Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page is in BBC Viagra drama

The poignant drama called Men Up focuses on five Welshmen who take part in a medical trial for the drug and is being shown tonight on BBC1.

The fictional story is inspired by one of the first medical trials held in Swansea's Morriston Hospital in 1994, and looks at some of the guinea pigs for the drug which would make a difference to the sex lives of millions.

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Ms Page, who lives in south Oxfordshire, plays one of the medics, while Iwan Rheon, Phaldut Sharma, Paul Rhys, Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri play men who are desperate for the drug to work for them.

Iwan Rheon plays Meurig, a man who yearns for intimacy with his wife, Ffion, played by Alexandra Roach, but feels trapped by his inability to rekindle the spark in their marriage.

Mr Rheon told the Radio Times: "It read really well in the read-through. I don't think I've ever cried in a read-through before.

"It was just really astonishing to see each storyline for each of these men and everyone involved around them, their family lives, how poignant it was and how heartfelt it was. So I think I knew that it was going to come off with these fantastic actors."

He added: "So it was great to watch what they'd all done. Some of the moments are so, so beautiful and heartfelt.

"And in terms of the drug itself, interestingly, I think what I took from the film is that the moment they start healing or things get better is when they actually talk about it, and whether the drug works or not is another issue.

"It's just they've actually taken that step and that communication, that's what's changed everything."

As well as Rheon, the drama also stars Aneurin Barnard (The Catch), Phaldut Sharma (Sherwood), Paul Rhys (Saltburn), Steffan Rhodri (House of the Dragon), Mark Lewis Jones (Gangs of London) and Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey).

It comes from writer Matthew Barry, who has previously written for Death in Paradise, Casualty, EastEnders, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Industry.

Joanna Page was also in the cast of the smash hit 2003 movie Love Actually.

She is best known for her role as Stacey Shipman in the long-running comedy series Gavin & Stacey which was screened between 2007 and 2019.

The series also starred Ruth Jones, Mathew Horne, James Corden and Rob Brydon.

Men Up is being shown on BBC1 on Friday, December 29 at 9pm, and then on iPlayer.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

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