Miliband of Brothers
Encyclopedia
Miliband of Brothers is a 2010 satirical docu-drama following the lives and careers of British politicians David Miliband
and Ed Miliband
, who at the time were both contesting the 2010 Labour leadership contest
. Written by David Quantick
, the programme was first shown on More4
. It was produced by the same production team as the similar 2009 documentary When Boris Met Dave
.
The documentary charted the Miliband brothers' paths into politics intersperced with interviews from Tony Benn
, Neil Kinnock
and Oona King
amongst friends and teachers, looking into how they both ended up with jobs in the cabinets of Tony Blair
and Gordon Brown
. To add to the familial similarity, David Miliband was played by Henry Lloyd-Hughes
and Ed by his brother Ben Lloyd-Hughes. The title, a pun on the phrase "Band of Brothers" was inspired by a comment by Caitlin Moran
's "Celebrity Watch" column.
Sam Wollaston, reviewing the production in The Guardian wrote: "There are a few funny moments (I quite liked the Top Trumps
– Leon Trotsky, revolutionary status: 82 points). Mostly it's just very hammy and very silly, as the Tory one was."
David Miliband
David Wright Miliband is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for South Shields since 2001, and was the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He is the elder son of the late Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband...
and Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
, who at the time were both contesting the 2010 Labour leadership contest
Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2010
The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered by a general election which resulted in a hung parliament. On 10 May, Gordon Brown resigned as Leader of the Labour Party. The following day, he stepped down as Prime Minister....
. Written by David Quantick
David Quantick
David Quantick is a freelance journalist, writer and critic who specialises in music and comedy.-Career history:...
, the programme was first shown on More4
More4
More4 is a digital television channel, run by British broadcaster Channel 4, that launched on 10 October 2005. It is carried on Freeview, on satellite broadcasters Freesat and Sky, UK IPTV broadcaster TalkTalk TV and on UK cable network Virgin Media and in the Republic of Ireland cable networks...
. It was produced by the same production team as the similar 2009 documentary When Boris Met Dave
When Boris Met Dave
When Boris Met Dave is a 2009 docu-drama which investigates the shared past of David Cameron and Boris Johnson who, at the time of broadcast, were two of Britain's most influential Conservative Party politicians – Cameron as Tory leader and Johnson as Mayor of London...
.
The documentary charted the Miliband brothers' paths into politics intersperced with interviews from Tony Benn
Tony Benn
Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
, Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
and Oona King
Oona King
Oona Tamsyn King, Baroness King of Bow is a Baroness and Member of the House of Lords, and former Chief Diversity Officer of Channel 4. She previously had served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow from 1997 until 2005, when she was defeated by Respect candidate George...
amongst friends and teachers, looking into how they both ended up with jobs in the cabinets of Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. To add to the familial similarity, David Miliband was played by Henry Lloyd-Hughes
Henry Lloyd-Hughes
Henry Lloyd-Hughes is an English actor who is best known for playing school bully Mark Donovan in the E4 comedy The Inbetweeners, as well as a minor role as Roger Davies in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.He was educated at St Paul's School, London...
and Ed by his brother Ben Lloyd-Hughes. The title, a pun on the phrase "Band of Brothers" was inspired by a comment by Caitlin Moran
Caitlin Moran
Caitlin Moran is a British broadcaster, TV critic and columnist at The Times, where she writes three columns a week: one for the Saturday Magazine, a TV review column, and the satirical Friday column "Celebrity Watch"...
's "Celebrity Watch" column.
Sam Wollaston, reviewing the production in The Guardian wrote: "There are a few funny moments (I quite liked the Top Trumps
Top Trumps
Top Trumps is a card game. Each card contains a list of numerical data, and the aim of the game is to compare these values in order to try to trump and win an opponent's card...
– Leon Trotsky, revolutionary status: 82 points). Mostly it's just very hammy and very silly, as the Tory one was."
