Channel 4 announces new drama adaptation Close to Home with Anthony Boyle, Jessica Reynolds, Seamus O’Hara and Oisín Thompson as lead cast

Channel 4 has commissioned Close to Home, a new four-part drama series produced by the multi-Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning Element Pictures, a Fremantle company (Normal People, Bugonia). Based on Michael Magee’s debut novel, which received the prestigious 2023 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and the Nero Prize for Debut Fiction 2024, Close to Home revels in the reckless decadence of youth and celebrates a generation growing up in the wake of the troubles. A striking tale of love, trauma and finding your place in the scarred city you call home.

Adapted for the screen by Michael Magee, the series will be directed by Diarmuid Goggins (Code of Silence). Leading the cast will be Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing, House of Guinness) as Sean, Jessica Reynolds (A Woman of Substance, Kneecap) as Mairéad, Seamus O’Hara (House of Guinness, Say Nothing) as Anthony, and Oisín Thompson (Trespasses) as Ryan.

Close to Home tells the story of Sean, a young man who finds himself back in Belfast. Back from university and back into old habits. Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell. One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.

Michael Magee, Novelist and Writer, says: “Developing Close to Home for television has been an intensely fulfilling creative experience, a dream come true, really, and I’m incredibly grateful to Michael Dawson and Clare Dwyer Hogg for all the work they’ve done with me on the scripts, and to Diarmuid Goggins and Gemma Boswell and the whole team at Element and Channel 4 for the passion and creative energy they’ve put into bringing this story to life.”

Gemma Boswell, Commissioner Editor for Channel 4, says: “It is a privilege to bring Mick’s award-winning novel to Channel 4. Close To Home explores the emotionally rich landscape of West Belfast through the eyes of Sean, played by the fantastic Anthony Boyle. We’re delighted to showcase Mick’s beautiful writing with this timely and evocative story of a young generation finding their place in the world.”

Michael Dawson, Executive Producer, says: “In his debut novel, Mick has captured a compelling vision of Belfast life, brimming with anarchic energy, humanity and mischief. Diarmuid Goggins is the perfect filmmaker to bring this to the screen; his ability to fuse bold, kinetic visuals with a raw, grounded realism is exactly what this story demands. Together with the indomitable Anthony Boyle and our incredible partners at Channel 4, Fremantle, NI Screen, and Screen Ireland, we are set to deliver a piece of television that is as dynamic, loud, and uncompromising as the city itself.[/i"

[i]Close to Home was commissioned for Channel 4 by Gwawr Lloyd, Interim Head of Drama and Gemma Boswell, Commissioning Editor, Drama. Executive Producers are Christopher Aird, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Michael Dawson, Michael Magee, Diarmuid Goggins and Anthony Boyle. Martin Mahon serves as Producer.

The series will be distributed by Fremantle and is filmed with support from Northern Ireland Screen and Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland. Further casting and transmission details will be announced in due course.

Filming will begin this month in Belfast.