Men Up

*Men Up*
Men Up
	Promotional poster
Genre	Factual drama
Screenplay by	Matthew Barry
Directed by	Ashley Way
Starring	Aneurin Barnard; Alexandra Roach; Phaldut Sharma; Iwan Rheon; Mark Lewis Jones; Steffan Rhodri; Joanna Page;
Country of origin	Wales
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Nicola Shindler; Davina Earl; Rachel Evans; Matthew Barry; Russell T Davies; Rebecca Ferguson;
Producer	Karen Lewis
Cinematography	Adam Etherington
Editor	John Richards
Production companies	Boom; Quay Street Productions;
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	29 December 2023

Men Up is a Welsh television film broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, about the first 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 programme was nominated for Best Single Drama at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in March 2024.^[9]

The film won the award for Best Feature Length Film at the Banff World Media Festival Rockie Awards in June 2024.^[10]

Matthew Barry was awarded Best Writer at the BAFTA Cymru Awards in October 2024.^[11]

It was nominated for the 2025 Broadcast Awards in the Best Single Drama category.^[12]

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.
^ "Rockie Awards 2024 Winner". Banff World Media Festival. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
^ "Steeltown Murders scoops two Bafta Cymru awards". BBC News. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "Shortlist 2025". Broadcastawards.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2025.

External links

Men Up at IMDb

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

[3] Evans, Aaron (1 March 2023). "Wrexham: Mark Lewis Jones to feature in BBC's 'Men Up'". The Leader. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] Nisbet, Megan (20 May 2023). "The Welsh-filmed dramas and TV series coming in 2023 and beyond". Walesonline. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

[7] "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.

[8] 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.

[9] "RTS PROGRAMME AWARDS 2024". RTS.org.uk. 7 March 2024.

[10] "Rockie Awards 2024 Winner". Banff World Media Festival. Retrieved 23 September 2024.

[11] "Steeltown Murders scoops two Bafta Cymru awards". BBC News. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.

[12] "Shortlist 2025". Broadcastawards.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2025.

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