Underbelly star to play Cliffy in ABC telemovie
Kevin Harrington, star of Underbelly, The Dish and Seachange has been selected to play Cliff Young in telemovie Cliffy, about the farmer who became a household name when he ran from Sydney to Melbourne.
The announcement:
Kevin Harrington, star of Underbelly, The Dish and Seachange, will don the gumboots to play the role of legendary Australian ultra-marathon runner, Cliff Young, in the highly-anticipated ABC1 telemovie Cliffy, which starts filming Monday April 16 in regional Victoria.
“It’s a great honour to be given the opportunity to celebrate the achievements and the character of such an extraordinary Australian”, said Kevin Harrington.
“I’ve lost 11 kilos and I’m working on his voice. Mind you, the time is fast approaching to stop talking the talk, and start shuffling the shuffle. Jeez, I hope I don’t bugger it up!”
Producer Nigel Odell said: “The creative team, including director Dean Murphy, writer Robert B. Taylor and I, have learnt a lot about Cliff Young through research and discussion with his brother Sid, and other family and friends, and we realised Kevin would be perfect for the role as soon as we met him.”
“Kevin has many of the same personal qualities as Cliff and he’s been working extremely hard in preparing for the part. We are delighted to be working with an actor of Kevin’s calibre, and we look forward to capturing the memory and legacy of the great Cliff Young.”
Also joining the cast for the famous Sydney to Melbourne shuffle is Roy Billing (Jack Irish, Underbelly, Rake), who will play Cliffy’s unconventional trainer and masseur, Wally. Further casting announcements are to come in the near future.
Set across the early eighties, Cliffy the telemovie will trace the emergence of Australia’s most unlikely sporting hero: the 61 year old potato farmer who grabbed world headlines by winning the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne ultra-marathon in 1983.
ABC TV’s Head of Fiction, Carole Sklan said “The response to the news we were making the telemovie has been overwhelming. We are absolutely thrilled with the groundswell of goodwill and support the project is receiving. It’s really struck a chord with so many people who share our affection and admiration for Cliffy.”
Cliffy is a Clock End Films production for ABC1; financed with the support of Film Victoria and ABC Commercial.
Source: ABC press release
