The Last Post (TV series)
British drama series set during the Aden Emergency.
The Last Post is a British television drama series that aired on BBC One from 1 October to 5 November 2017. The story takes place during the Aden Emergency and centers on a Royal Military Police unit, examining the relationships among the soldiers, their families, and the local community. A second series was not commissioned, as announced in May 2018.
The cast includes Jessie Buckley as Honor Martin, Stephen Campbell Moore as Lieutenant Ed Laithwaite, Amanda Drew as Mary Markham, Ben Miles as Major Harry Markham, Jeremy Neumark Jones as Captain Joe Martin, Jessica Raine as Alison Laithwaite, Ouidad Elma as Yusra Saeed, Chris Reilly as Sergeant Alex Baxter, Tom Glynn-Carney as Lance Corporal Tony Armstrong, Louis Greatorex as Lance Corporal Paul Stoneham, Richard Dillane as Harvey Tillbrook, Kevin Sutton as Corporal Israel Orchover, Essie Davis as Martha Franklin, Toby Woolf as George Markham, Aymen Hamdouchi as Kadir Hakim (Starfish), and Joseph Kennedy as Captain Nick Page.
The series was conceived by Bonafide Films executive producer Margery Bone, who wanted a story about the British Army and Royal Military Police on a military base. She approached Peter Moffat, who came from a military family. Moffat suggested setting the series in the 1960s, at the end of the British Empire, with personnel and their wives posted to a strategically important location, allowing an exploration of twentieth-century British attitudes through a close-knit group.
For filming, the producers needed a location resembling Aden—with coast, mountains, desert, and colonial architecture—and chose Cape Town. A disused British naval base overlooking Simon’s Town bay provided a scale often difficult to achieve for television.
- First broadcast
- 1 October 2017
- Last broadcast
- 5 November 2017
- Network
- BBC One
- Setting
- Aden Emergency
- Genre
- Television drama series
- Production company
- Bonafide Films
Lore & Background
The series was conceived when executive producer Margery Bone of Bonafide Films proposed a story about the British Army/Royal Military Police and life on a military base. She approached Peter Moffat, who had a military family background. Moffat suggested setting the series in the 1960s at the end of the British Empire, with military personnel posted with their wives to a strategically important place, allowing exploration of twentieth-century British attitudes through a tightly knit group of people. The producers needed a location similar to Aden with coast, mountains, desert, and colonial architectural influence, settling on Cape Town. A disused British naval base overlooking Simon's Town bay provided a scale often difficult to achieve for television.
Reader's Guide
The Last Post offers a focused look at the personal and professional lives of Royal Military Police personnel and their families during the Aden Emergency, a conflict often overlooked in British television drama. By centering on a single unit and its domestic dynamics, the series examines British attitudes of the 1960s within the context of a declining empire. Its production in Cape Town, using a disused naval base, allowed for an authentic visual representation of Aden. The decision not to commission a second series in May 2018 means the story remains a self-contained snapshot of that era. The cast includes notable actors such as Jessie Buckley, Ben Miles, and Jessica Raine, contributing to its critical reception as a period drama.
Did You Know?
- It was set during the Aden Emergency and focused on a unit of the Royal Military Police.
- In May 2018, it was reported that a second series would not be commissioned.
- The location used was a disused British naval base overlooking Simon's Town bay in Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Last Post (TV series)?
It is a British military drama that aired on BBC One from October to November 2017, following a Royal Military Police unit stationed during the Aden Emergency. The series explores the personal relationships among the soldiers, their families, and the surrounding local community.
Who stars in The Last Post (TV series)?
Jessie Buckley plays Honor Martin, Stephen Campbell Moore portrays Lieutenant Ed Laithwaite, and Ben Miles appears as Major Harry Markham. The ensemble is rounded out by Amanda Drew as Mary Markham, Jeremy Neumark Jones as Captain Joe Martin, and Jessica Raine as Alison Laithwaite.
What historical conflict does The Last Post (TV series) take place during?
The story is set against the Aden Emergency, the period of British military involvement in the Aden Protectorate. The conflict serves as the backdrop for the show's focus on interpersonal tensions within the military unit and its families.
Did The Last Post (TV series) get a second series?
No; BBC confirmed in May 2018 that a follow-up series would not be commissioned. The single run of episodes broadcast from 1 October to 5 November 2017 remains the complete series.
Who produced The Last Post (TV series)?
The series was produced by Bonafide Films for the BBC One network. It is classified as a television drama and consists of one series that aired in the autumn of 2017.
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