Declan Lowney
Encyclopedia
Declan Lowney is an Irish television and film director. After directing a short film in 1980, Lowney worked for Radio Telefís Éireann
, and directed musical events such as the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, and The Velvet Underground
's Live MCMXCIII
. In the United Kingdom, he became known for directing the first two series and Christmas special
of Father Ted
, which won him a British Academy Television Award in 1996. This got him a job directing the pilot
and first two episodes of Cold Feet
in 1996 and 1998. After his first attempt at a feature film debut failed in 1998, Lowney directed Wild About Harry in 2000.
Since 2000, he has directed the television series Happiness
, Help, Little Britain
and Married Single Other
. Happiness and Little Britain each secured him another BAFTA nomination, and Help got him another win. As of 2010, Lowney is developing a film about Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
and is also directing Channel 4 comedy shorts for Irish Comedians The Rubberbandits
.
, Ireland in 1960. At the age of 12, he began using his uncle's Super 8
camera to make short films, and became the winner of local amateur film competitions. His parents wanted him to go into a career in law, but he decided to continue making films instead. In 1977, he directed The Rose that Bloomed, a documentary film about the 25th Wexford Film Festival.
that he directed and produced. Throughout the 1980s, he worked for Irish national broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann
. He became known for directing musical concerts, including the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, for which he won a Jacob's Award. Lowney courted controversy shortly before the contest, when he stated in an interview that Eurvision was "just an excuse for a load of TV executives to go on the piss on expenses". Into the 1990s, he directed the Bob Marley
biopic Time Will Tell (1991) and The Velvet Underground
's 1993 tour Live MCMXCIII
.
After directing some Penn and Teller shows and the Jo Brand
series Through the Cake Hole, Lowney met with writers Arthur Mathews
and Graham Linehan
about directing a new sitcom they had written called Paris. He did not get the job, but Matthews and Linehan remembered him when they were putting together a production team for their next sitcom, Father Ted
. Lowney took input from Linehan and Matthews on set, and the three often refined the scripts during filming. One of Lowney's favourite episodes is "Song for Europe
", which mocks the frequency Ireland wins the Eurovision Song Contest, and features a music video scene. For his work on two series and the Christmas special
, Lowney was the co-recipient of the 1995 BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series). Lowney was met by Christine Langan
, a Granada Television
producer who wanted him to direct Cold Feet
, an ITV Comedy Premiere. Lowney agreed and Cold Feet was filmed in 1996, though not broadcast until 1997. It was a success, winning the Golden Rose of Montreux and a British Comedy Award. Langan asked Lowney if he would like to return to direct the first two episodes of the recently-commissioned series of Cold Feet
. He declined the invitation because the production schedules clashed with his first feature film, Mattie. Written by Hugh Leonard
, Mattie was to star Terence Stamp
and Mia Farrow
. Funding for the film fell through the week before principal photography was due to begin. Lowney was offered the first episodes of Cold Feet again and this time accepted. The episodes were broadcast in 1998.
After the failure of Mattie, Lowney finally got the chance to direct a debut feature with Wild About Harry (2000). The following year, he directed the first series of Paul Whitehouse
's Happiness
, which was nominated for a BAFTA. He returned for the second series in 2003. In 2005, he directed Whitehouse's Help, and the third series of Little Britain
. Help won Lowney his second BAFTA and Little Britain secured him another nomination. In 2008, he directed a major television advertising campaign for Reveal magazine. In 2009, he directed the RTÉ sitcom Never Mind the Nursing Home and three episodes of the ITV romantic comedy Married Single Other
, which were broadcast in early 2010. In 2010, Lowney directed a performance of Riverdance
in Beijing in high-definition. The performance was scheduled for release on Blu-ray to mark 15 years of the troupe.
Since 2007, Lowney has been developing a biographical film about Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
. Comedian Steve Coogan
was originally selected for the role of Edwards but was replaced by Rupert Grint
in 2009. The film was scheduled to begin production once Grint completed work on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2
.
, who died the day after Lowney and Jenny learned she was pregnant. Danny made an appearance in the first episode of Happiness, playing Josh.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
, and directed musical events such as the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, and The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
's Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was released simultaneously in single and double CD/Cassette formats on October 26, 1993 by Sire Records. The single CD is an abridged version of the double CD edition: there are no different takes of songs across the two editions...
