First UK air date: 7 September 2000 (ITV)
Robson Green takes on his most challenging role as a top-flight athlete, Richard Thomas, aspiring to the Olympic Games and whose life is shattered after a tragic car accident leaves him blinded.
His wife, Annie, gives up her teaching job so she can be at home to help him, but Richard withdraws into anger and bitterness.
Communication breaks down and Richard begins to take his anger out on Annie and their ten year old son, Tim. Social worker, Derek, and mobility officer, Rona, are ill equipped to help them.
Money is tight and local journalist, Gordon Mace, sees that there is a story in Richard’s situation and suggests selling the story, but Richard rejects the idea – he’s angry and desperate.
Richard suddenly realises his life is still worth living during quality time with Tim in the park and he decides to run again – determined to race in the Paralympics and aided by his friend and former coach Clive.
Richard and Clive begin an arduous training programme, with Clive the weaker runner, struggling all the way. Whilst running is a turning point for Richard, it isn’t for Annie, who still feels completely rejected by Richard.
Desperately lonely, Annie turns to Clive for comfort and they begin an affair.
Unbeknown to Annie and Clive, Gordon Mace has spotted them meeting and he grasps the opportunity to work on a new story of his own – this time without the help of Richard or Annie. The affair however is short-lived, with Annie realising that she’s using Clive.
The Olympic ‘Stadium Australia’ provides the backdrop for a tense finale when Annie bumps into Gordon Mace and finally discovers, to her horror, that he has a series of photos recording her affair with Clive.
The national tabloids are interested in the story – but only if Richard wins the race. Annie feels she has no choice but to confess to Richard.
Only hours before the 800 metres Olympic final, Annie tells her husband the terrible secret. Richard is devastated and left with two choices – he can run with the friend who betrayed him or turn his back on his Olympic dream.
The next morning Clive waits at the stadium, unsure whether Richard will turn up as he’s already late. Richard finally appears at the last moment, determined to run, but barely acknowledging Clive.
He pushes Clive to the very limit of his endurance in the race, challenging him to fail. Clive doesn’t however, and when the race appears lost, he uses his last remaining strength to push Richard clear and releasing the guiding leash.
Clive collapses on the track as Richard wins the race. The crowd is in uproar – the press already gathering in a pack.
Richard pushes past them and calls out for Annie before receiving his coveted gold medal. Richard, Clive and Annie then face the press together…
“The conflicting emotions suffered by Richard are immeasurable, but he’s a hero and I like heroes.
He’s a complex character and it’s one of the most challenging parts I’ve ever played, both emotionally and physically. “
– Robson Green
Programme Information
Cast
- Robson Green – Richard Thomas
- Imogen Stubbs – Annie Thomas
- Mark Womack – Clive Rouse
- Jonathan Ferguson – Tim Thomas
- Kaye Wragg – Rona Anderson
- Eric Deacon – Derek Lane
- Ken Bradshaw – Gordon Mace
- Margery Bone – Debbie
- David Prosho – Mike Waite
- Martin Crocker – Eric Byron
- Anthony Schaeffer – Mr Stanley
- Janine Birkett – Nursing Sister
- Alastair Imrie – Alan Simms
- Kim Tserkezie – Paula Simms
- Bill Riley – George
- Elizabeth Bowie – Hotel Receptionist
- Paul Jacuson James – Ambulanceman
- Phil Matthews – Youth
Production
- Writer – Eric Deacon
- Producer – Peter Norris
- Executive Producer – Carolyn Reynolds & Sandra Jobling
- Director – Richard Standeven
Blind Ambition, a Coastal and Tyne Tees Television co-production, is a two hour drama which was originally screened primetime in the UK on 7 September 2000. It achieved a 33.46% share of the viewing audience with 6.90 million viewers.
Production Commentary
The idea for Blind Ambition,” says writer Eric Deacon, “Came from seeing a blind runner with his guide on the news and I was immediately struck by such a powerful image. The intensity of their relationship is incredible – almost like a marriage. I then worked on a story to dramatise that image and came up with a love affair between three people where trust is everything.”
Filmed on location in Sydney, Australia and in Newcastle and Leeds, Blind Ambition is produced by Peter Norris; “One of the biggest challenges of the whole production was the logistics of Australia because it was an unknown trip. Once we arrived, we only had four days access to the Olympic Stadium and it was very limiting with all the restrictions that were placed upon us. I got very involved when we had to re-create the Olympics as I’ve been an athlete and I know a bit about the procedure and what people go through at these events. Casting, however, was no problem – Robson was ideal for the part of Richard.
