Currently showing on BBC3 - Being Human - a pilot for a prospective new supernatural drama. The premise:

Being Human – just a regular flatshare… for a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost

Being Human explores what it's like trying to find where you fit into the grand scheme of things when you live with an unusual affliction Mitchell (Flanagan) and George (Tovey) are two twenty-something lads who, like any of their peers, would love to hit the town, pull girls and spend evenings down the pub. Mitchell is a hospital cleaner, good looking, laid back and a hit with the ladies. Oh, and he's a blood sucking vampire. Mitchell's friend George works in the same hospital as a porter. He's an awkward but loveable geek who was befriended by Mitchell two years ago. George was heartbroken after he had to move away from the love of his life; he had to leave before she discovered that at every full moon, he sprouts a snout, grows a very hairy back and transforms into a werewolf.

It's actually quite good. It has a certain British style that saves it from being a routine "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" knock-off. And of course it's an adult-drama, in the spirit of Torchwood. The Beeb are pushing it quite hard, so it's on about five times over the next week, and it's also available on "Catch Up TV" if you have a Virgin Media cable service.

Much of the programme was filmed in Bristol. Look carefully and you'll spot Christmas Steps, The Shakespeare Pub and bits of Totterdown and possibly Bedminster. The scenes half-way through the pilot (well, for the moment it's a one-off drama) representing the fictional Golden Dragon restaurant are a combination of scenes shot in Wong's (formerly Harvey's), and the Mandrake Club.

If you look carefully, you will see a talented supporting artiste, Mr David Barlow esq, in the role of "Old Vampire". My Dad is a paid-up member of Equity, and has previously intepreted the classic roles of "Old Man", "Old Man in Crowd", "Old Man reading newspaper", "Distinguished Elderly Gentleman", "Old Patient in Chair", "Old Patient on Trolley", "Senior Paramedic" and of course "Old Vampire".

Old Man Vampire 1

That's him in the middle. Here's another view:

Old Man Vampire 2

Any casting agents out there - if you're looking for an experienced thespian who can - just with his very presence - bring to the screen an air of wisdom and a visual expression of the passing years, then give Mad Dog Casting a call.

 

One slight critique - why on earth did the BBC hire people to play young goths when filming near Park Street? You could throw a stone and hit half a dozen candidates willing to work for free. "Taking Goths to Bristol" is the new "Bringing Coal to Newcastle".