Consenting Adults (BBC)
Encyclopedia
Consenting Adults is a 2007 BBC Four
television dramatisation of the events of the Wolfenden committee
, whose report led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality
in Britain. Set in the 1950s, the film depicts social attitudes towards homosexuality in Britain at that time, largely focusing on the committee's chair, John Wolfenden
, and his own homosexual son Jeremy
.
The film was commissioned as part of a season of programming marking the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England
and Wales
in 1967. Similar legislation came into force in Scotland
and Northern Ireland
in 1981 and 1982 respectively.
’s Best Drama Award on November 18, 2007, and Sean Biggerstaff won BAFTA Scotland’s Award for Best Actor (Television).
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
television dramatisation of the events of the Wolfenden committee
Wolfenden report
The Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution was published in Britain on 4 September 1957 after a succession of well-known men, including Lord Montagu, Michael Pitt-Rivers and Peter Wildeblood, were convicted of homosexual offences.-The committee:The...
, whose report led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality
Sexual Offences Act 1967
The Sexual Offences Act 1967 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom . It decriminalised homosexual acts in private between two men, both of whom had to have attained the age of 21. The Act applied only to England and Wales and did not cover the Merchant Navy or the Armed Forces...
in Britain. Set in the 1950s, the film depicts social attitudes towards homosexuality in Britain at that time, largely focusing on the committee's chair, John Wolfenden
John Wolfenden, Baron Wolfenden
John Frederick Wolfenden, Baron Wolfenden, CBE was a British educationalist probably best remembered for chairing the Wolfenden report recommending the decriminalisation of homosexuality, which was published in 1957...
, and his own homosexual son Jeremy
Jeremy Wolfenden
Jeremy Wolfenden was a foreign correspondent and British spy at the height of the Cold War.-Biography:...
.
The film was commissioned as part of a season of programming marking the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1967. Similar legislation came into force in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in 1981 and 1982 respectively.
Cast
- Charles DanceCharles DanceWalter Charles Dance, OBE is an English actor, screenwriter and director. Dance typically plays assertive bureaucrats or villains. His most famous roles are Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown , Dr Clemens, the doctor of penitentiary Fury 161, who becomes Ellen Ripley's confidante in Alien 3 ,...
: John Wolfenden - Sean BiggerstaffSean BiggerstaffSean Biggerstaff is a Scottish actor best known for playing Oliver Wood in the Harry Potter film series.-Life and career:Biggerstaff was born in Glasgow, Scotland, growing up with his parents in Maryhill...
: Jeremy Wolfenden - David BamberDavid BamberDavid James Bamber is an English actor, known for his television and theatre work. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Early years:...
: Dr. Carl Winter - Samantha Bond : Jill Wolfenden
- Dallas CampbellDallas CampbellDallas Campbell is a British television presenter and television and stage actor. His acting credits include Spender, A Touch of Frost, Family Affairs, Casualty and Holby City...
: Sergeant Harry - Mark GatissMark GatissMark Gatiss is an English actor, screenwriter and novelist. He is best known as a member of the comedy team The League of Gentlemen, and has both written for and acted in the TV series Doctor Who and Sherlock....
: Police Constable Butcher - Paul Kendrick : Clive
- Jamie Martin : Colin Parker
- Charles Reston : Michael
- Matt RyanMatt Ryan (actor)-Early life:Matt was born in Swansea, Wales to parents Steve Evans, postman turned record producer, and Maria Evans, dance teacher. He attended Penyrheol Primary and Comprehensive schools in Gorseinon before moving on to the nearby Gorseinon College where he completed a BTEC Performing Arts course....
: Charley Bullard - Mel SmithMel SmithMelvin Kenneth "Mel" Smith is an English comedian, writer, film director, producer, and actor. He is most famous for his work on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones.- Early life :Smith's father, Kenneth, was born...
: Maxwell Fyfe - Tim Wallers : Spellman
- Colin StintonColin StintonColin Stinton is a Canadian-born actor who immigrated to the United States in 1952, and now lives in London. He often portrays fictional American politicians, lawyers and government agents. He recently played Neal Daniels in The Bourne Ultimatum...
: Alfred KinseyAlfred KinseyAlfred Charles Kinsey was an American biologist and professor of entomology and zoology, who in 1947 founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, now known as the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, as well as producing the Kinsey Reports and the Kinsey...
Reception
The film was nominated for BAFTA ScotlandBAFTA Scotland
BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games...
’s Best Drama Award on November 18, 2007, and Sean Biggerstaff won BAFTA Scotland’s Award for Best Actor (Television).