The A Word Explained

Genre:Drama
Developer:Peter Bowker
Composer:Rob Lane
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Editor:Jamie Pearson
Runtime:60 minutes
Num Series:3
Num Episodes:18
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Channel:BBC One

The A Word is a British television drama series, based on the Israeli series Yellow Peppers. The series follows a young boy and how his family cope with the revelation that he has autism spectrum disorder. Following filming in the Lake District from October 2015, a six-part series began airing on 22 March 2016. On 26 May 2016, the BBC announced that a second series of The A Word had been commissioned.[1] It premiered in the UK on 7 November 2017. The third series began airing on 5 May 2020.[2]

Synopsis

Five-year-old Joe Hughes displays clear signs of communication problems and consistently isolates himself by listening to pop music through large blue and black headphones. He has encyclopaedic knowledge of the songs he listens to and accurately sings along with the lyrics. His parents, Alison and Paul, seem oblivious to the disorder and wonder why Joe is ostracised by other children of the same age. However, it is later discovered by Joe's grandfather, Maurice, that Alison and Paul have been taking him to hospital for his communication problems. Other family members know there is a problem, however, their attempts to intervene are met with obstruction from Joe's parents. After originally believing Joe had hearing problems, their Ear, Nose and Throat consultant refers Joe to a specialist who diagnoses him as autistic.

The story then follows how the dysfunctional family, including Rebecca (who feels invisible), Eddie and Nicola (who are coping with their own relationship problems) and tactless grandad Maurice cope with Joe's situation and their own apparent social disorders.

Cast

Actor Character Role Episode
Max Vento Joe Hughes a child on the autism spectrum 1–current
Paul Hughes Joe's father 1–current
Alison Hughes Joe's mother 1–current
Rebecca Hughes Joe's half-sister 1–current
Eddie Scott Alison's brother 1–current
Nicola Daniels Eddie's wife 1–12
Maurice Scott Joe's grandfather, Alison's and Eddie's father 1–current
Louise Wilson Maurice's music teacher and lover 1–current
Ralph Wilson Louise's son 1–current
Tom Clarke Rebecca's best friend 2–current
Luke Taylor Rebecca's boyfriend 2–6
Daniel Cerqueira Dr Graves Family doctor 1–current
George Bukhari Terry Norris Worker at Paul and Alison's cafe 1–current
Adam Wittek David Nowak Worker at the Scott's brewery 1–current
Tommie Grabiec Pavel Kaminski Worker at the Scott's brewery 1–current
Abby Ford Sally Worker at the Scott's brewery 4
Maya Petrenko Joe's babysitter 2–5
Lisa Millett Maggie White Joe's speech therapist 3
Stuart Rebecca's biological father 5–6, 11, 14
Jude Akuwudike Vincent Daniels Nicola's father 7–current
Grace Daniels Nicola's mother 7–current
James Thorne Rebecca's boyfriend 7–8
Heather Joe's teacher13–current
Jean Ralfs Social Worker 13, 16
Lucy GaskellSophie BerwickWorker at Paul's Gastropub7–11
Travis SmithMark BerwickSophie's autistic teenage son7–current
Sarah GordyKatie ThorneRalph's wife13–current
Nigel BettsSteve ThorneKatie's father13–current
Sherry BainesClare ThorneKatie's mother13–current
Austin HaynesOlly ChapmanJoe's friend7, 12

Production

Bowker drew on his own experiences and observations as a teacher and with his family to write The A Word.[3] Autism advocate Deborah Brownson served as an advisor on the production.[4]

Filming took place from October 2015 at locations in the Lake District, including Keswick, Broughton-in-Furness, Coniston, Thirlmere Reservoir, and at The Space Project studios in Manchester.[5] [6] [7]

On 24 May 2019, it was announced by the BBC, and then subsequently via press and social media publications, that a third series was in production. Returning cast members included Christopher Eccleston, Morven Christie, Lee Ingleby, Max Vento, Molly Wright, Greg McHugh, Pooky Quesnel, Matt Greenwood and Leon Harrop. Joining the cast as newcomers were Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sarah Gordy and David Gyasi.[8]

Episodes

Series overview

Series 3 (2020)

