Swansea, Wales, 1994. Years before the little blue pill changed the lives for millions across the globe, a group of ordinary middle-aged men underwent the extraordinary, taking part in one of the first clinical trials for an unknown drug which later became Viagra.
Meurig, Colin, Tommy, Peetham ‘Pete’, and Eddie all have one thing in common—impotency. It’s affecting them in every aspect of their lives, as they are drowning in shame and silence. Left feeling as failures, questioning their manhood, and having attempted their own fixes to no avail, the group is presented with a lifeline: a place on a trial for an unknown drug thought to cure impotence, led by the ambitious Dr. Pearce with support from clinical nurse Moira. As each man grapples with their own insecurities and hides the truth from their loved ones—including their wives and partners who are also fighting their own battles—will this little pill be able to bring back their spark?
Mixing drama with humour, Men Up is a poignant and beautiful story in which a group of unassuming men rise to the challenge to reclaim their sex lives, becoming global pioneers in the process.
Men Up’s stellar cast includes Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones, Misfits, Riviera) as Meurig, Steffan Rhodri (House of the Dragon, Temple) as Colin, Paul Rhys (A Discovery of Witches, Rellick) as Tommy, Phaldut Sharma (Sherwood, Romantic Getaway) as Peethan ‘Pete’, and Mark Lewis Jones (Gangs of London, The Phantom of the Open) as Eddie. Also joining the ensemble cast are Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk, The Pact), Alexandra Roach (Killing Eve, Sanditon, No Offence), Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey, Dolittle), Alexandria Riley (The Pembrokeshire Murders, The Pact), Nathan Sussex (It’s A Sin, Hollyoaks), Lisa Palfrey (Sex Education, COBRA), Dyfan Dwyfor (A Very English Scandal, Requiem), and Katy Wix (Ghosts, Stath Lets Flats).
Men Up is written by Matthew Barry (Industry, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Death in Paradise), directed by Ashley Way (White Lines, Stella, Merlin), and produced by Karen Lewis (The Salisbury Poisonings, Years and Years, Happy Valley). The executive producers are Nicola Shindler (Happy Valley,, It’s A Sin, Years and YEars) and Davina Earl (Safe, Come Home) for Quay Street Productions, Rachel Evans (35 Diwrnod/35 Days, How This Blind Girl…) for BOOM, Matthew Barry and Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Torchwood, It’s A Sin), and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC.
