Michael Keillor
Michael Keillor started out directing ads, pop promos and shorts films; Basically if it moved, he shot it. This led to a string of hit shows including SHAMELESS, MR SELFRIDGE, SILK, YOUNG JAMES HERRIOT and, most famously, the award winning third season of LINE OF DUTY.
Michael’s passion for bold and ambitious projects has since drawn him to work with a talented mix of writers who share his appetite for pushing boundaries and entertaining audiences. Most recently working with Jack Thorne to navigate raw emotion and heartbreak of a family facing the toughest decisions inBEST INTERESTS.
Prior toBEST INTERESTS, Michael directed David Hare’s four-part political dramaROADKILL, charting the rise of a corrupt and self-serving politician, played with ruthless charisma and impeccable charm by Hugh Laurie.
Returning to political thrillers, Michael then directedCHIMERICA, an ambitious four-part adaptation of Lucy Kirkwood's Olivier winning play, set against the backdrop of the 2016 US Presidential election and the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.
While primarily a director, Michael also 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.
Film, TV & Theatre Agent
Film, TV & Theatre
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
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. 6-Part Drama. Writer: Jonathan Lee Producer: Julia Stannard Executive Producers: Simon Heath and Roderick Seligman Starring: Connor Swindells, Patrick J. Adams and Merritt Wever *Winner of the Public Prize at the Golden Nymph awards |
2022 - 2023 | BBC 1/ Chapter One Pictures | Director and Executive Producer 4-Part Drama Writer: Jack Thorne Producer: Jenny Frayn. Executive Producers: Sophie Gardiner, Toby Bentley Starring: Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen *Winner The Best Actor Award, Series Mania 2023, Michael Sheen *Winner of Best Limited Series, Rockie Awards, 2024 Nominated for Best Limited Series, BAFTAs, 2024 Nominated for Leading Actress, BAFTAS, 2024 - Sharon Horgan Nominated for Best Limited Series, RTS Awards, 2024 Nominated for Lead Actress, IFTAs, 2024 - Sharon Horgan |
2020 | The Forge/PBS/BBC 1 | Director and Executive Producer 4-part Drama Writer: David Hare Producer: Andy Litvin Exec Producers: George Faber, Mark Pybus, Lucy Richer, David Hare, Michael Keillor Starring: Hugh Laurie, Helen McCrory, Pippa Bennett Warner, Sarah Greene, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Iain De Caestecker Popular and charismatic politician Peter Laurence is shamelessly untroubled by guilt or remorse as his public and private life fall apart *Winner, Original Music Bafta Craft Awards 2021 |
2018 - 2019 | Playground Entertainment/Channel 4 | Director 4-part Drama Writer: Lucy Kirkwood Producer: Adrian Sturges Executive Producers: Lucy Kirkwood, Sophie Gardiner, Colin Callender Starring: Alessandro Nivola and Cherry Jones A photojournalist travels to China with the hopes of finding out who the mysterious man was who was photographed standing defiantly in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square twenty years ago. Adaptation of the Olivier award-winning play. |
2017 | BBC/HBO/Bronte | Lead Director Producer: Jackie Larkin Executive Producers: Ruth Kenley Letts, Neil Blair, JK Rowling Starring: Holliday Grainger and Tom Burke Adapted from the first novel in the Cormoran Strike series of detective novels by JK Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. |
2015 | BBC2/World Productions | Lead Director 3 episodes Creator and Writer: Jed Mercurio Producer: Peter Norris. Executive Producer: Simon Heath and Jed Mercurio Starring: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Stephen Graham Highest-rating BBC2 drama since modern TV ratings began Nominated, Best Drama Series, Royal Television Society Awards, 2017 Nominated, Best Writer (Drama), Royal Television Society Awards, 2017 Nominated, Best Drama Series, TV Choice Awards, 2016 Nominated, Best Director, Bafta Scotland Awards, 2016 Nominated, Best Drama Series, Broadcast Awards, 2017 |
CRITICAL 2014 | Sky One/Hat Trick | Director 3 episodes Creator: Jed Mercurio Producer: Chris Hall Exec Producer: Mark Redhead / Cameron Roach Starring: Lennie James and Kimberley Nixon |
SILK III 2013 | BBC 1 | Director 2 episodes Creator: Peter Moffat Producer: Matt Strevens Executive Producer: Hilary Salmon Starring: Maxine Peake and Rupert Penry-Jones |
MR SELFRIDGE 2012 | ITV Studios | Director 3 episodes, including series finale Creator and Writer: Andrew Davies Producer: Chrissy Skinns Exec Producer: Kate Lewis Starring: Jeremy Piven |
YOUNG JAMES HERRIOT 2011 | BBC 1/KoCo Media | 3 part series about the life of the young Vet Producer: Alan J. Wands Writer: Ann McManus and Eileen Gallagher Exec Producer: Cameron Roach Nominated for Best Director at British Academy Awards Scotland, 2012 Nominated for Best Actor for Iain De Caestecker at British Academy Awards Scotland, 2012 |
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 Writer: Rae Brunton A low rent lawyer loses his loose grip on reality |
TOO FAR NORTH 2020 | WILD MERCURY/BBC | Executive Producer: Derek Wax Writer: David Macpherson Prodigal son returns home to a kick in the teeth. |
Short Films
Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2014 | Warp Films/BFI | Writer and Director Love on the run with a girl and a gun Producer: Ally Gipps Starring Iain De Caestecker, Katarina Cas *Edinburgh International Film Festival 2014 Premiere |
2010 | BBC, Scottish Screen & Lighthouse Arts | Writer and Director 15' Father and son lost in the Highlands Starring David Hayman, Jamie Michie Encounter Short Film Festival, 2009. Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2010. *Austin Film Festival, 2010. |
2009 | UK Film Council, Scottish Screen & Digicult | 15' Life, for a young man and an old soul Starring Michael Socha *Edinburgh International Film Festival 2010 |
2006 | Channel 4 'Coming Up' 2005 | Writer and Director 23' Gang rivalry tears a friendship apart Starring Daniel Anthony, Josef Altin, Aml Ameen *Edinburgh International Film Festival, 2006 |