THE COMPELLING, DEFINITIVE PORTRAIT OF A FOOTBALL LIFE LIKE NO OTHER.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BBC TWO & VIRGIN MEDIA TELEVISION IRELAND.
Filmed during the last 18 months of Jack Charlton's life, the film promises a uniquely emotional insight into the life and career of a sporting legend and an inspirational take on the sports documentary genre.
4th September, 2020, London: Noah Media Group, the creators of some of the most acclaimed feature-length sports documentaries of recent years (Bobby Robson: More than a Manager, The Edge, Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans) today released a ‘first look’ image from their upcoming film, FINDING JACK CHARLTON.
Directed by Gabriel Clarke (Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager; Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans) and Pete Thomas (Take His Legs), FINDING JACK CHARLTON is a portrait of an extraordinary man: an English World Cup – winning legend, who became an Irish hero. Shot on location in Ireland and England, the film also details Jack’s previously undocumented life with dementia. This contemporary narrative forms a central theme of the story, offering an intimate, compelling insight into Jack the man and the challenge faced by thousands of families universally.
The documentary features key characters from throughout Jack’s career, with contributions from Jack’s family for the first time, including his wife Pat and son John. They are supported by major figures in football, music, film and politics, enabling the exploration of the major pillars of Jack’s life: Jack & England, Jack & Ireland, and Jack & his brother, Sir Bobby Charlton.
Significantly, Jack’s family have given access to detailed, hand-written notes that Jack made and kept safe throughout his career. These personal thoughts are an intimate window into Jack’s managerial philosophy and offer a new level of understanding into ‘Finding Jack’.
Multiple sources of revealing, unseen archive footage have also been uncovered, captured behind the scenes with Jack and the Ireland team during the World Cup in 1990 and on the road to their qualification for the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Alongside today’s first-look image, Noah Media Group are also announcing co-commissioning partnerships with the BBC (UK) and Virgin Media Television (Ireland) for the film’s broadcast premiere in early 2021. Prior to that, FINDING JACK CHARLTON will receive a UK theatrical and transactional release in late 2020, via Noah Media Group’s distribution arm, NoahX. NoahX will also manage international sales.
The film is produced by Noah Media Group’s John McKenna & Torquil Jones. Former Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend is among the film’s Executive Producers.
Co-directors, Gabriel Clarke & Pete Thomas said: “Jack Charlton led a fascinating life on so many levels and his achievement in football is unique. To be able to tell his story against the background of the final year of his life, when he faced perhaps his greatest challenge, enabled us to frame his incredible career from a whole new perspective. It was a privilege to work with his family and to make a film that became so much more than we expected”
On the co-commissioning partnership, Controller of BBC Two Patrick Holland commented: “‘I am so delighted that this documentary will be coming to BBC Two. Jack Charlton was a giant of a man, a footballer of legendary achievements and a manager who helped transform a nation. This is a very special film, giving intimate access to Jack and his family in his last year, exploring the journey and impact of his extraordinary life.”
Bill Malone, Director of Content Virgin Media Television said: “This is a remarkable documentary about a remarkable man. Finding Jack Charlton charts the glory days of Irish football set against the backdrop of a changing Ireland and his battle with dementia in his final years. It is a touching portrait of an Englishman who became one of Ireland’s greatest”.
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For further press information, please contact ORGANIC
Jack Wiggs : Jack.Wiggs@organic-publicity.co.uk
ABOUT JACK CHARLTON
HE REACHED THE TOP OF THE WORLD WITH HIS COUNTRY.
HE WENT ON TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING EVEN MORE REMARKABLE WITH HIS ADOPTED NATION.
AND THEN HE FACED PERHAPS HIS GREATEST CHALLENGE.
Jack Charlton was a legendary football player and part of the celebrated England team that won the 1966 World Cup. Charlton went on to manage the Republic of Ireland national team from1986 to1996, during which time he helped transform the nation’s self-image through football and stewarded the national team during their most successful ever period including their reaching the quarter final at their first World Cup, 30 years ago this year. A Freeman of Dublin and one of only eight people to have ever been awarded Honorary Citizenship of Ireland, Jack died at his family home in Northumberland on July 10th 2020, aged 85.
‘Be a dictator, but be a nice one!’ (Jack Charlton)