reception Critical response The series currently has a 90% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 69 critic reviews with an average rating of 7.9 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Patrick Melrose is a scathing indictment of British high society's inherited dysfunction, cruelty, and the wealth that enables them. The Crown this ain't." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 80 out of 100 based on 32 critics. In 2019, the series was ranked 51st on The Guardian newspaper's list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.
US ratings
Accolades Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. British Screenwriters' Awards Best British TV Drama Writing David Nicholls British Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography in a Television Drama James Friend Operators Award – Television Drama Daniel Bishop International Online Cinema Awards Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Benedict Cumberbatch National Film and Television Awards Best Actor Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Limited Series Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited Series Benedict Cumberbatch Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series Jennifer Jason Leigh Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Limited Series Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Limited Series Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited Series Rachael Horovitz, Michael Jackson, Adam Ackland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Flint, and Stephen Smallwood Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Benedict Cumberbatch Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special Edward Berger Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special David Nicholls Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nina Gold and Martin Ware Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials World Soundtrack Awards Television Composer of the Year Hauschka American Society of Cinematographers Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Motion Picture, Miniseries, or Pilot Made for Television James Friend Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Limited Series Nina Gold British Academy Television Awards Best Mini-Series Michael Jackson, Rachael Horovitz, Edward Berger, Helen Flint, and David Nicholls Best Leading Actor Benedict Cumberbatch British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer – Fiction David Nicholls Best Original Music Hauschka Best Production Design Tom Burton Photography & Lighting – Fiction James Friend Broadcast Awards Best Drama Series or Serial Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Best Single Drama Best Actor Benedict Cumberbatch Best Writer David Nicholls Best of Multichannel Camerimage First Look Award James Friend Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television Benedict Cumberbatch Golden Reel Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects and Foley for Episodic Long Form Broadcast Media Tony Gibson, Glen Gathard, Lewis Todd, Lilly Blazewicz, Peter Burgis, Zoe Freed, and Jason Swanscott Music + Sound Awards Best Sound Design – Television Programme Tony Gibson, Filipa Príncipe, Claire Ellis, Lewis Todd, Louisa Kearns, Stephen Smallwood, Nigel Squibbs, Jason Swanscott, Zoe Freed, and Peter Burgis Royal Television Society Awards Best Writer – Drama David Nicholls Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards Best Sound – Drama Nigel Squibbs, John Mooney, Filipa Principe, and Tony Gibson Satellite Awards Best Miniseries & Limited Series Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Benedict Cumberbatch Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Hugo Weaving Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Jennifer Jason Leigh USC Scripter Awards Television David Nicholls; Based on the series of novels by Edward St Aubyn IMAGO International Awards Best Cinematography in TV Drama James Friend
References
Further reading
External links