. In the United Kingdom, he became known for directing the first two series and Christmas special
A Christmassy Ted
"A Christmassy Ted" is an episode of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. It is the 17th episode overall and was broadcast between the second and third series. This episode is 55 minutes long, as opposed to the usual 21-22 mins of all other Father Ted episodes...
of Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
, which won him a British Academy Television Award in 1996. This got him a job directing the pilot
Pilot (Cold Feet)
Cold Feet is a British television pilot directed by Declan Lowney. It stars James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale as Adam and Rachel, a couple who meet and fall in love, only for the relationship to break down when he gets cold feet. John Thomson, Fay Ripley, Hermione Norris and Robert Bathurst appear...
and first two episodes of Cold Feet
Cold Feet
Cold Feet is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his award-winning 1997 Comedy Premiere of the same name. The storyline follows three couples experiencing the...
in 1996 and 1998. After his first attempt at a feature film debut failed in 1998, Lowney directed Wild About Harry in 2000.
Since 2000, he has directed the television series Happiness
Happiness (TV series)
Happiness was a British sitcom broadcast on BBC2 with dramatic, melancholy overtones written by Paul Whitehouse and David Cummings with Whitehouse in the lead role.There have been two series thus far, the first running in 2001 and the second in 2003...
, Help, Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
and Married Single Other
Married Single Other
Married Single Other is a British television drama created and written by Peter Souter. The series is based on the lives of group of people who are either married, single or "other", other being defined as in a relationship. It began airing on Monday 22 February 2010 at on ITV1 and UTV...
. Happiness and Little Britain each secured him another BAFTA nomination, and Help got him another win. As of 2010, Lowney is developing a film about Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
Michael Edwards , better known as Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, is a British skier who was the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping...
and is also directing Channel 4 comedy shorts for Irish Comedians The Rubberbandits
The Rubberbandits
The Rubberbandits are the award-winning comedy hip-hop duo of Blindboy Boat Club and Mr. Chrome from Limerick, Ireland. Primarily a satirical stage and television act, they have performed throughout Ireland, the UK and USA with shows at events such as Electric Picnic Oxegen and the Bulmers...
.
Background
Lowney was born in WexfordWexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, Ireland in 1960. At the age of 12, he began using his uncle's Super 8
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
camera to make short films, and became the winner of local amateur film competitions. His parents wanted him to go into a career in law, but he decided to continue making films instead. In 1977, he directed The Rose that Bloomed, a documentary film about the 25th Wexford Film Festival.
Career
In 1980, Lowney released Wavelength, a 17-minute short subjectShort subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
that he directed and produced. Throughout the 1980s, he worked for Irish national broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
. He became known for directing musical concerts, including the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, for which he won a Jacob's Award. Lowney courted controversy shortly before the contest, when he stated in an interview that Eurvision was "just an excuse for a load of TV executives to go on the piss on expenses". Into the 1990s, he directed the Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
biopic Time Will Tell (1991) and The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
's 1993 tour Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was released simultaneously in single and double CD/Cassette formats on October 26, 1993 by Sire Records. The single CD is an abridged version of the double CD edition: there are no different takes of songs across the two editions...
.
After directing some Penn and Teller shows and the Jo Brand
Jo Brand
Josephine Grace "Jo" Brand is a BAFTA winning British comedian, writer, and actor.- Early life :Jo Brand was born 23 July 1957 in Wandsworth, London. Her mother was a social worker. Brand is the middle of three children, with two brothers...
series Through the Cake Hole, Lowney met with writers Arthur Mathews
Arthur Mathews (writer)
Arthur Mathews is an Irish comedy writer and actor who, often with writing partner Graham Linehan, has either written or contributed to a number of popular television comedies, most notably Father Ted. He is a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology...
and Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan is an Irish television writer, actor, comedian and director who, often in partnership with Arthur Mathews, has written or co-written a number of popular television comedies...
about directing a new sitcom they had written called Paris. He did not get the job, but Matthews and Linehan remembered him when they were putting together a production team for their next sitcom, Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
. Lowney took input from Linehan and Matthews on set, and the three often refined the scripts during filming. One of Lowney's favourite episodes is "Song for Europe
Song for Europe (Father Ted)
"A Song For Europe" was the 5th episode of the second season of the Channel 4 television sitcom Father Ted.- Synopsis :Dougal has "Eurosong fever", months ahead of the competition. After initially rejecting Dougal's suggestion that they write a song to represent Ireland in the competition, Ted...
