AFTER THOMAS

"Given the usual coat of TV treacle, this could have been a sad, sweet, superficial drama but it was made with the close involvement of the real-life parents it's based on, much of the dialogue was actually spoken and authenticity shines through every frame... it's gripping viewing and a serious insight into this mysterious condition."
Sunday Express 17th December 2006

"In advance, After Thomas seemed certain to be an exercise in pure schmaltz. After all, it was a drama - on ITV1, on Boxing Day - about a six-year-old autistic boy whose life was transformed by the love of a good puppy. The result, though, turned out to be surprisingly powerful. This was thanks partly to the strength of the acting (including an astonishingly impressive performance from Andrew Byrne as the boy) and partly by the unfailing sharpness of Lindsey Hill's script... Beautifully-made."
Daily Telegraph, 27th December 2006

"After Thomas was sans sentimentality, soap actors or even sex and proved to be the best thing I've seen on ITV in ages. Which is remarkable actually because the story - about a severely autistic child whose mind is unlocked by his touching relationship with a golden retriever puppy - had enormous schmaltz potential. But I didn't wretch once - not even when the boy, Kyle, told his mother he loved her, something she had been warned he would never do. Keeley Hawes and Ben Miles played the parts of Kyle's parents with skilful understatedness. Andrew Byrne, 6, who played Kyle, was exceptional in his portrayal of a child grotesquely locked inside his own world. The reason that this story seemed raw and true is probably because it was... For ITV to devote two hours in peak Boxing Day to a drama about the hell that is caring for a severely autistic kid when once it would have reached for another Animals Do The Funniest Things reel was risky but commendable."
Times, 27th December 2006

"They say never work with animals or children. And now we know why - when they are this cute, they steal the show!... Moving drama."
Sun TV mag, 2nd December 2006

"A warming tale about a family coping with child autism."
Mirror 'M Celebs', 3rd December 2006

"Moving drama about a couple, their autistic son and the puppy that changes their lives."
Radio Times, 16th December 2006

"This one-off drama packs a powerful punch as it's based on a true story... It takes a four-legged friend - Labrador pup Thomas, who looks like he's scampered off the front of a greetings card - to open up Kyle's secret world. Start practicing your "I swear onions are getting stronger" excuses now because you'll be bawling your eyes out."
Closer, 16th December 2006

"**** Following the success of their collaboration in Under The Greenwood Tree, Keeley Hawes and Ben Miles are reunited for this fact-based, feature-length one-off drama charting the efforts of a couple to give their autistic son a happy childhood... However, the newest member of the clan, a cute golden retriever puppy, has an unexpected effect and offers the entire family new hope. Have hankies at the ready for a story which is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Hawes and Miles are outstanding, with able support from Sheila Hancock."
Reveal, 16th December 2006

"***** Lindsey Hill's drama is based on the true story of a family with autism, which guarantees heartstring-pulling... With a convincing script and superb cast - not least six-year-old Andrew Byrne as Kyle, it gives a real insight into autism."
The Mail on Sunday, 17th and 24th December 2006

"Given the usual coat of TV treacle, this could have been a sad, sweet, superficial drama but it was made with the close involvement of the real-life parents it's based on, much of the dialogue was actually spoken and authenticity shines through every frame... it's gripping viewing and a serious insight into this mysterious condition."
Sunday Express, 17th December 2006

"**** Parenthood can be a struggle at the best of times, so imagine having to cope with the terrifying tantrums of an autistic six-year-old... Newcomer Andrew Byrne is terrific as tormented six-year-old Kyle, whose life is gradually brightened by the introduction of a puppy named Thomas. It sounds corny, but this is beautifully handled and based on a real-life story. An uplifting tale for Boxing Day that doesn't shy away from the sometimes grim realities of this much misunderstood disorder."
First, 20th December 2006 "This is a gritty and moving modern tale inspired by a true story... Sheila Hancock and Duncan Preston also star in this touching drama."
What's On, 21st December 2006

