Walking The Walk

Tom Hall and John and Kieran Carney discuss the evolution of Bachelors Walk from miniseries to prestige show, how they feel about the rise of the Celtic Cub rom-com, and their own approach to the creative process. By Niall Kitson.

It's the end for Bachelors Walk. After two series, critical acclaim and immense audience popularity, writer/directors Tom Hall and brothers John and Kieran Carney have decided to call it a day on what could well be the first Irish television program to attain cult status. Focusing on the lives and loves of three thirtysomething men living in a house on the street the show takes its title from, Bachelors Walk quickly distinguished itself with its sharp writing, striking Digital photography and location shooting, all set to a jazz soundtrack.

Launched in 2001 with little fanfare, word of mouth quickly spread about the travails of Raymond, Michael and Barry as they tried (and often failed) to find a niche for themselves both personally and financially in the last days of the boom. Initially conceived as a six-part stand alone drama with input from the Irish Film Board, RTÉ and the BBC Bachelors Walk was a funny, daring and even dark slice of life drama that was seemingly gone as soon as it started – until RTÉ commissioned a second series, completed with aid from the Film Board and sponsorship from Vodafone. This time around RTÉ and Vodafone are footing the bill for the last six episodes, which the makers promise will be a more serious affair exploring character and the realities of relationships filial, matrimonial and paternal.

The full article is printed in Film Ireland 95