", which mocks the frequency Ireland wins the Eurovision Song Contest, and features a music video scene. For his work on two series and the Christmas special
A Christmassy Ted
"A Christmassy Ted" is an episode of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. It is the 17th episode overall and was broadcast between the second and third series. This episode is 55 minutes long, as opposed to the usual 21-22 mins of all other Father Ted episodes...
, Lowney was the co-recipient of the 1995 BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series). Lowney was met by Christine Langan
Christine Langan
Christine Langan is an English film producer who has been Creative Director of BBC Films since April 2009.After graduating from Cambridge University in 1987 and working in advertising for three years, Langan joined Granada Television's drama serials department where she script edited daytime soap...
, a Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
producer who wanted him to direct Cold Feet
Pilot (Cold Feet)
Cold Feet is a British television pilot directed by Declan Lowney. It stars James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale as Adam and Rachel, a couple who meet and fall in love, only for the relationship to break down when he gets cold feet. John Thomson, Fay Ripley, Hermione Norris and Robert Bathurst appear...
, an ITV Comedy Premiere. Lowney agreed and Cold Feet was filmed in 1996, though not broadcast until 1997. It was a success, winning the Golden Rose of Montreux and a British Comedy Award. Langan asked Lowney if he would like to return to direct the first two episodes of the recently-commissioned series of Cold Feet
Cold Feet
Cold Feet is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his award-winning 1997 Comedy Premiere of the same name. The storyline follows three couples experiencing the...
. He declined the invitation because the production schedules clashed with his first feature film, Mattie. Written by Hugh Leonard
Hugh Leonard
Hugh Leonard was an Irish dramatist, television writer and essayist. In a career that spanned 50 years, Leonard wrote more than 18 plays, two volumes of essays and two autobiographies, one novel and numerous screenplays and teleplays, as well as writing a regular newspaper column.-Life and...
, Mattie was to star Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp
Terence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
and Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...
. Funding for the film fell through the week before principal photography was due to begin. Lowney was offered the first episodes of Cold Feet again and this time accepted. The episodes were broadcast in 1998.
After the failure of Mattie, Lowney finally got the chance to direct a debut feature with Wild About Harry (2000). The following year, he directed the first series of Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse is a Welsh actor, writer and comedian. He became known for his work with Harry Enfield and as one of the stars of the popular BBC sketch show, The Fast Show. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was in the top 50 comedy acts voted for by comedians and comedy insiders...
's Happiness
Happiness (TV series)
Happiness was a British sitcom broadcast on BBC2 with dramatic, melancholy overtones written by Paul Whitehouse and David Cummings with Whitehouse in the lead role.There have been two series thus far, the first running in 2001 and the second in 2003...
, which was nominated for a BAFTA. He returned for the second series in 2003. In 2005, he directed Whitehouse's Help, and the third series of Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
. Help won Lowney his second BAFTA and Little Britain secured him another nomination. In 2008, he directed a major television advertising campaign for Reveal magazine. In 2009, he directed the RTÉ sitcom Never Mind the Nursing Home and three episodes of the ITV romantic comedy Married Single Other
Married Single Other
Married Single Other is a British television drama created and written by Peter Souter. The series is based on the lives of group of people who are either married, single or "other", other being defined as in a relationship. It began airing on Monday 22 February 2010 at on ITV1 and UTV...
, which were broadcast in early 2010. In 2010, Lowney directed a performance of Riverdance
Riverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
in Beijing in high-definition. The performance was scheduled for release on Blu-ray to mark 15 years of the troupe.
Since 2007, Lowney has been developing a biographical film about Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
Michael Edwards , better known as Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, is a British skier who was the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping...
. Comedian Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
was originally selected for the role of Edwards but was replaced by Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint
Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint is an English actor, who rose to prominence playing Ron Weasley, one of the three main characters in the Harry Potter film series. Grint was cast as Ron at the age of 11, having previously acted only in school plays and at his local theatre group...
in 2009. The film was scheduled to begin production once Grint completed work on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David...
.
Personal life
Lowney is married to Jenny, and they have two sons, Danny and Ted. Ted was named after the title character of Father Ted as a tribute to actor Dermot MorganDermot Morgan
Dermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
, who died the day after Lowney and Jenny learned she was pregnant. Danny made an appearance in the first episode of Happiness, playing Josh.
External links
- Declan Lowney at the British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...