Scottish ’80s drama ‘Mayflies’ confirms BBC release date – watch the trailer!

The BBC has announced when its upcoming adaptation of Mayflies will air.

The upcoming Scottish drama is adapted from Andrew O’Hagan’s 2020 novel by the producers of The Cry and Elizabeth Is Missing writer Andrea Gibb.

Described as “a memorial to youth’s euphoria and to everyday tragedy,” Mayflies follows the story of two friends from 1986 to the present day.

Watch the trailer here:

The great cast is led by Martin Compston (Line of Duty) and Tony Curran (Doctor Who), alongside Tracy Ifeachor (Showtrial) and Agatha Raisin star Ashley Jensen.

BBC Drama’s Gaynor Holmes has described the two-part drama as “an intimate and devastating portrait of male friendship that manages to be both life-affirming and heartbreaking.”

When’s the release date?

Mayflies will premiere first in Scotland at 10pm on Tuesday 27th December on BBC Scotland.

Episode 1 will then air in the rest of the UK at 9pm on Wednesday 28th December on BBC One.

Both episodes will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

The official synopsis reads: “Ayrshire born Jimmy Collins is a successful writer, living in London, happily married to Iona. He might have left his small-town roots behind, but he hasn’t cut all ties with his past.

“He’s still deeply connected through his thirty-year friendship with the wildly charismatic Tully Dawson. Tully is a teacher in the East End of Glasgow now, fronting his own band for kicks, and living with his lawyer girlfriend Anna.

“These men have nurtured their friendship over the years and over the miles, bonded by a history of youthful glories, a passion for music and a fierce determination not to end up like their fathers. Even the prospect of turning 50 can’t dent their boyish optimism. They’ve worked this whole life thing out. Somehow.

“Till the night Tully phones Jimmy to tell him he needs to see him. Just by the tone of Tully’s voice, Jimmy knows it’s not good news.”

Andrew O’Hagan’s novel Mayflies is available on Amazon.