WILD AT HEART – Series 7
JILL HALFPENNY JOINS THE CAST
SHOOTING IN SOUTH AFRICA
ITV and Company Pictures are delighted to announce JILL HALFPENNY (Waterloo Road, EastEnders) is joining the cast of the hugely popular Wild at Heart as Ed Lynch’s estranged ex wife.
Fiona Lynch (Halfpenny) arrives at Leopard’s Den, a lost and lonely character and we quickly discover that she’s the reason her husband, Ed (Robert Bathurst) is as sour, grumpy and emotionally in denial as he is! Fiona is a tremendous flirt and she’s also used to getting her own way, she left Ed for a younger model (which is something he’s unable to forgive her for) but now she’s intent on winning Ed back.
Fiona brings disharmony and conflict to Leopard’s Den and shakes up all the character dynamics. However the one thing the family all agree on is she brings real energy and life into their lives, she's funny and inventive, and the only person who has ever been able to drink Du Plessis under the table!
Extremely intelligent and sharp witted, Fiona has a medical background and proves more than a match for Danny and Ed. She is capable and independent, and her skills prove invaluable but despite all her bravado she’s terrified of being alone. Hurt and humiliated from her disastrous affair, there's more to her than meets the eye and she may discover that what she wants isn’t exactly what she needs. In short, she’s a broken character seeking redemption and a new start but can Ed ever forgive her or is she destined for more heartbreak?
Jill commented: "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the cast of Wild at Heart in Africa. Fiona Lynch is certainly a fun and feisty character and will no doubt cause quite a few headaches for Ed and Danny, I can't wait!”
The ten hour-long episodes from Company Pictures films for six months on location at Glen Afric on the borders of Gauteng Province and North West Province.
Since its launch in 2006 Wild at Heart has remained in ITV1’s top four dramas. And more notably Wild at Heart has regularly pulled in audiences of over 8 million to ITV1 and it has never had an episode watched by fewer than 7 million viewers.
Stephen Tompkinson co-executive produces Wild at Heart with executive producers Charles Pattinson, John Griffin, George Faber and Ashley Pharoah. Wild at Heart is produced in South Africa by Adam Friedlander, and series produced in the UK by Charlie Hampton.
Wild at Heart has been recommissioned by ITV’s Drama commissioning team Laura Mackie, Sally Haynes and Steve November.
Wild at Heart writers include Ashley Pharoah, Jack Williams and Chris Murray. The lead Director will be Maurice Phillips.
