Men Up

British television film

Aneurin Barnard
Alexandra Roach
Phaldut Sharma
Iwan Rheon
Mark Lewis Jones
Steffan Rhodri
Joanna Page

Country of originWalesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producers

Nicola Shindler
Davina Earl
Rachel Evans
Matthew Barry
Russell T Davies
Rebecca Ferguson

ProducerKaren LewisCinematographyAdam EtheringtonEditorJohn RichardsProduction companies

Boom
Quay Street Productions

Original releaseNetworkBBC OneRelease29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)

Men Up is a Welsh television film broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, about the first ever clinical trials for the drug viagra, which took place in Swansea in 1994. Russell T Davies is amongst the executive producers. The cast includes Aneurin Barnard, Alexandra Roach, Phaldut Sharma, Iwan Rheon, Steffan Rhodri and Joanna Page. It aired on 29 December 2023.

Synopsis

In Morriston Hospital in Swansea in 1994, a group of middle-aged Welsh men stepped into the unknown by taking part in the world's first medical trials for the drug that became Viagra.

Cast

Iwan Rheon as Meurig Jenkins
Aneurin Barnard as Dr. Dylan Pearce
Alexandra Roach as Ffion Jenkins
Phaldut Sharma as Peetham ‘Pete’ Shah
Paul Rhys as Tommy Cadogan
Steffan Rhodri as Colin White
Mark Lewis Jones as Eddie O’Connor
Joanna Page as Moira Davies
Lisa Palfrey as Teresa Rigby
Alexandria Riley as Alys Shah
Dyfan Dwyfor as Leigh Bennett
Katy Wix as Joanna Wootle

Production

The programme was written by Matthew Barry. Executive producers were Nicola Shindler and Davina Earl for Quay Street Productions, Rachel Evans for Boom, Matthew Barry, Russell T Davies and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC.^[1] Men Up was directed by Ashley Way and produced by Karen Lewis.^[2]

Casting

In 2023 the cast was revealed to include Phaldut Sharma, Iwan Rheon, Mark Lewis Jones, Steffan Rhodri, Alexandra Roach and Joanna Page.^[3] Dyfan Dwyfor and Aneurin Barnard also appeared.^[4]

Filming

Filming took place in Swansea in early 2023.^[5] Filming had wrapped before the end of May 2023.^[6]

Broadcast and reception

The programme was shown in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer during the 2023 festive period.^[7]

Writing for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan described the programme as "a masterpiece" and awarded it five stars out of five.^[8]

Accolades

The series was nominated for Best Single Drama at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in March 2024.^[9]

References

^ Dalling, Robert (1 March 2023). "BBC's new Men Up drama about Viagra filmed and set in Swansea will star Iwan Rheon and Alexandra Roach". Walesonline. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ Ritman, Alex (1 March 2023). "Viagra Trial Drama 'Men Up' Coming to BBC From Russell T. Davies, 'Industry' Writer, 'It's a Sin' Producer". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ Evans, Aaron (1 March 2023). "Wrexham: Mark Lewis Jones to feature in BBC's 'Men Up'". The Leader. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ Lewis, Thomas (3 March 2023). "North Wales actors star in new Russell T Davies Viagra drama Men Up on BBC One". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ Dalling, Robert (20 February 2023). "Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon films in Swansea street transported back to 1994 for new drama Men Up". Wales Online. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ Nisbet, Megan (20 May 2023). "The Welsh-filmed dramas and TV series coming in 2023 and beyond". Walesonline. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ "BBC Christmas 2023 TV and iPlayer line-up brings the festive spirit to the UK". bbc.co.uk. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^ Mangan, Lucy (29 December 2023). "Men Up review – a TV masterpiece about the very first men to take Viagra". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ "RTS PROGRAMME AWARDS 2024". RTS.org.uk. 7 March 2024.