Cast
- Samantha MortonSamantha MortonSamantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
as the Narrator (voice) - Henry Lloyd-HughesHenry Lloyd-HughesHenry Lloyd-Hughes is an English actor who is best known for playing school bully Mark Donovan in the E4 comedy The Inbetweeners, as well as a minor role as Roger Davies in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.He was educated at St Paul's School, London...
as David Miliband - Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Ed Miliband
- Katherine Kanter as Marion Miliband
- Michael Bertenshaw as Ralph Miliband
- Harrison Edwards as Young David Miliband
- Jem Savin as Young Ed Miliband
- Lucy Manning as Herself
- Tom ButcherTom Butcher-Television:He is well known for playing PC Steve Loxton in The Bill from 1990 to 1997, Dr Marc Elliott in Doctors, Tim Gaskill in Casualty...
as Political Aide - Mark PerryMark PerryMark Perry may refer to:* Mark Perry , college wrestler at the University of Iowa* Mark Perry , American author* Mark Perry , professor at the University of Michigan...
as Ralph's Friend - Gareth Aled as Activist
- Lara GoodisonLara GoodisonLara Goodison is an English actress.Goodison is from Oxshott, Surrey, and was educated at St Teresa's School. She first gained public attention when she became a contestant on Shipwrecked in 2008, aged 18. During this she was placed 18th by Nuts in their list of the 50 Sexiest Reality TV Babes in...
as Sloane Student
Other Casts
- Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
as Himself - Family friend - Julian Birkett as David's English teacher
- Bill Bush as Family friend / Former Head of Research Downing Street
- Jeremy CorbynJeremy CorbynJeremy Bernard Corbyn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Islington North since 1983.-Early and personal life:...
as Family friend (as Jeremy Corbyn MP) - Marko Attila HoareMarko Attila HoareMarko Attila Hoare is a British historian of the former Yugoslavia who also writes about the current affairs of Southeast Europe, especially the Balkans including Turkey and the Caucasus.-Biography:...
as Ed's childhood friend - Oona KingOona KingOona Tamsyn King, Baroness King of Bow is a Baroness and Member of the House of Lords, and former Chief Diversity Officer of Channel 4. She previously had served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow from 1997 until 2005, when she was defeated by Respect candidate George...
as Haverstock pupil 1979-86 / Former Labour MP - Neil KinnockNeil KinnockNeil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
as Himself - Labour leader 1983-92 (as Lord Kinnock) - Lance PriceLance PriceLance Price is a British writer, journalist and political commentator. He was a journalist for the BBC from 1981 to 1998, then became special advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair. In 2011, Price founded The Kaleidoscope Trust, an LGBT rights organisation. The Trust was launched in September 2011...
as Former Deputy Dir of Communications, Downing Street - Andrew RawnsleyAndrew RawnsleyAndrew Nicholas James Rawnsley is a British political journalist, notably for The Observer, and broadcaster.-Early life:...
as Himself - Political commentator - Marc StearsMarc StearsMarc Stears is a British political thinker and Professor of Political Theory and Fellow of University College, Oxford. His published works have focussed mainly on the development of progressive political movements in the UK and the USA...
as Himself - Ed's university friend - David UpshalDavid UpshalDavid Upshal is an Executive Producer for Lion Television, one of Britain's largest independent television companies.His work includes Victorian Farm, Victorian Pharmacy , Edwardian Farm , Tales from the Green Valley , The True Face of War , Days That Shook The World , Gordon Brown's Missing...
as Himself - David's university friend - Hilary WainwrightHilary WainwrightHilary Wainwright is a British socialist and feminist, best known for being editor of Red Pepper magazine.-Personal life:Hilary Wainwright's father was the Liberal MP Richard Wainwright, and her brother, Martin, is the Northern Editor of The Guardian, to which she occasionally contributes.She...
as Family friend
External links
- Miliband of Brothers at Channel4.com