"Canterbury Tales" (2003) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

11 September 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Canterbury Tales, retold for our times

Plot:

Clever adaptation of Chaucer's Canterbury to a modern setting. In Episode 1, The Miller's Tale, Nick Zakian attempts to seduce a landlord's wife with promises of a glittering singing career

Plot Keywords:

Modernized Version | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Nikki Amuka-Bird	...	Constance Musa (1 episode, 2003)
Rob Brown	...	Old Man (1 episode, 2003)
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Paul (1 episode, 2003)
James Nesbitt	...	Nick Zakian (1 episode, 2003)
Indira Varma	...	Meena (1 episode, 2003)
Julie Walters	...	Beth (1 episode, 2003)
Paddy Fletcher	...	Bowles (1 episode, 2003)
Adam Kotz	...	Adam Constable (1 episode, 2003)
Bill Nighy	...	James (1 episode, 2003)
Usha Patel	...	Misha (1 episode, 2003)
Billy Seymour	...	Lad 1 (1 episode, 2003)
Samantha Whittaker	...	Kitty Norman (1 episode, 2003)
Rakie Ayola	...	Nicky Constable (1 episode, 2003)
Rick Bacon	...	Graham (1 episode, 2003)
Joe Halliday	...	Lad 2 (1 episode, 2003)
Indira Joshi	...	Vena (1 episode, 2003)
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Arty (1 episode, 2003)
Stephen Tallett	...	Security Guard (1 episode, 2003)
Ben Bennett	...	Baz (1 episode, 2003)
Pascale Burgess	...	Jessica (1 episode, 2003)
Leena Dhingra	...	Usha (1 episode, 2003)
Keeley Hawes	...	Emily (1 episode, 2003)
Andrew Lincoln	...	Alan King (1 episode, 2003)
Tom Ludlow	...	Lad 3 (1 episode, 2003)
William Beck	...	Colin (1 episode, 2003)
Kika Markham	...	Leila King (1 episode, 2003)
Jane Nash	...	Annie (1 episode, 2003)
Om Puri	...	Jetender (1 episode, 2003)
John Simm	...	Ace (1 episode, 2003)
Dennis Waterman	...	John Crosby (1 episode, 2003)
Barber Ali	...	Gulati (1 episode, 2003)
Leo Bill	...	Terry (1 episode, 2003)
Samantha Bond	...	Jane Barlow (1 episode, 2003)
Steve Chaplin	...	Biff (1 episode, 2003)
Samuel Cocozza	...	Young Man (1 episode, 2003)
Melissa Lloyd	...	Mandy Briggs (1 episode, 2003)
Robert East	...	Mr. Norman (1 episode, 2003)
Nitin Ganatra	...	Pushpinder (1 episode, 2003)
Joseph Kpobie	...	Mick (1 episode, 2003)
Paul Nicholls	...	Jerome (1 episode, 2003)
Billie Piper	...	Alison Crosby (1 episode, 2003)
Leo Wringer	...	Minister (1 episode, 2003)
Jill Baker	...	Mrs. Norman (1 episode, 2003)
Lindelani Buthelezi	...	Embassy Official (1 episode, 2003)
Kenny Doughty	...	Danny Absolon (1 episode, 2003)
Surendra Kochar	...	Romi (1 episode, 2003)
Bill Paterson	...	Theo (1 episode, 2003)
Emma Pike	...	Kirsty (1 episode, 2003)
Mo Amulundun	...	Minister's Wife (1 episode, 2003)
Buffy Davis	...	Jean McIntosh (1 episode, 2003)
Stewart Harwood	...	Blinkers (1 episode, 2003)