Release

BBC One began airing the first six-part series in a Tuesday 9pm slot, replacing Happy Valley, on 22 March 2016. SundanceTV acquired rights for broadcasting the show in America, and it premiered there on 13 July 2016.[9] A second series began in the UK on 7 November 2017 remaining in its Tuesday 9pm slot. A third series was filmed in May 2019 and the entire series was released on BBC iPlayer on 5 May 2020. On the same day it also began broadcasting in its usual weekly slot on BBC One.[8] [10] BBC First airs the series in Australia. Disney+ picked up the programme for all three series across all of Europe, except the UK.[11]

Reception

Audience viewership

Overnight figures revealed the first episode was watched by 4.7 million viewers and had a 23% share of the audience.[12] BARB later reported a consolidated figure of 5.91 million. Reaction to the first episode was mostly positive among viewers. Many people have praised the show on social media, partly for the quality of the acting but also for the way it dealt with the subject of autism.[13]

Critical reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 75% "Certified Fresh" score, based on 20 critics with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "The A Word overcomes an uneven start to offer a thoughtful, warm-hearted look at the engagingly messy lives of its protagonists -- and a glimpse of challenges too rarely seen or discussed on television."[14] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the first season holds a score of 76/100 based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]

The second season holds a 93% "Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 critics with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "The A Word's second season expands its scope beyond the series' inciting diagnosis and blossoms into a thoughtful and warm view on the dynamics of family, while also candidly addressing the realities of raising a child with autism."[16]

For the third season, 100% of nine critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 8.2/10.[17]

Home media

Series 1 was released on DVD in September 2016, and series 2 in December 2017. The third series was released on DVD in July 2020.

Spin-off series

In August 2020 it was announced that a spin-off series Ralph & Katie, following the married life of the protagonists, had been commissioned by the BBC.[18] The six-part series, which included a writing team made up predominantly of people with disabilities,[19] was broadcast in October and November 2022, with all episodes available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.[20] The series will also be available on Disney+ in some regions.

Notes and References

  1. BBC Drama announces three new commissions for BBC One and BBC Two. BBC Media Centre. 26 May 2016. 9 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Filming starts on series three of BBC's The A Word in Cumbria. Times & Star. Workington, Cumbria. Kris. Tatum. 24 May 2019. 9 October 2022.
  3. News: Autism Drama Writer Talks BBC, Sundance's 'The A Word'. The Hollywood Reporter. Alex. Ritman. 22 March 2016. 9 October 2022.
  4. Web site: Burns. Judith. December 29, 2017. February 24, 2023. MBE for author of 'instruction manual' for autism . BBC News.
  5. Filming begins on The A Word, new six-part drama for BBC One. BBC Media Centre. 26 October 2015. 9 October 2022.
  6. News: The A Word filming in Keswick. Time & Star. 15 January 2016. 9 October 2022.
  7. Web site: 'The a Word' Goes into Production at Space Studios Manchester. The Space Project. Tom. Clarke. 26 October 2015. 9 October 2022.
  8. Filming commences on The A Word series three. BBC Media Centre. 24 May 2019. 9 October 2022.
  9. Web site: SundanceTV Acquires BBC, Keshet Autism Drama 'The A-Word'. Variety. Cynthia. Littleton. 8 January 2016. 9 October 2022.
  10. News: TV tonight: the third series of The A Word gets under way. The Guardian. Ammar. Kalia. 5 May 2020. 9 October 2022.
  11. News: Disney+ strikes 'Ralph & Katie' & 'The A Word' deal across Europe. TBI Vision. Richard. Middleton. 17 October 2022.
  12. Web site: BBC One's autistic family drama The A Word opens with 4.7m. Mediatel. Niall. Johnson. 23 March 2016. 23 March 2016.
  13. News: The A Word: Viewers praise Christopher Eccleston drama tackling autism. Daily Express. Neela. Debnath. 23 March 2016. 9 October 2022.
  14. Web site: The A Word: Season 1 . June 14, 2024 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  15. Web site: The A Word season 1 . June 14, 2024 . Metacritic.
  16. Web site: The A Word: Season 2 . June 14, 2024 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  17. Web site: The A Word: Season 3 . June 14, 2024 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  18. BBC One announces Ralph And Katie, a spin-off of Peter Bowker's hit drama The A Word. BBC Media Centre. 24 August 2020. 9 October 2022.
  19. News: Interview Jordan Hogg: 'In 15 years, I've never come across another disabled director'. The Observer. Michael. Hogan. 9 October 2022. 9 October 2022.
  20. Web site: Ralph & Katie. BBC iPlayer. 9 October 2022.