My Left Nut (TV series)
My Left Nut is a Northern Irish comedy-drama television miniseries produced by Rollem Productions for BBC Three.[1] [2] Based on the stage-play of the same name by Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney,[3] and drawing heavily on Patrick's own teenage years,[4] the series follows 15-year old Mick (Nathan Quinn O'Rawe) as he discovers a swelling on his left testicle. The series was written by Patrick and Kearney and directed by Paul Gay.[5]
My Left Nut | |
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Genre | |
Based on | My Left Nut stageplay by Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney |
Written by |
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Directed by | |
Starring |
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Country of origin | Northern Ireland |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 3 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Sian Palfrey |
Production locations | |
Editors |
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Running time | 24–32 minutes |
Production companies |
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Release | |
Original network | |
Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
Audio format | Surround |
First shown in | United Kingdom |
Original release | 1 March 2020 |
External links | |
Website |
The series was released on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom on 01 March 2020,[6] followed by weekly airings on BBC One.
Premise
The series follows teenager Mick as he attempts to deal with his home and school life after discovering a swelling on his left testicle. His father having died years previously, Mick confides in his mother (Sinead Keenan) as he plucks up the courage to go to the doctor - all whilst trying to keep his swollen testicle from his friends Tommy and Conor, and his prospective girlfriend Rachael.
Cast
- Nathan Quinn O'Rawe as Michael "Mick" Campbell.
- Sinead Keenan as Patricia Campbell, Mick's mother.
- Brian Milligan as Jimmy Campbell, Mick's dead father.
- Jessica Reynolds as Rachael, Mick's prospective girlfriend.
- Levi O'Sullivan as Conor, Mick's friend.
- Oliver Anthony as Tommy, Mick's friend.
- Sade Malone as Siobhan, Rachael's friend.
- Lola Petticrew as Lucy, Mick's sister.
- Jay Duffy as Danny, Lucy's boyfriend.
- Odhran Carlin as Finn, Mick's brother.
- Roger Thomson as Dr Gibbon, Mick's GP
- Gerard Jordan as Tommy's da.
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | |
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1 | Episode 1 | Paul Gay | Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney | |
Mick discovers a swelling on his left testicle. He decides not to tell anyone about it, tries out some home remedies in an attempt to reduce the swelling, and goes on his first date with Rachael. | ||||
2 | Episode 2 | Paul Gay | Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney | |
A nasty rumour goes around school about Mick and Rachael. Mick gets in a fight with his mother over a razor. After reconciling, he tells her about the swelling in his testicle, and he begins the process of going to the doctor. | ||||
3 | Episode 3 | Paul Gay | Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney | |
Mick awaits the result of his ultrasound scan. At Tommy's houseparty, Mick drinks too much and reveals to his friends that he thinks he has cancer. |
Production
Micheal Patrick and Oisín Kearney originally wrote My Left Nut as a one man show through the 'Show in a Bag' initiative run by Fishamble: The New Play Company in partnership with Dublin Fringe Festival and The Irish Theatre Institute.[7] The theatre play was a semi-fictionalised version of Patrick's teenage years growing up in Belfast with a swollen testicle,[8] it premiered at the Dublin Fringe 2017 before showing at Summerhall as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018.[9] [10]At the same time, Patrick and Kearney were part of BBC Writers' Room Belfast Voices, through which they pitched the idea of adapting their play for television to Rollem Productions.[3]
Principal photography began on location in Belfast in August 2019. Specific location in Belfast include St Mary's CBGS, The Strand Cinema, Belfast Harbour and The Ormeau Road.[11]
Reception
My Left Nut received generally positive critical reviews, getting particular praise for its blend of comedy and drama, "Equal parts charmingly funny and strangely sincere" The Guardian,[12] and being compared favourably to similar series such as Derry Girls and The Inbetweeners. "There are echoes of everything from The Inbetweeners to Derry Girls, but the show has its own distinctive voice." Liam Fay, The Sunday Times[13]
My Left Nut won Best Drama at The 2020 Royal Television Society Northern Ireland Awards [14] and was nominated for Best Drama at The 2020 Broadcast Digital Awards. [15]
References
- "My Left Nut". Rollem Productions.
- "BBC Three - My Left Nut". BBC.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/entries/c7824f28-31cb-4ac5-b2c0-a88cb63e7766
- Day, Harvey (March 1, 2020). "My Left Nut: 'My testicle was like a giant avocado'". BBC Three.
- "BBC - BBC Three announces new comedy drama My Left Nut - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk.
- https://www.tvwise.co.uk/2020/02/bbc-three-sets-premiere-date-for-my-left-nut/#:~:text=BBC%20Three%20comedy%20My%20Left,1st%2C%20it%20has%20been%20announced.
- http://www.irishplayography.com/play.aspx?playid=60369
- Wiegand, Chris (September 6, 2018). "'My testicle was so big, you could play it like a bongo'" – via www.theguardian.com.
- "My Left Nut".
- Guide, British Comedy. "My Left Nut - Edinburgh Fringe 2018". British Comedy Guide.
- Meredith, Robbie (August 23, 2019). "Belfast teen has star role in men's health film" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- Guide, The (February 28, 2020). "This week's best home entertainment: from Noughts and Crosses to The Trip" – via www.theguardian.com.
- Fay, Liam. "TV review: My Left Nut; You, Me and Surrogacy; Big Life Fix" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- https://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/general/rts-ni-reveals-winners-2020-programme-awards/
- http://www.broadcastdigitalawards.co.uk/shortlist-2020/