"A heart warming, tear-jerking based-on-a-true-story tale... With a top-drawer cast... An autistic boy! A puppy! How much cuter do you want it to get?"
The Guardian G2, 22nd December 2006

"Dale Gardner's parents despaired when he was born with severe autism - until a golden retriever taught him to love... Exactly how this remarkable family managed to penetrate their son's autism is the subject of After Thomas, a moving ITV drama that will be broadcast on Boxing Day. It tells the extraordinary story of how the family pet - a sensitive and intelligent golden retriever - provided a key with which the Gardners could slowly unlock the mysteries of their child's condition... "The drama is so exactly what we want to say about our family experience and autism in general that we're happy to stand up and say 'This was us'", Nuala says. "We feel passionately that our story can give others hope... The most basic need of a mother is to love their child and to get some love back. Not to have it is the cruellest thing in the world... Every mother watching the drama will understand the elation when the son is finally able to say the words, even though he uses his dog as a conduit... After Thomas is about the ordinary, everyday miracles that can happen in people's lives.""
The Daily Telegraph, 22nd December 2006

"The hotly-tipped, Boxing Day tearjerker, After Thomas... Sheila plays a powerful and loving grandmother."
People, 22nd December 2006

"Oh my goodness, this is a weepy... The film kicks off with truly harrowing scenes... Sheila Hancock [is] on top form... I can see you might be thinking this all sounds a bit schmaltzy. It really isn't, probably because emotional scenes are counterbalanced by British suburban detail, and Hawes and Miles are realistic - both in terms of performance and use of language. You probably will be in tears though."
Evening Standards, 22nd December 2006

"Here's a cockle warmer and no mistake. It's the story of one couple's struggle to look after their six year old son Kyle, who has autism. It's a constant battle dealing with him, and the appalling stress is evident. Into the turmoil of their daily life comes a puppy called Thomas... This has the potential to be sickeningly sentimental, but the top-drawer cast (which includes Keeley Hawes, Ben Miles, Sheila Hancock and Duncan Preston), as well as the fact that the story is based on a real family's experience, make it emotional and uplifting, but not overly mawkish. Even so, have a box of tissues handy because Andrew Byrne, who plays Kyle, is excellent; and the puppy is very cute. But it's the real-life update in the final credits that will probably finish you off."
Radio Times, 23rd December 2006

“Based on a true story, this is a tearjerker of epic dimensions – the sort of story you need to watch on your own if you’re worried about weeping copiously in public… If all this sound irredeemably mawkish, it isn’t. It also contains the funniest one-liner (when someone is compared to a Christmas tree) to be heard during the entire holiday period.”
The Times, 23rd and 26th December 2006

“Andrew Byrne gives an unnervingly convincing performance as the troubled autistic boy, and a strong adult cast rise to the challenge performing with children and animals… and keeps things from lapsing into mawkishness.”
Daily Mail Weekend, 23rd December 2006

“***** Moving true story.”
Daily Express, 23rd December 2006

“Keeley Hawes, Sheila Hancock and Ben Miles star in this heart-warming dramatisation of the true story of one couple’s struggle to cope with their son’s autism.”
Daily Mail Weekend, 23rd December 2006

“This is a real weepy – what makes it even more amazing is that it’s a true story.”
TV Choice, 23rd December 2006

“Heart-warming drama based on a true story of an autistic boy’s life-changing friendship with his pet dog.”
TV & Satellite Week, 23rd December 2006

“This quietly captivating drama is based on a true story about an attractive couple… whose life if blighted by the fact that their son, Kyle, has got autism and can’t relate to them or the outside world… This is much, much more satisfying than it sounds.”
TV Easy, 23rd December 2006

“Moving one-off drama which is based on an amazing true story.”
The Sun TV Mag, 23rd December 2006

