''Gifted'' is a one-off British drama thriller

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

, written and devised by

Kay Mellor Kay Mellor (née Daniel; 11 May 1951 – 15 May 2022) was an English actress, scriptwriter, producer and director. She was known for creating television series such as '' Band of Gold'' (ITV, 1995–97), '' Fat Friends'' (ITV, 2000–05), and ...

, that first broadcast on

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...

on 29 October 2003. Starring

Kenny Doughty Kenny Doughty (born 27 March 1975) is an English actor and director, known for playing DS Aiden Healy on ITV's Crime Drama ''Vera'' and as Sean in ''Stella''. Early life Doughty was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He attended Charter School, ...

Claire Goose Claire Goose is a Scottish actress who first gained attention playing Tina Seabrook on the long-running BBC One medical drama '' Casualty'' (1997–2000). Her other roles include DS "Mel" Silver in '' Waking the Dead'' (2000–2007), Insp. ...

and

Christine Tremarco Christine Tremarco (born 1977) is a British actress. Her career began in 1992 when, at the age of 15, she starred as Lily in the ABC/BBC miniseries ''The Leaving of Liverpool'', for which she was nominated for an AACTA Award. Other television ...

, the film follows top-flight footballer Jamie Gilliam (Doughty), who is accused of rape by Sharon Harrison (Tremarco), a part-time lap dancer. When Gilliam strongly denies the accusations made against him, Harrison drops the case following intense scrutiny from the press, leading her best friend, Maxine Norris (Goose), to look deeper into the case. The film was produced by Rollem Productions, and directed by Douglas Mackinnon. 6.19 million viewers tuned in for the initial broadcast. ''Gifted'' was released on DVD via IMC Vision on 7 February 2005.

Broadcast

Reports in ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' in October 2003 suggested that ''Gifted'' was under review to be shelved, due to striking similarities with ongoing news stories involving a group of then unidentified Premiership footballers involved in the rape of a seventeen-year-old girl. However, despite these reports, the transmission date was brought forward three weeks, from 19 November to 29 October.

Reception

Carol Midgeley for ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' reviewed ''Gifted'', writing; "What a piece of luck for ITV that

’s drama about a footballer accused of date rape came to fruition just as the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by a group of Premiership footballers was being splashed across the Sunday papers. Call me a cynic, but I'm guessing the press office was cock-a-hoop. The fact is that no amount of champagne press launches and glossy publicity packs could compete with the real life, gory details of a girl being “roasted” as a way to work up the viewing public's appetite." Kathryn Flett for ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

'' added; "Kay Mellor is a fundamentally fluffy writer. The plot regularly fell apart at its seams, the direction was so emotionally distanced from its subject that it could have been the work of

Amanda Burton Amanda Burton (born 10 October 1956) is a Northern Irish actress. Her notable credits include Heather Haversham in the Channel 4 soap opera '' Brookside'' (1982–1986), Beth Glover in the ITV drama series ''Peak Practice'' (1993–1995), Sa ...

, many of the key parts were perversely miscast, the char actors were clichés and the dialogue often pathetically girly. n fact, there was so much else that was wrong with ''Gifted'' that it is hard to know where to end the criticism, but I'll have a go because I think I've been hard enough."

Cast

as Jamie Gilliam *

as Maxine Norris *

as Sharon Harrison *

Paul Popplewell Paul Popplewell is a British actor who has appeared in BAFTA, BIFA, Emmy, RTS, Sundance and Cannes Palme d'Or winning and nominated Film and TV productions. Paul is known for his role as Simon in the BBC Two TV film drama ''Criminal'' (1994). ...

as Sean Dwyer *

David Hayman David Hayman (born 9 February 1948) is a Scottish film, television and stage actor and director from Glasgow. His acting credits include '' Sid and Nancy'' (1986), '' Hope and Glory'' (1987), '' Rob Roy'' (1995), '' The Jackal'' (1997), '' Tri ...

as Michael Sanderson *

Steve Evets Steve Evets (born Steven Murphy; 26 July 1959) is an English actor and musician, who found fame for his leading role in the 2009 film ''Looking for Eric''. Personal life Born in Salford, Lancashire, Evets joined the Merchant Navy after leavin ...

as Mr. Gilliam *

John Benfield Jonathan Edmund Fulford "John" Turner (9 November 1951 – 16 June 2020), better known by his stage name John Benfield, was a British character actor. Early life and education Benfield was born in Wanstead, Essex, the son of margarine sales rep ...

as Harry Boothroyd * Caroline Carver as Faye Steadman * Andrew Dunn as DC Fairchild *

Bill Fellows Bill Fellows (born May 1957) is an English actor, known for his roles as Stu Carpenter in ''Coronation Street'' and George Cartrick in ''Ted Lasso''. Life and career Fellows was born in Middlesbrough. His theatre work includes Mickey in the ...

as Ian Norris *

John McArdle John McArdle (born 16 August 1949) is an English actor. He is most notable for playing Billy Corkhill in the soap opera '' Brookside'', with many other smaller appearances in other soaps and dramas. Playing a regular character in ''Brookside ...

as Steve Moran *

as Linda Norris *

Mary Jo Randle Mary Jo Randle (born 26 April 1954) is an English actress from Rochdale, Lancashire working in theatre and television. After a childhood in Littleborough, Randle left home to study for a degree in drama at the University of Birmingham but sw ...

as Mrs. Gilliam * Nick Reding as Adam Gosling * Joanna Rowden as DS Dickson *

Abdul Salis Abdul Wahab Mumuni (born 6 July 1979), known professionally as Abdul Salis, is a British actor. He played paramedic Curtis Cooper on '' Casualty'', the longest-running medical drama broadcast in the UK. Career Television Salis has appeared ...

as Rowan Angelis *

Pip Torrens Philip D'Oyly TorrensThe Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 793 (born 2 June 1960) is an English actor. Torrens portrayed courtier Tommy Lascelles in the Netfl ...

as Richard Neilson * Richard J Scott as Football Team Captain

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=0385723, title=Gifted (2003) ITV television dramas 2003 films 2003 television films 2000s British films British thriller films British thriller television films British English-language television shows