Jekyll is a British television drama serial produced by Hartswood Films and Stagescreen Productions for BBC One. The series also received funding from BBC America. Steven Moffat wrote all six episodes, with Douglas Mackinnon and Matt Lipsey each directing three episodes.
The series is described by its creators as a sequel to the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, rather than an adaptation of it, with the Robert Louis Stevenson tale serving as a backstory within the series. It stars James Nesbitt as Tom Jackman, a modern-day descendant of Dr. Jekyll, who has recently begun transforming into a version of Mr. Hyde (also played by Nesbitt). Jackman is aided by psychiatric nurse Katherine Reimer, played by Michelle Ryan. Gina Bellman also appears as Claire, Tom's wife.
Filming took place at various locations around southern England in late 2006. The series was first transmitted on BBC One in June and July 2007, receiving mainly positive reviews.
Michelle Ryan believed herself to be too young for the part, though that aspect had already been written into the character. To prepare, she consulted the Royal College of Psychiatry. Ryan dyed her hair red for the role to help differentiate her from Tom Jackman's wife.
Info & text courtesy of Jekyll wiki page
The series is described by its creators as a sequel to the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, rather than an adaptation of it, with the Robert Louis Stevenson tale serving as a backstory within the series. It stars James Nesbitt as Tom Jackman, a modern-day descendant of Dr. Jekyll, who has recently begun transforming into a version of Mr. Hyde (also played by Nesbitt). Jackman is aided by psychiatric nurse Katherine Reimer, played by Michelle Ryan. Gina Bellman also appears as Claire, Tom's wife.
Filming took place at various locations around southern England in late 2006. The series was first transmitted on BBC One in June and July 2007, receiving mainly positive reviews.
Michelle Ryan believed herself to be too young for the part, though that aspect had already been written into the character. To prepare, she consulted the Royal College of Psychiatry. Ryan dyed her hair red for the role to help differentiate her from Tom Jackman's wife.
Info & text courtesy of Jekyll wiki page
Official promotional images
CAST
- James Nesbitt as Dr. Tom Jackman/Hyde/Dr Jekyll
- Gina Bellman as Claire Jackman
- Paterson Joseph as Benjamin Maddox
- Denis Lawson as Peter Syme
- Michelle Ryan as Katherine Reimer
- Meera Syal as Miranda Callender
- Fenella Woolgar as Min
- Linda Marlowe as Ms Utterson
- Andrew Byrne as Eddie Jackman
- Christopher Day as Harry Jackman
- Al Hunter Ashton as Christopher
Episode 1 - 16 June 2007
Tom Jackman is plagued by strange transformations into a stronger, more animal-like version of himself. To ease the situation he hires an assistant in Katherine Reimer to see to the needs of both himself and his alter ego. He later finds that his estranged wife Claire has employed a detective, Miranda Calender, to find out why he left her. Calender is able to reveal to Jackman that he is apparently the last living descendant of Henry Jekyll, and that they look exactly alike, despite the fact that Jekyll never had children. She is unable to reveal who the other party observing him is. Meanwhile, Hyde continues to grow stronger as this third party introduces itself through Benjamin.
Tom Jackman is plagued by strange transformations into a stronger, more animal-like version of himself. To ease the situation he hires an assistant in Katherine Reimer to see to the needs of both himself and his alter ego. He later finds that his estranged wife Claire has employed a detective, Miranda Calender, to find out why he left her. Calender is able to reveal to Jackman that he is apparently the last living descendant of Henry Jekyll, and that they look exactly alike, despite the fact that Jekyll never had children. She is unable to reveal who the other party observing him is. Meanwhile, Hyde continues to grow stronger as this third party introduces itself through Benjamin.
Episode 2 - 23 June 2007
While at a zoo, Benjamin's team tries to force out Hyde by placing Tom's son, Eddie, in the lion's den. Benjamin, who says he has controlled Tom for forty years waiting for Hyde to emerge, asks Hyde to work with him. Hyde refuses, driving away with Benjamin’s henchman, Christopher, whose battered body Hyde later dumps. Tom awakes to be confronted by Sophia, an elderly woman with whom Katherine has been working. Sophia confesses that she left Tom in a railway station 40 years ago with only a letter and a photo. She reveals that he is a direct descendant of Dr Henry Jekyll.
Peter, who has been working for Benjamin, has tipped him off about Tom's whereabouts. When Benjamin's team arrive at the hospital, Sophia urges Tom to disappear permanently.
While at a zoo, Benjamin's team tries to force out Hyde by placing Tom's son, Eddie, in the lion's den. Benjamin, who says he has controlled Tom for forty years waiting for Hyde to emerge, asks Hyde to work with him. Hyde refuses, driving away with Benjamin’s henchman, Christopher, whose battered body Hyde later dumps. Tom awakes to be confronted by Sophia, an elderly woman with whom Katherine has been working. Sophia confesses that she left Tom in a railway station 40 years ago with only a letter and a photo. She reveals that he is a direct descendant of Dr Henry Jekyll.
