James Norton’s ‘underrated’ Northern Irish BBC drama Nowhere Special is the perfect weeknight watch

James Norton is one of the UK’s most versatile actors, having played the formidable Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, the lovable priest in Grantchester and even Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson in King & Conqueror.

One of his most underrated roles, which you may not know about, came in 2020 with Nowhere Special, directed by Uberto Pasolini (Still Life). In the film, James plays John, a 35-year-old single father faced with an impossible decision that no parent would ever want to make.

Set in Northern Ireland and inspired by a true story, John receives a terminal cancer diagnosis and is told he has only a few months to live. With his four-year-old son Michael to care for, he is confronted with “the biggest decision of [his] life” as he makes arrangements for his son’s future after his death.

Originally premiering in 2020, the film features a wealth of Irish and Northern Irish talent, including Daniel Lamont, Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls), Róisín Gallagher (How to Get to Heaven from Belfast) and Valene Kane (Blue Lights). Intrigued? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Nowhere Special, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.

What to expect from Nowhere Special

The film centres around John, a window cleaner who has raised his four-year-old son, Michael, alone ever since Michael’s mother left abruptly after his birth. 

The synopsis reads: “Their life is a simple one, made up of universal daily rituals, a life of complete dedication and innocent love that reveals the strength of their relationship. 

“But John only has a few months to live. Since he has no family to turn to, he will spend the days left to him looking for a new and perfect one to adopt Michael, trying to protect his child from the terrible reality.”

Who stars in Nowhere Special?

James Norton (Happy Valley) and newcomer Daniel Lamont lead the drama as father and son, John and Michael. Meanwhile, Eileen O’Higgins (Brooklyn) plays Shona, Valerie O’Connor (Red Rock) is Ella and Valene Kane (Blue Lights) plays Celia. 

Other names include Keith McErlean (Say Nothing) as Phillip, Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) as Pam and Chris Corrigan (The Return) as Gerry. Rounding out the cast are Roisin Gallagher (How to Get to Heaven from Belfast) as Judy, Niamh McGrady (The Fall) as Lorraine and Caolan Byrne (The Miniaturist) as Trevor. 

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What have viewers said about Nowhere Special?

While relatively under the radar, Nowhere Special proved a hit with audiences and holds a perfect 100 per cent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a 93 per cent audience rating.

In its review, Variety wrote: “Norton and Pasolini both prove they know how to tap into a child performer’s capabilities with care and compassion. That care is what makes Nowhere Special a refreshing tearjerker, one that doesn’t manipulate, but lets audiences cry on their own terms when John finally makes the only right choice.”

© Alamy Stock Photo

Meanwhile, Empire penned: “Intelligently scripted (save one misstep), beautifully played and perfectly judged tonally, it’s small scale but packs a huge punch,” while The Guardian added: “In spite of myself, I invested totally in Norton’s spine-tingling, intimate performance; and, in spite of myself, the end had me in floods of tears.”

Nowhere Special is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.