Recapping what Emmanuel already announced back in June…
British network ITV Studios describes its new program, Homefront, as a contemporary new drama about military WAGS (wives and girlfriends – 4 of them in this case), with Misfits-alum Antonia Thomas starring in one of the lead roles, alongside Claire Skinner, Clare Higgins, and Nicola Stephenson.
A press release from ITV reveals that director Terry McDonough and producer Kim Crowther "bring to life this compelling and emotional drama lead by four profound women."
Antonia Thomas plays Army widow Tasha Raveley in ITV1’s six-part series and to prepare her role as a young mother who learns her husband has been killed by a bomb in Afghanistan, Antonia says she spent hours speaking with real Army wives and widows, telling TV Biz:
“It’s a very sensitive area. I managed to speak to a few widows who had obviously been through it and gave me some insight. It wasn’t too difficult for the emotion to come when we filmed the scenes.”
The series which was shot over 3+ months, is scheduled to debut at the end of this month. In the very first episode, Thomas' character, Tasha, struggles to deal with the "strict nature of the repatriation of her late husband’s body."
The above photo gives us our first look at her in the film, in what looks to be an emotional role for the young actress.
Check out the full synopsis for Homefront below:
Paula Raveley (Higgins) a veteran army wife is glad to be on civvy street with husband Howard (George Costigan). She’s beyond proud that her precious younger son Matt has headed out to Helmand to serve alongside his brother Tom (Chris Reilly), but she doesn't always see eye to eye with Matt’s young wife, Tasha (Thomas). After a troubled upbringing by single mum Cheryl (Lorraine Ashbourne) Tasha’s even more determined to prove herself as a brilliant wife and good mother to toddler son, Alfie.
Louise Mancetta (Stephenson) was an Army nurse so she knows this high-octane world from both sides. She met her husband Joe (Warren Brown) during a particularly gruelling six month tour of Afghanistan and didn’t return to her duties after maternity leave having had two beautiful girls, Hannah and Grace. Although married to a soldier, Louise is not solely defined by her husband’s rank and reputation, like some of the women on the patch.
Claire Marshbrook (Skinner) is an Officer’s wife in the making. She met widowed Major Peter Bartham (Greg Wise) on a dating website and moved towns to be with him. Not only does Claire have to adjust to giving up her own career but faces the challenge of being a Major’s wife and the demands of being a step-mother to Pete’s wayward 15 year old daughter, Millie (Rosie Day), who firmly resents her and Claire’s teenage son, Sam (Ceallach Spellman).