Peter, who has been working for Benjamin, has tipped him off about Tom's whereabouts. When Benjamin's team arrive at the hospital, Sophia urges Tom to disappear permanently.
Episode 3 - 30 June 2007
Tom discovers that the organisation tracking him is 'Klein & Utterson', the very company he works for. He confronts Peter at his house. However, Peter had drugged him. Fearing that Hyde will attack his family when he's unconscious, Tom locks Peter in the basement with Hyde and forces him to swallow the key. Claire appears to witness her husband’s transformation in Hyde. Twelve hours later, Tom awakens with a key. Hyde kills Benjamin — one of the organisation's leaders. Posing as police, Benjamin's team place Tom in a very confined box and transfer him to another location.
Tom discovers that the organisation tracking him is 'Klein & Utterson', the very company he works for. He confronts Peter at his house. However, Peter had drugged him. Fearing that Hyde will attack his family when he's unconscious, Tom locks Peter in the basement with Hyde and forces him to swallow the key. Claire appears to witness her husband’s transformation in Hyde. Twelve hours later, Tom awakens with a key. Hyde kills Benjamin — one of the organisation's leaders. Posing as police, Benjamin's team place Tom in a very confined box and transfer him to another location.
Episode 4 - 14 July 2007
When a private detective confronts Klein & Utterson with the theory that Tom is Jekyll's clone, Peter reveals that they don't know how Tom came to be. Flashback sequences reveal how Tom and Claire first met as well as Hyde's first 'awakenings'. The flashback recounts how the couple were surprised that Claire gave birth to twins as there had only been one heartbeat. In the present, Claire demands to know where her children are, why her husband is locked in a box, and the nature of her husband's relationship with Katherine.
When a private detective confronts Klein & Utterson with the theory that Tom is Jekyll's clone, Peter reveals that they don't know how Tom came to be. Flashback sequences reveal how Tom and Claire first met as well as Hyde's first 'awakenings'. The flashback recounts how the couple were surprised that Claire gave birth to twins as there had only been one heartbeat. In the present, Claire demands to know where her children are, why her husband is locked in a box, and the nature of her husband's relationship with Katherine.
Episode 5 - 21 July 2007
At the home of Dr Henry Jekyll, in 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson presents a manuscript. The story lacks only an ending. Jekyll is dying because he can no longer control the changes and his last secret will die with him as he destroys a vital piece of paper in the fire. Back in the present, Tom is believed dead, with Hyde having taken over after Tom succumbed to terror due to his claustrophobia. Dipping into Tom's memories, Hyde taps into genetic memory from Henry Jekyll, and learns that Jekyll never used a potion (something that was widely believed, and evidently something that Klein & Utterson were aiming to reproduce). He also discovers that Jekyll's maid, Alice, looked identical to his wife, shortly before Klein & Utterson abduct his wife and children.
At the home of Dr Henry Jekyll, in 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson presents a manuscript. The story lacks only an ending. Jekyll is dying because he can no longer control the changes and his last secret will die with him as he destroys a vital piece of paper in the fire. Back in the present, Tom is believed dead, with Hyde having taken over after Tom succumbed to terror due to his claustrophobia. Dipping into Tom's memories, Hyde taps into genetic memory from Henry Jekyll, and learns that Jekyll never used a potion (something that was widely believed, and evidently something that Klein & Utterson were aiming to reproduce). He also discovers that Jekyll's maid, Alice, looked identical to his wife, shortly before Klein & Utterson abduct his wife and children.
Episode 6- 28 July 2007
Tom and Hyde fully combine their personalities, with Tom needing Hyde's physical strength while Hyde requires Tom's emotional maturity. Claire is revealed to be a clone of Jekyll's maid Alice - created in order to stimulate the transformation in Tom that her 'template' triggered in Jekyll, while Tom is a descendant of Hyde's illegitimate offspring. Hyde dies protecting Tom's children, refusing to 'share the damage' with his other self after he is shot. It is finally revealed that Ms Utterson, the American head of Klein & Utterson, is the Hyde persona of Tom's mother Sophia, from whom he inherited the Hyde genes.
Tom and Hyde fully combine their personalities, with Tom needing Hyde's physical strength while Hyde requires Tom's emotional maturity. Claire is revealed to be a clone of Jekyll's maid Alice - created in order to stimulate the transformation in Tom that her 'template' triggered in Jekyll, while Tom is a descendant of Hyde's illegitimate offspring. Hyde dies protecting Tom's children, refusing to 'share the damage' with his other self after he is shot. It is finally revealed that Ms Utterson, the American head of Klein & Utterson, is the Hyde persona of Tom's mother Sophia, from whom he inherited the Hyde genes.
