Michael Keillor
Writer/Director
Film, TV & Theatre
Film, TV & Theatre
Michael’s passion for bold and ambitious projects has drawn him to work with a talented mix of writers including Jack Thorne, Lucy Kirkwood, David Hare, Peter Moffat, Andrew Davies and Jed Mercurio, who all share his appetite for pushing boundaries and entertaining audiences.
Michael has recently focused on directing mini-series which tell human stories under pressure from political forces. From CHIMERICA, an adaptation of Lucy Kirkwood's Olivier winning play, set against the backdrop of the Tiananmen Square massacre to David Hare’s ROADKILL, charting the rise of a corrupt and self-serving politician, played with ruthless charisma and impeccable charm by Hugh Laurie.
Michael navigated the raw emotion and heartbreak of a family facing the toughest life decisions in Jack Thorne’s BEST INTERESTS and most recently took audiences through the labyrinthian ten-year hunt to bring the Lockerbie bombers to justice in THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103.
Michael started out directing ads, pop promos and shorts films; which led to a string much loved British shows including SHAMELESS, MR SELFRIDGE, SILK, before directing the award winning third season of LINE OF DUTY and launching the long running Detective series STRIKE for BBC 1.
While primarily a director, Michael writes and develops his own long form projects with all the same energy, drive and originality that informs his filmmaking.
Michael is currently represented in the US by Attorney Michael Schenkman.
THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103
“A police procedural, then, but also a tribute to the Lockerbie community and the care its residents showed towards the victims.” Anita Singh, Daily Telegraph
"a superior telling of the story, poignant and fascinating in equal measure." Rachel Cooke, The New Stateman
"the 12-year police and FBI investigation to find out who murdered 270 people on a cold night in December 1988, which is retold with sensitivity in this brilliant drama" ***** The Sun
LINE OF DUTY
“It’s stomach-clenchingly tense, visceral, shocking – television best watched in body armour” Sam Wollaston, The Guardian
BEST INTERESTS
*****Guardian *****Daily Mail *****Times
****Telegraph ****Metro ****Independent
****Radio Times ****The Financial Times
“Beautifully directed by Michael Keillor, and the first-rate performances create a viewing experience that is far from easy but entirely absorbing.”
“Scriptwriter Jack Thorne’s stellar reputation for creating believable and poignant dramas from thorny social issues has only been enhanced by this four-part drama which ends with riveting court scenes and a conclusion that will hit you hard in the guts. Stunning.” Ben Dowell, The Times
“One of the best (although not jolliest) TV dramas of the year.” James Walton, The Spectator
“In one scene Nicci puts make-up on Marnie’s 11-year-old face — mad, absurd Instagram make-up — so she can go on her first and only date, to the cinema with a boy who fancies her and is also soon to die, so they can sit at opposite ends of a row (for fire safety reasons) in their respective wheelchairs, and love it. There are no words I can write to convey how beautiful a scene it is. It made me gasp. None of this is mawkish. What skill, from Thorne, from Horgan, from Moriarty, from all of them, to set up what they are about to lose, all the better to have us appreciate the unspeakable pain of losing it.” Hugo Rifkind, The Times
ROADKILL
“Good to be reminded of the enduring truths that power corrupts that charisma tells us nothing of a man or woman, that political ambition is rarely purely a craving to serve the public.” Lucy Mangan, The Guardian
STRIKE: THE CUCKOO’S CALLING.
"Vintage and modern, highly watchable and brilliantly cast, Strike is a sure hit" Matt Baylis, The Express
CHIMERICA
“A strikingly intelligent drama, capturing big ideas without sacrificing story or character, and making the personal political and back again – particularly in the scenes set in China.” Lucy Mangan, The Guardian
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 2023 - 2025 | BBC / Netflix | Director and Executive Producer. |
2022 - 2023 | BBC 1/ Chapter One Pictures | Director and Executive Producer. |
2020 | The Forge/PBS/BBC 1 | Director and Executive Producer |
2018 - 2019 | Playground Entertainment/Channel 4 | Director |
2017 | BBC/HBO/Bronte | Lead Director. |
2015 | BBC2/World Productions | Lead Director. |
CRITICAL 2014 | Sky One/Hat Trick | Director. |
SILK III 2013 | BBC 1 | Director. |
MR SELFRIDGE 2012 | ITV Studios | Director. |
YOUNG JAMES HERRIOT 2011 | BBC 1/KoCo Media | 3 part series about the life of the young Vet. |
SHAMELESS VIII 2011 | Company Television/C4 | |
HOLBY CITY 2011 | BBC 1 | |
EASTENDERS: E20 2010 | BBC 3 | * Rose D'Or Nominee, 2010. |
THE BILL 2009 | ITV 1 | |
EASTENDERS 2008 | BBC 1 | |
DOCTORS 2007 | BBC 1 | |
DREAM TEAM 2006 | Sky |
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
TIGHTROPE 2020 | STV/BBC | Executive Producer: Sarah Brown |
TOO FAR NORTH 2020 | WILD MERCURY/BBC | Executive Producer: Derek Wax |
Short Films
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2014 | Warp Films/BFI | Writer and Director. Love on the run with a girl and a gun. |
2010 | BBC, Scottish Screen & Lighthouse Arts | Writer and Director. 15'. Father and son lost in the Highlands. |
2009 | UK Film Council, Scottish Screen & Digicult | 15'. Life, for a young man and an old soul. |
2006 | Channel 4 'Coming Up' 2005 | Writer and Director. 23'. Gang rivalry tears a friendship apart. |