/cGzByVmqh5VgxM1JvL6Cs4twp9H.jpg
Drama

Floodlights

-

The powerful and inspiring story of Andy Woodward, one of the first footballers to come forward with allegations of sexual abuse in the national game. After being abused by football scout paedophile Barry Bennell.

Release Date : 2022-05-17

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Expectation EntertainmentBBC

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Gerard Kearns

Character Name : Andrew Woodward

Original Name : Gerard Kearns

Gender : Male

Jonas Armstrong

Character Name : Barry Bennell

Original Name : Jonas Armstrong

Gender : Male

Morven Christie

Character Name : Jean Woodward

Original Name : Morven Christie

Gender : Female

Steve Edge

Character Name : Terry Woodward

Original Name : Steve Edge

Gender : Male

Max Fletcher

Character Name : Andrew Woodward (Young)

Original Name : Max Fletcher

Gender : Male

Neil Bell

Character Name : DS Haleford

Original Name : Neil Bell

Gender : Male

Antony Byrne

Character Name : Neil Warnock

Original Name : Antony Byrne

Gender : Male

Avin Shah

Character Name : Ash Stephenson

Original Name : Avin Shah

Gender : Male

Mohammad Sakhi

Character Name : Ash Stephenson (Young)

Original Name : Mohammad Sakhi

Gender : Male

Mark Holgate

Character Name : DC Blakefield

Original Name : Mark Holgate

Gender : Male

Jessica Baglow

Character Name : DC Grace

Original Name : Jessica Baglow

Gender : Female

Lauren O'Rourke

Character Name : DI Arrowcroft

Original Name : Lauren O'Rourke

Gender : Female

Matthew Hawksley

Character Name : DS Denmyre

Original Name : Matthew Hawksley

Gender : Male

Krissi Bohn

Character Name : DI Bakewell

Original Name : Krissi Bohn

Gender : Female

Sean Croke

Character Name : Danny Taylor

Original Name : Sean Croke

Gender : Male

Benjamin Oyenuga

Character Name : Martin Sanusi

Original Name : Benjamin Oyenuga

Gender : Male

Lawton Dickens

Character Name : Batzy

Original Name : Lawton Dickens

Gender : Male

Frankie Friend

Character Name : Jobbo

Original Name : Frankie Friend

Gender : Male

Robert Ashcroft

Character Name : Club Official

Original Name : Robert Ashcroft

Gender : Male

David Loy

Character Name : Physio

Original Name : David Loy

Gender : Male

Akib Ahmed

Character Name : Radio Journalist

Original Name : Akib Ahmed

Gender : Male

Chris Anderson

Character Name : Chris

Original Name : Chris Anderson

Gender : Male

Stephen McKay

Character Name : Football Supporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Stephen McKay

Gender : Male

Craig Shorrock

Character Name : Prisoner #6643 (uncredited)

Original Name : Craig Shorrock

Gender : Male

David Vickers

Character Name : Pub passer-by (uncredited)

Original Name : David Vickers

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-05-29

This is quite an harrowing story about how a real-life football coach - portrayed well here by Jonas Armstrong - managed to dupe just about everyone for years that he was a reputable and upstanding individual whilst at the same time, was routinely abusing the trust of those around him to prey on the younger boys who thought he offered them a path to escape the drudgery of their day-to-day lives. On the face of it, it is quite astonishing that he got away with it for so long; but this man was clever. Bennell played upon the aspirations of parents and children alike. Not just their desires for fame and success, but for more ordinary things like inclusion, affection, being part of a team. This story focusses on the young Andy Woodward, whom Bennell cleverly manoeuvred into his bed with promises that a successful career could stop his mum from having to work in the local chip shop. There is nothing graphic here - and that makes the efforts more potent. His manipulation was psychological and he even comes out with the immortal line "you didn't say no!" which though possibly true, is anything but the point. No amount of rules and regulation can ever prevent clever people like this from prevailing simply because it is the honest trust and integrity that exists in most of us that allows people that perpetrate this predatory behaviour to thrive. If we can't see any flaws, then we don't know to look for them - and these young lads were the unwilling victims not of indifference, but of cleverness and shame! The drama is measured, the dialogue poignant and the performances convincing - especially towards the end. This is well worth a watch.