Siobhan Hewlett	...	Karen (1 episode, 2003)
Bhasker Patel	...	Dillip (1 episode, 2003)
Joe Prospero	...	Young Arty (1 episode, 2003)
Mark Bazeley	...	Gareth (1 episode, 2003)
Anjali Mya Chadha	...	Sue (1 episode, 2003)
Hakeem Kae-Kazim	...	Yasouf (1 episode, 2003)
Tonya Kerins	...	Mrs. Healey (1 episode, 2003)
Bill Moody	...	Ernie (1 episode, 2003)
Eddie Nestor	...	Dave Tyler (1 episode, 2003)
Lalita Ahmed	...	Rani (1 episode, 2003)
Michele Austin	...	Trish (1 episode, 2003)
Karen Bryson	...	Oonagh (1 episode, 2003)
Ian Burfield	...	Mr. Healey (1 episode, 2003)
Eileen Essell	...	Mrs Jean Smallwood (1 episode, 2003)
Mpho Osei Tutu	...	Man with Gun (1 episode, 2003)
Sonny Brown	...	Really Young Arty (1 episode, 2003)
Charu Bala Chokshi	...	Archana (1 episode, 2003)
Lorna Gayle	...	Noreen (1 episode, 2003)
Tim Hardy	...	Doctor (1 episode, 2003)
Ralph Riach	...	Mr Malcolm Wickens (1 episode, 2003)
Nomsa Xaba	...	Mother (1 episode, 2003)
Jonathan Chan-Pensley	...	Waiter Clive (1 episode, 2003)
Glenn Hanning	...	Heckler (1 episode, 2003)
Annie Julian	...	The Other Woman (1 episode, 2003)
Archie Panjabi	...	Clare (1 episode, 2003)
Vivienne Ritchie	...	Arty's Mother (1 episode, 2003)
Philip Wright	...	Monitoring Officer 1 (1 episode, 2003)
Dylan Charles	...	Jason (1 episode, 2003)
Kevin Golding	...	Policeman (1 episode, 2003)
Richard Hope	...	Arty's Father (1 episode, 2003)
Sello Motloung	...	Big Man (1 episode, 2003)
Osi Okerafor	...	Monitoring Officer 2 (1 episode, 2003)
Abby Simpson	...	Juice Woman (1 episode, 2003)
Kal Aise	...	Ace's Mate (1 episode, 2003)
Paul Bazely	...	Rajan (1 episode, 2003)
Maxine Evans	...	Mrs. Preston (1 episode, 2003)
Philip Hutchinson	...	Customer (1 episode, 2003)
John Kirk	...	Policeman (1 episode, 2003)
Yule Masiteng	...	Priest (1 episode, 2003)
Stephen Aintree	...	Middle Aged Man (1 episode, 2003)
Philip Goldacre	...	Pub Punter (1 episode, 2003)
Sarah Kendall	...	Policewoman (1 episode, 2003)
James Walmsley	...	Security Guard (1 episode, 2003)
James Woolley	...	Prosecution Barrister (1 episode, 2003)
Janet Behan	...	Woman in Cathedral (1 episode, 2003)
Donald Douglas	...	Judge (1 episode, 2003)
Leila Joyce	...	Girl (1 episode, 2003)
Richard Syms	...	The Vicar (1 episode, 2003)
Michael Miller	...	Security Guard (1 episode, 2003)
Jaymie Pennington	...	Chloe Healey (1 episode, 2003)
Carolyn Pickles	...	Judy (1 episode, 2003)
Jack Chissick	...	Uncle Ronald (1 episode, 2003)
Paul Clayden	...	Him (1 episode, 2003)
Bob Mason	...	Ian (1 episode, 2003)
Lucy Brown	...	Her (1 episode, 2003)
Jade Williams	...	Amy Healey (1 episode, 2003)
Mitesh Soni	...	Waiter (1 episode, 2003)
Mark Hesketh	...	Smart Young Man (1 episode, 2003)
Adriane Denia	...	Script Supervisor (1 episode, 2003)
Ray Donn		(1 episode, 2003)

