Jodie Comer has told of her heartbreak while preparing for her role in the much-anticipated Channel 4 film Help.
The 28-year-old Liverpool-born BAFTA and Emmy-winning actress – who is best known for her roles in Killing Eve, Doctor Foster, and My Mad Fat Diary – plays a care worker in the Channel 4 film that’s set to hit screens this week.
Jodie plays the role of Sarah – a carer who forms a bond with a man suffering from young-onset Alzheimer’s, played by Stephen Graham, 48.
To prepare for the impactful role, Jodie got the opportunity to hear first-hand about how COVID-19 had devastated a care home in Greater Manchester by spending hours talking to real-life carer Rachel Smith.
She heard about the battle to save lives at EachStep home in Blackley, and admitted she was deeply moved by the stories told.
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Jodie plays the role of Sarah – a carer who forms a bond with a man suffering from young-onset Alzheimer’s / Credit: Channel 4
Rachel, 30, told the Mirror: “I told Jodie how we started losing one patient after another and felt completely helpless as there was no rhyme nor reason to who was getting sick – and we had little idea what would happen next.
“Jodie was mortified. She was really upset about some of the stories we told her.
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“I don’t think she realised how difficult that time was and she got upset through the whole conversation.
“It wasn’t just one thing, she was tearful the whole time.”
Rachel’s experiences and the experiences of other carers were said to have provided much of the detail for the Channel 4 one-off drama, particularly noting that Comer’s character wears bin liners as makeshift PPE, just like real-life carers had to during the pandemic.
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Jodie – who is currently starring alongside Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi in the new comedy film Free Guy – said about her role in Help: “We started shooting literally as we went into the third lockdown and it was so surreal because the story starts before the pandemic and then the pandemic hits, so it was really strange playing out events that were so recent.”
Jodie got the opportunity to hear first-hand about how COVID-19 had devastated a care home in Greater Manchester / Credit: Channel 4
“I’m so proud of that film,” she continued.
“Stephen does these roles all the time, but I felt it was the first I’ve done where it felt bigger than all of us.”
Help will air on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday 16 September, and after on All4.
Featured Image – Channel 4
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Investigation launched after man ‘brutally’ murdered at Peak District stone circle on summer solstice
Emily Sergeant
A murder investigation has been launched after a man’s life was taken in ‘the most brutal way’ following a summer solstice event.
The investigation has been launched after Derbyshire Police were called to reports of a man’s body being found at Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the Peak District at 1:38pm on Monday 22 June, and when emergency services attended the scene, a 26-year-old man was found and pronounced dead.
The man has been named as Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, and police say his family are aware and are being supported by specialist officers.
Police are now searching to understand the circumstances around his death.
A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident, and he remains in custody for questioning.
Investigators say they remain ‘keen’ to hear from anyone who was at the site over the weekend – which was notably the weekend of the summer solstice – as well as anyone with video footage from the event, and dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend.
A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up where members of the public can send information to police directly.
“I am urgently appealing for anyone who attended the summer solstice event over the weekend to please speak to officers as soon as they can,” commented Detective Inspector Tony Owen from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), who is leading the investigation.
“A young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way, so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death and this is why we urgently need to speak to everyone who was at the scene over the weekend.
“You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help but you could hold the key piece of information we need to understand what has happened and help us to get justice for this young man’s family.
“So I would ask, please, that if you attended the event, you contact us urgently so we can build up a picture of the event itself and what has led to this man’s death. I also really urge anyone who captured video footage from the event over the weekend to please come forward.
“You could play a key role in helping us with this murder investigation.”
Featured Image -Wikimedia Commons
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Prestigious Edinburgh TV Festival to move to Manchester for first time in 50 years
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester will become the new host city for the TV Festival from 2027 onwards it was announced today.
For the first time in five decades, following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process – which was launched in 2025 – the prestigious festival is set to move from its home in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to our region from 2027 onwards, beating out other major northern cities like Newcastle in the process.
As part of a UK-wide strategic review into the event’s long-term future, the Festival’s board of directors say the review was undertaken in order to ‘examine how the TV Festival could continue to grow’ amid increasing challenges around accessibility, affordability, and sustainability across the television industry.
Greater Manchester‘s ‘successful and comprehensive’ bid included commitments around affordability, infrastructure, industry partnership, and long-term growth potential.
Plans include holding the Festival in locations in the newly developed St. John’s creative and cultural district.
“Greater Manchester presented a vision for the Festival that combined genuine creative ambition and future-facing energy with practical accessibility and affordability for delegates,” commented Campbell Glennie, who is the CEO of the TV Festival and The TV Foundation.
“This means we can radically reduce the costs associated with attending the Festival as well as the cost of passes.
“The city reflects the expanding ambition of the UK television industry, while still offering the scale, connectivity and unique cultural identity needed for an event of this significance – it gives us the strongest platform to grow the Festival’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said being chosen as TV Festival hosts is ‘brilliant news’ for Greater Manchester, adding: “It speaks to the growth, success and strength of our screen sector in the city region and the strong partnerships and talent we have here.”
The final Edinburgh edition of the TV Festival will take place this August, and dates and further details for the TV Festival in 2027 will be shared later this year.
Emily Sergeant -
13th September 2021 