“This superb new drama charts a family’s struggle with autism… Parenting is an exercise in selflessness at the easiest of times, but the dizzying difficulty of life with a handicapped child is rendered here with subtlety and sensitivity. The script’s a master class in the choreography of argument, as the couple skirt a point of disagreement before their frustration brings outpourings of anger and recrimination – said in the wrong way, with the wrong words, at the wrong volume… Lindsey Hill’s screenplay draws inspiration form her real-life friendship with just such a family, and her intimacy with her subject illuminates the writing. Such thoroughness is reflected in the casting too; it took the producers more than six months and 150 auditions to cast Andrew Byrne as the autistic boy. It was worth it.”
The Daily Telegraph, 23rd and 26th December 2006

“Must See! Emotional drama based on a true story… A fascinating and moving tale of two parents who, at breaking point, find hope they never dared dream of.”
Daily Star TV Mag, 23rd December 2006

“It’s very good to have something non-sugary after Christmas Day, and nothing could be less saccharine than this unsentimental drama about the challenges of having an autistic child… Nicola [is] played by the excellent Keeley Hawes… One of the remarkable aspects of the drama is that it is actually based on the real story of Nuala and James Gardner whose son Dale, now 18, built up a relationship with his dog, Henry. The writer, Lindsey Hill has managed to convey the huge frustrations for parents living with an autistic child, in terms of the daily grind but also the perceptions of others that they are simply dealing with a very naughty child. The lack of professional help, the difficulties of dealing with tantrums and the huge pressure it places on a marriage are all well conveyed… This story has a positive message – that it is possible for the children to begin to learn to communicate with their family. A dog isn’t going to solve everyone’s problems, but more understanding dramas like this will go some way to creating a world that it kinder and less judgmental.”
The Observer, 24th December 2006

“This superb new drama charts a family’s struggle with autism. Nicola (Keeley Hawes) and Rob (Ben Miles) are barely surviving the pressures place on them by their six-year-old son’s condition, but there’s light amid the dark in the form of a canine friend. Lindsey Hill’s screenplay draws inspiration from her real-life friendship with just such a family, and her intimacy with her subject illuminates the writing.”
The Sunday Telegraph, 24th December 2006

“This touching drama was made with the close involvement of the real-life parents it’s based on, and authenticity shines through every frame.”
Sunday Express, 24th December 2006

“An autism drama that goes from grim to heartwarming. Andrew Byrne is excellent as the affected boy.”
Independent, 24th December 2006

“After all the jolliness of yesterday, how about a drama to make you cry into your turkey sandwiches…. This emotionally-charged drama is almost guaranteed to make your eyes leak. But it’s not overly sentimental or twee… Based on a real story, the drama… has an engaging mix of downbeat moments and adorable sweetness. Just make sure you have your hankie ready.”
Daily Mirror, 26th December 2006

“This emotional tale is the true story of one couple’s struggle to look after their autistic six-year-old son Kyle… A starry cast, including Keeley Hawes, Sheila Hancock and Ben Miles, gives this excellent and uplifting story added value. But it’s the friendship between Kyle (Andrew Preston) and his canine companion that truly brings home the miracle of change that the dog brings to the family’s life.”
Daily Express, 26th December 2006