“Initially there isn’t a lot of sympathy for Richard because his response to his blindness is to become a self-centred, egotistical and fairly unpleasant person. We care about him though because Robson Green is playing him and he brings familiarity and sympathy to the viewer. Robson can actually walk the dividing line between overplaying the selfishness whilst retaining the sympathy for his blindness and I think he walks that line brilliantly.”
Director, Richard Standeven, echoes Peter’s sentiments; “Blind Ambition proves what a fine actor Robson is and shows his wide range of acting abilities. The story has all the ingredients that makes great drama – jealousy, pain, suffering and sacrifice – and the three people involved do terrible things to each other yet they still love each other. What is remarkable is that you still like them at the end of the film and that’s a very hard thing to achieve after all that’s happened.”
Peter Norris sums up the general feeling of all those involved in the filming; “You can’t make something like this without learning about the nature of the disability you are dramatising. Because of the research we undertook, we actually met up with and used blind actors, extras and consultants who enriched the lives of all those around them. It’s one thing to dramatise a disability, but it’s another to see and experience what these people are going through.”
Blind Ambition is directly inspired by the own story of athlete Bob Matthews, who broke 22 world records despite the gradual loss of his eyesight, and was a seven-time Paralympic gold medallist. The blind runner helped the actor in his research and sports training.
Before filming, Robson (36 at the time) underwent intensive training to play a perfectly believable 800-meter runner.
A hell of a challenge – the most difficult he has ever had to face! By running four hours a day, five days a week, for five months, Robson managed to improve his own record on the distance from 3 minutes to 2 minutes 27 seconds, which is really good!
Indeed, Robson was a sprinter in his youth. He started at 13 and continued to race for five years in the North East of England and Scotland. As teenagers, Robson and his brother David used to run on the athletics tracks where “people would put bets on us like greyhounds!”
Robson followed a program worthy of an Olympian, spending hours on the slopes and in the gyms. His training was so difficult and intense that sometimes he was sick on the track. He had to take a week off because of very severe tendonitis and constant pain in his legs.
At one point, it was impossible for him to run and Robson experienced a real psychological problem by fearing that he would no longer be able to make the film.
But thanks to his coach, he worked on body toning and endurance, and then was able to continue. Pushing to the limits of his resistance also gave him an “incredible feeling of power.”
Robson lost weight by following a strict fat-free diet, a “nightmare” according to him, to be even leaner, drier and more muscular. In the end, all his efforts paid off. Robson has gained a champion’s physique and admits that after all this work: “I’ve never felt so good and so fit. “
Both Robson Green and Mark Womack underwent extensive coaching by athletes from British Blind Sport (BBS), the registered charity and co-ordinating body of sport for the blind and partially sighted in the UK. The objective of BBS is to encourage blind and partially sighted people of all ages to participate in sports at all levels, ranging from ‘grassroots’ to Paralympic representation.
Blind athlete Bob Matthews MBE says; “One of the hardest things to do when you’re running blind is to synchronize your running with your guide. Robson and Mark seemed very comfortable with each other – very relaxed – and the more relaxed you are the faster you run,”.
Robson Green has nothing but praise for the blind athletes involved in the production. Says Robson; “I have been coached by some wonderful athletes and I think their fitness and dedication is inspirational. With their help, we’ve managed to make the running look extremely realistic and I’m very pleased with the results.”
Further research was undertaken at the RNIB Manor House, Britain’s leading provider of residential and non-residential assessment and rehabilitation for blind and partially sighted people and some filming took place at The Shire View Centre for Blind and Partially Sighted People in Leeds.
The experienced, professional staff at the centre helped Yorkshire/ Tyne Tees TV’s researchers and actors to understand both the realities faced by blind and partially sighted people and the technology and processes used by the workers who help rehabilitate them.
Explains Kaye Wragg, who plays mobility officer Rona; “I spent a day at Shire View and talked to the staff and met some of the blind and partially sighted people. They gave me general information and tips on how they work and I was amazed at their modern approach – they really encourage independence and that’s such a good thing.”
Did you know?
