Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani co-wrote and star in the new series, alongside an outstanding ensemble cast. Here’s who you need to look out for…
By Laura Rutkowski, Senior Staff Writer
Humour can be a great way to discuss topics that are no laughing matter. That’s what Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani have set out to achieve in their new series Chivalry, which uses comedy to open up a wider debate about the #MeToo movement.
In the six-part satire, Coogan plays a sleazy Hollywood producer who’s still dating women half his age and Solemani plays an up-and-coming director who is repulsed by his lecherous ways. Yet, an attraction develops when they’re both working on the film A Little Death.
Coogan and Solemani were filming Greed when #MeToo happened. “We’d have these vociferous debates! They were heated, but never antagonistic,” Coogan said. “I enjoyed this robust fencing match! The whole basis for the show became: let’s tell a story about two people in the midst of this landscape who fall in love.”
Solemani added: “The tightrope is satirising gender relations without undermining what #MeToo is. We wanted to shine a light on it, but also let some of the tension out.”
Ahead of the series’ double-bill debut on Channel 4, meet the star-studded cast joining Chivalry…
Sarah Solemani as Bobby Sohrabi
Indie filmmaker Bobby takes over as director of A Little Death. She’s being called the “next big thing” after her low-budget indie debut performed well and she’s been promised studio funding for her feminist Biblical biopic, as long as she rescues this film first. She has a husband and child, but her feelings for Cameron, however unlikely, become impossible to ignore.
What else can I watch her in?
- Find Him & Her series 1-3 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
- Find Bridget Jones’s Baby in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Bad Education series 1-3 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
Steve Coogan as Cameron O’Neill
The producer of A Little Death is one comment away from getting cancelled, with the film already proving to be problematic and sexually controversial.
What else can I watch him in?
- Find This Time With Alan Partridge series 1 & 2 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
- Find Philomena in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Greed in Apps & Games > Netflix
Wanda Sykes as Jean Shrill
Studio executive Jean Shrill puts Bobby and Cameron together to help save the failing film.
What else can I watch her in?
- Find The Upshaws series 1 in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Curb Your Enthusiasm series 1-11 in On Demand > Box Sets
- Find Monster-In-Law in Apps & Games > Netflix
Sienna Miller as Lark
Lark has been around the block a few times and knows how showbusiness works. She’s the leading lady in A Little Death and is familiar with Cameron’s reputation.
What else can I watch her in?
- Find Anatomy Of A Scandal in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Layer Cake in Apps & Games > Prime Video
- Find Stardust in Apps & Games > Netflix
Robert Lonsdale as Rick
Rick is the editor of A Little Death, a film he is desperately trying to keep on track, despite Bobby and Cameron’s constant creative differences.
What else can I watch him in?
- Find Finding Alice in Apps & Games > ITV Hub
- Find Chewing Gum series 1 & 2 in Apps & Games > All 4
- Find Lovesick in Apps & Games > Netflix
Aisling Bea as Tatiana
Tatiana is the film’s intimacy coach, who Bobby hires to re-shoot the sex scenes.
What else can I watch her in?
- Find This Way Up series 1 & 2 in Apps & Games > All 4
- Find Living With Yourself in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Love Wedding Repeat in Apps & Games > Netflix
Lolly Adefope as Ama
Cameron’s new assistant Ama is eager to please and work her way up the career ladder.
What else can I watch her in?
- Find Shrill series 1-3 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
- Find Ghosts series 1-3 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
- Find This Time With Alan Partridge series 1 & 2 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
Adjani Salmon as Aston
Bobby’s husband Aston agreed to move to California with her following his time at a failed start-up. With Bobby thriving professionally, Aston’s hoping he’ll also find success in a new career.
What else can I watch him in?
- Find Dreaming Whilst Black in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
- Find Enterprice series 1 & 2 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
- Find Doctor Who series 13 in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
Guest cameos
Chivalry is bursting with talent, with the following stars appearing in unknown parts as of yet, except for Paul Rudd, who appears as himself.
Paul Rudd
What else can I watch him in?
- Find Living With Yourself in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Clueless in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find The Fundamentals Of Caring in Apps & Games > Netflix
Peter Mullan
What else can I watch him in?
- Find Cursed in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find Ozark series 1-4 in Apps & Games > Netflix
- Find The North Water in Apps & Games > BBC iPlayer
Amy Landecker
What else can I watch her in?
- Find Transparent series 1-5 in Apps & Games > Prime Video
- Find Dan In Real Life in Apps & Games > Prime Video
- Find The Handmaid’s Tale series 1-4 in Apps & Games > Prime Video
When is Channel 4’s Chivalry on TV?
The first two episodes of six-part series Chivalry air on Channel 4 HD (CH 104/141) at 10pm and 10.30pm on Thursday 21 April. It is also available in Apps & Games > All 4.
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