Series Directed by
Andy DeEmmony		(2 episodes, 2003)
John McKay		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Writing credits
Geoffrey Chaucer		(6 episodes, 2003)

Series Produced by
Kate Bartlett	....	producer (6 episodes, 2003)
Sally Haynes	....	executive producer: BBC (6 episodes, 2003)
Laura Mackie	....	executive producer: BBC (6 episodes, 2003)
Carmel Maloney	....	line producer (6 episodes, 2003)
Franc Roddam	....	executive producer: Ziji Productions (6 episodes, 2003)

Series Original Music by
Kevin Sargent		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Cinematography by
Sean Bobbitt		(2 episodes, 2003)
David Odd		(2 episodes, 2003)
Tim Palmer		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Film Editing by
Andrew McClelland		(2 episodes, 2003)
Anne Sopel		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Casting by
Jill Trevellick		(6 episodes, 2003)

Series Production Design by
Grenville Horner		(2 episodes, 2003)
Candida Otton		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Art Direction by
Andrea Coathupe		(2 episodes, 2003)
Sarah Kane		(2 episodes, 2003)
Madeleine Turnbull		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Ralph Holes		(2 episodes, 2003)
Sammy Sheldon		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Makeup Department
Alison Elliott	....	hair designer / makeup designer (3 episodes, 2003)
Faye De Bremaeker	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 2003)
Sharon Martin	....	hair designer / makeup designer (2 episodes, 2003)
Sarah Trusler	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Production Management
Caroline McManus	....	post-production supervisor (6 episodes, 2003)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Haven	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 2003)
Rachael Speed	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 2003)
Joanna Crow	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2003)
Paul Judges	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2003)
Andrew Mannion	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 2003)
Jack Ravenscroft	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Art Department
David Gray	....	stand-by rigger (6 episodes, 2003)
Gary Moore	....	stand-by carpenter (6 episodes, 2003)
Mike Power	....	property master (6 episodes, 2003)
Charlie Redman	....	stand-by props (6 episodes, 2003)
Mike Rawlings	....	dressing props (4 episodes, 2003)
Andrew Forrest	....	stand-by props (3 episodes, 2003)
Charlie Johnson	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 2003)
Brian Rowlands	....	stand-by props / dressing props (3 episodes, 2003)
Sue Claybyn	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 2003)
Douglas Glen	....	dressing props / stand-by props (2 episodes, 2003)
Adam McCreight	....	dressing props (2 episodes, 2003)
Lucy McDonald	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2003)
Gemma Ryan	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 2003)
Ruth Winn	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Sound Department
Paul Davies	....	supervising sound editor (6 episodes, 2003)
Tim Alban	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 2003)
Simon Brown	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 2003)
Chris Ashworth	....	sound recordist (2 episodes, 2003)
Antonia Bates	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 2003)
Stuart Hilliker	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 2003)
Tommy Staples	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 2003)
Bruce White	....	sound recordist (2 episodes, 2003)
Christian Koefoed	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Jessie Taylor	....	foley editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Nrinder Dhudwar	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 2003)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Guy Hammond	....	electrician (4 episodes, 2003)
Rupert Lloyd-Parry	....	grip (4 episodes, 2003)
James Scott	....	clapper loader (4 episodes, 2003)
Dick Conway	....	electrician (3 episodes, 2003)
Nic Lawson	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 2003)
Ramon Aldamiz	....	camera trainee (2 episodes, 2003)
Steve Anthony	....	electrician (2 episodes, 2003)
Brian Beaumont	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2003)
Enrico Faccio	....	electrician (2 episodes, 2003)
Ian Glenister	....	best boy (2 episodes, 2003)
Andrew Hamilton	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2003)
Susan Jacobson	....	clapper loader (2 episodes, 2003)
Stuart King	....	best boy (2 episodes, 2003)
Richard Potter	....	best boy (2 episodes, 2003)
Edward Rutherford	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 2003)
John Saunders	....	electrician (2 episodes, 2003)
Alex Scott	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2003)
Colin Strachan	....	grip (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natasha Cottier	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 2003)
Johnathon de Domenico	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Laura Ergis	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Charlotte-Rose Kay	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Editorial Department
Alice Greenland	....	post-production coordinator (6 episodes, 2003)
Kevin Horsewood	....	telecine colorist (6 episodes, 2003)
Sarah Brewerton	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2003)
Joanna Garrard	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Music Department
Murray Gold	....	composer: title music (6 episodes, 2003)

Series Transportation Department
Des Cumberbatch	....	stand-by driver (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Other crew
Tim Baker	....	script editor (6 episodes, 2003)
Biola Bankole	....	assistant accountant / assistant production accountant (6 episodes, 2003)
Josie Hadley	....	production accountant (6 episodes, 2003)
Ben Holt	....	assistant coordinator (6 episodes, 2003)
Una Maguire	....	publicist (6 episodes, 2003)
Jane Record	....	picture publicist (6 episodes, 2003)
Gordon Ronald	....	production executive (6 episodes, 2003)
Adele Steward	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2003)
Rupert Bray	....	location manager (3 episodes, 2003)
Jethro Ensor	....	assistant location manager (3 episodes, 2003)
Rachael Haston	....	floor runner (3 episodes, 2003)
Anastasia Timeneys	....	production secretary (3 episodes, 2003)
Tony Clarkson	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2003)
James Crawley	....	assistant location manager (2 episodes, 2003)
Judy Gayton	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Emily Graham	....	floor runner (2 episodes, 2003)
Carley Lane	....	floor runner (2 episodes, 2003)
Janice Schumm	....	assistant location manager / script supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Emma Thomas	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Sarah Coombs	....	production runner (unknown episodes)
Alice Hadley	....	production runner (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Ziji Productions (in association with)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2003) (UK) (TV) (BBC 1)

Other Companies

• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Clarity Post Production Sound  sound post-production
• Lip Sync Post  titles
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting
• Mayflower Recording  ADR recording

Runtime:

349 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Ziji Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Canterbury Tales" (1998)

"Miller's Tale" the best

All the adaptations of the tales in this series are good, but for me it was the Miller's Tale that was the best. A saucy, sexy story about a smooth-talking conman who breezes into town one day and turns everyone's lives upside down. James Nesbitt positively sizzles in this sexy role as the intelligent and charismatic Nick Zakian who wastes no time at all in setting about seducing the beautiful Alison Crosby (Billie Piper). Nesbitt turns in an utterly convincing performance as Nick, a man who'll stop at nothing and is prepared to stoop to any level to get what he wants - the scene where he corners Alison in the hall or the scene where he stalks across the village square towards Alison with such determination in his eyes when he knows her husband is out of the way for an hour, is enough to drive any woman wild, believe me!

What the audience are supposed to construe from this tale of love, lust, sex, jealousy, deceit and ultimate betrayal is certainly open to debate. There are some who are prepared to claim that Nick is the devil incarnate or the personification of fate in this story. However, I for one refuse to believe that the character of Nick is some kind of tempting devil or fate. Rather that he is an opportunist, a conman, slippery and deceitful.

Yet, watching the Miller's Tale you can't help finding yourself empathising not with poor old John, but with Nick - virtually rooting for him, considering the effort that he is going to in order to secure a few precious minutes alone with Alison.

A sexy, sleazy, bawdy story that is much in keeping with the original tale. I loved it!