Locations for filming included:
- Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia
- Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead
- Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields
- Knott’s Flats, Tynemouth
- The Leah’s National Trust land, South Shields
- Westgate Hill Primary School, Newcastle
- St Cuthbert’s School, Gretna Road, Newcastle
- Trinity Square Car Park, Gateshead (as used in Get Carter)
- Tyne Bridge, Newcastle
Updates
6 September 2000
Robson loves a good story and that’s what appealed to him when he first read the script for Blind Ambition. Says Robson; “I liked the pictures that the story conjured up. It’s triumph over adversity. There’s a universal theme to the story and I really think people will care for all of the characters in Blind Ambition and that’s what makes you follow the story…”
To read the full interview then simply click below. We didn’t edit it to fit into our own editorial like all the magazines out there – this is uncut – and you can read it here first!
17 August 2000 – Official News
We’ve just been informed that Blind Ambition will be shown on the ITV network on Thursday 7 September at 9.05pm. It’s not definite at this stage as re-scheduling can take place, but it a pretty safe bet!
5 August 2000
“I had to put pen to paper to say a big thank you to Mr. Robson Green for making Tuesday, August 2 such a special day.
Although I was only an extra for the day in Newcastle while Mr. Green is making his latest film there, he treated his fans with kindness and patience in between takes for people to be photographed with him and signing autographs. Many stars don’t even acknowledge the extras let alone talk to them and as far as feeding us, many a time I have done an 18 hour day with only a sandwich and a bag of crisps to keep me going. Not so in Mr. Green’s case with everything on the menu from salmon to salad from chicken legs to pizza and constant hot tea and coffee – it made a welcome change to be treat like a human being for a day instead of a herd of cattle.
Even my girlfriend Joan, who is a rather quiet person and was afraid of taking any photographs on set, was asked if she would like her photograph taken with him. Many big stars should take a leaf out of Robson Green’s book who treats everyone as an equal who he meets even though he himself has hit the big time he is not big headed. A very happy extra.”
Michael Harmon, Tynemouth.
(Newcastle Evening Chronicle – Letter Section)
1 August 2000 – Official News
Blind Ambition will be broadcast sometime in the two weeks before the Olympics although we don’t have a date as yet – we’ll get that to you as soon as we know.
2 March 2000
Five wannabe actors are currently off on an all expenses paid trip to Australia, thanks to Robson. The members of the Live Youth Theatre are packing their bags to head for a week in the sun and to work on the set of Robson’s latest drama Blind Ambition.
Two men and three women will spend six days in Sydney learning the tricks of the TV filming trade and they are the envy of their theatre colleagues. Their names were picked at random and they cannot believe their luck. But they have been warned it will be mostly work and little play. “We fly out on Saturday and arrive in Oz at 6am on Monday,” said Lee McNicholas, 23, who also works as an administration assistant at Live Theatre on Newcastle’s Quayside. “We start work that day and we will be working 12 hour days. We’re filming in the Olympic Stadium, which should be fantastic. We do have Saturday off but will be flying back that afternoon. We can’t complain though, it’s a trip of a lifetime.”
For the most part, the five actors will be learning what goes on behind the camera, although there is also a chance they may end up on screen in Blind Ambition, in which Tyneside born Robson plays a blind athlete. It’s the third time members of the theatre have joined the actor on set. Robson’s company Coastal Productions, is based at the Live Theatre and co-finances the youth group, along with Granada TV, Procter & Gamble and an Arts Council Lottery grant.
Two previous groups of five members have spent time on the set of Grafters and the soon to be screened The Last Musketeer. “This was the one everyone was excited about,” said Lee Mason, of Live Theatre. “It will be a valuable experience and it should help them choose what line of work they want.”
21 February 2000 – Official News
Robson is currently in Australia, taking in the sun before he starts filming for Blind Ambition on 28 February in Sydney. Filming will then move to the UK from 12 March.
21 July 1999
According to this weeks TV Times, work is about to start on Blind Ambition and which they describe as a ‘tearjerker’. Robson plays a man who turns to running after he’s blinded in a car accident. Location for filming will include Sydney, Australia – to coincide with the Olympic Games.
Merchandise
Shop
Stream Online
In this impressive TV movie, Robson Green stars as Richard Thomas, an athlete aspiring to the Olympic team, whose life is shattered when a tragic car accident leaves him blind.
Watch Blind Ambition on Prime Video (USA)
Gallery
Photo