“***** A very moving one-off drama.”
Star, 26th December 2006

Best On The Box This Christmas
Now, 26th December 2006

“In advance, After Thomas seemed certain to be an exercise in pure schmaltz. After all, it was a drama – on ITV1, on Boxing Day – about a six-year-old autistic boy whose life was transformed by the love of a good puppy. The result, though, turned out to be surprisingly powerful. This was thanks partly to the strength of the acting (including an astonishingly impressive performance from Andrew Byrne as the boy) and partly by the unfailing sharpness of Lindsey Hill’s script. An opening caption informed us that the story was true. Yet, as we know, true stories don’t necessarily make for convincing dramas. Last night, the parents’ reactions, however contradictory, were always entirely believable. The first few scenes efficiently established how difficult life was with Kyle… Nicola was determined to battle on, unwilling to admit defeat. Rob wondered if the time had come to send Kyle away to a specialist school. In a lesser drama, this might have made Rob the embodiment of male selfishness. In this one, both points of view seemed equally legitimate, both sets of motives felt equally mixed, and both parents came across as equally good people doing their best. Only with this intractable situation squarely in place did the programme introduce Thomas the puppy… Several genuinely moving scenes of progress followed – before, in the big finish, Kyle told Nicola that he loved her. As the tear-jerking clincher, a closing caption explained that Kyle has now passed seven GCSEs and is studying child care… Beautifully-made.”
Daily Telegraph, 27th December 2006

“After Thomas was sans sentimentality, soap actors or even sex and proved to be the best thing I’ve seen on ITV in ages. Which is remarkable actually because the story – about a severely autistic child whose mind is unlocked by his touching relationship with a golden retriever puppy – had enormous schmaltz potential. But I didn’t wretch once – not even when the boy, Kyle, told his mother he loved her, something she had been warned he would never do. Keeley Hawes and Ben Miles played the parts of Kyle’s parents with skilful understatedness. Andrew Byrne, 6, who played Kyle, was exceptional in his portrayal of a child grotesquely locked inside his own world. The reason that this story seemed raw and true is probably because it was… For ITV to devote two hours in peak Boxing Day to a drama about the hell that is caring for a severely autistic kid when once it would have reached for another Animals Do The Funniest Things reel was risky but commendable.”
Times, 27th December 2006

"After Thomas [was] one of those heartwarming life drama for which the Christmas schedules offer a perfect excuse... When the golden retriever arrived, the effect was little short of miraculous... I was a bit sceptical about the rapidity of this effect, but it would be dishonest of me not to confess that I got something in my eye at the point where Kyle, for the first time ever, told his mother that he loved her.”
Independent, 27th December 2006

“You will feel in need of a little transfusion yourself after a synopsis of After Thomas; the parents of an autistic boy buy him a dog and find that he’s transformed as a result. However, it was much better than this makes it sound, owing in equal parts to the general mood of restraint and to the performances of both the parents (Keeley Hawes and Ben Miles) and the boy Kyle (Andrew Byrne). Even the dog was pretty good too… When the dog – Thomas – arrived, his effect on Kyle was done with a good deal of delicacy. Slowly, and without any great orchestral surges, Kyle started to emerge from his emotional Alaska.”
Daily Star and Daily Express, 27th December 2006

“Emotional new drama.”
Hello! Magazine, 31st December 2006

“Praise for ITV drama: I hope those who have criticised ITV for risk-averse and backward-looking programming over the past year caught its peaktime Boxing Day offering After Thomas, a moving and truthful drama about a couple with an autistic son. This well-made, original, one-off British drama about a challenging and misunderstood subject really stood out.”
Broadcast, 2nd January 2006







“After Thomas is a moving drama which shows how it took his parents two desperate years to get their son’s condition diagnosed. Now it’s tearing their lives apart.”
Manchester Evening News, 15th December 2006

“A fascinating and moving tale of two parents who, at breaking point, find hope they never dreamed of. Wonderful stuff.”
Western Mail, 16th December 2006

“Moving drama… What sets [it] apart… is the way in which the family’s fortunes took a turn for the better when they bought a dog… Real-life mum Nuala hopes the film will educate as well as entertain… [Dad] James says: “I would like parents to take a lot of hope away from the film. I would have loved to have seen it myself, a drama like this, back in those early days… Everyone who has seen it already agrees that it’s very sad, but that also it’s a really beautiful tale – a really hopeful story.”
Daily Record, 16th December 2006

“Last Christmas, Ben Miles and Keeley Hawes appeared together in the ITV1 drama Under The Greenwood Tree. Now the channel is reuniting them for another seasonal offering, but whereas their previous collaboration was a period adaptation of a Thomas Hardy novel, this is a moving modern tale inspired by a true story.”
Western Morning News, 19th December 2006

“Keeley Hawes and Ben Miles star in this heart-warming fact-based drama about a couple struggling to help their autistic son communicate his fears and begin to lead a normal life.”
Brighton Argus, 20th December 2006

“The heartwarming true story of how one puppy succeeded in transforming the lives of a young autistic boy and his parents.”
Yorkshire Evening Post, 20th December 2006

“They say never work with children and animals, but for Keeley Hawes, the chance to feature in emotional drama After Thomas was too good to miss… the Gardners’ story proved inspiring… “As naff as it sounds, this job made everybody realise how lucky they are.” She admits she found the subject matter challenging, but insists it’s a subject that needs exploring.”
The Journal, 21st December 2006

“If the pressures of the season weren’t enough to make you feel tired and emotional already, then this true-life heartwarmer will almost certainly tip you over the edge.”
The Scotsman, 23rd December 2006

Boxing Day drama, After Thomas… Young Andrew Burns is excellent as Kyle… Based on a real story, it’s certain to tug the heartstrings, but avoids tipping over into slushy sentimentality.”
The Weekly News, 23rd December 2006

“Heart-warming… A drama that just about stays this side of mawkish thanks to the excellent acting of the main players.”
The Aberdeen Press and Journal, 23rd December 2006

“This emotional drama is a heart-warming tale based on a true story.”
Derby Evening Telegraph, 23rd December 2006

“The true story of the extraordinary effect a golden retriever puppy has on a family coping with a child’s autism is explored in the moving ITV1 drama After Thomas.”
Yorkshire Post, 23rd December 2006

“If all that festive fun has left you feeling full of good humour, fear not… you can always crack open a box of man-sized for this emotional drama…”
Portsmouth News, 23rd December 2006

“A true tale provides ITV with one of its best holiday dramas.”
Scotland on Sunday, 24th December 2006

“This is a gritty and moving modern tale inspired by a true story.”
Yorkshire Evening Post, 26th December 2006

“Keeley Hawes, Ben Miles and Sheila Hancock star in this fascinating looking drama based on the true story of one couple’s struggles to meet the challenge of their child’s autism… What follows is a fascinating and moving tale of two parents who, at their breaking point, find hope they never dared to dream of.”
Daily Record, 26th December 2006

“A fascinating and moving tale of two parents who, at breaking point, find hope they never dared to dream of.”
The Herald, 26th December 2006

“This is a gritty and moving modern tale inspired by a true story.”
Birmingham Post, 26th December 2006

“While undoubtedly realistic, this was a very tough watch, possibly scheduled to make anyone who’d had a boring Christmas count their blessings… Hawes and Miles believably played a couple who were just so decent and worthy of admiration, and young Andrew Byrne as Kyle was also extremely convincing… Everyone watching must have been sobbing away.”
The Scotsman, 27th December 2006

“This drama – based on a true story –had an edge that kept it the right side of sentimentality without drowning in a puddle of tears… This was all heart-warming stuff to be considered in that Boxing Day haze… And, just in case the drama didn’t stir those emotions, the post script that revealed shortly after the film was made the real Thomas became very ill and was put down would have you scrambling for the tissues once again.”
The Northern Echo, 27th December 2006

“Knowing that the parents, so believably played by Keeley Hawes and Ben Miles, were real made this a rare Christmas treat – an ITV Drama Premiere worth watching. With families high on everyone’s agenda at the time of year, schedulers took advantage of already charged feelings and plonked an emotionally-loaded triumph-over-adversity shaggy dog tale in on the night everyone’s too shattered to move off the couch. Cynical? Maybe. Well timed? Judging by the teeth marks on my lips by 11.00pm, without a doubt.”
Daily Record, 28th December 2006