Toby Jones and Lesley Manville’s “remarkable” British drama is a must-see on TV tonight

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Okay, so there’s a new drama on tonight called Mr Burton. It’s about the early life of Richard Burton, the actor – apparently it’s based on a true story and stars Toby Jones and Lesley Manville. I’ve heard it’s really good, so I’m definitely checking it out!

The film, released in April, tells the story of Richard Jenkins (played by Harry Lawtey) and his developing friendship with his teacher, Philip Burton (Jones), in the Welsh town of Port Talbot. It explores how young Richard Jenkins became Wales’ most famous actor, Richard Burton.

Richard always wanted to be an actor, but his dreams were threatened by problems at home, the stress of wartime, and his own struggles with self-control.

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Mr. Burton saw Richard’s potential and dedicated himself to helping him succeed. He became his teacher, pushed him to work hard, and ultimately became his adoptive father.

Good news for fans of Jones and Manville, who plays Ma Smith! “Mr. Burton” will be shown tonight at 8pm on BBC One and will also be available on BBC iPlayer soon after it airs.

Critics generally liked the film, with one review in The Morning Star describing it as a “remarkable true story” and praising the actor’s performance as a refreshing change of pace.

This incredible true story reveals a different side of Richard Burton, beyond his reputation as a famous actor and his two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor. It’s a tribute to the man Burton saw as a father figure and mentor, the man to whom he felt he owed everything.

I checked out the reviews for Mr Burton on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s sitting at 86% based on 26 reviews! Everyone’s really loving Lawtey’s performance as young Richard, which is awesome to hear.

According to Radio Times, the film’s standout performance comes from Lawtey, who is captivating from the beginning as a flawed student and later as an actor whose unpredictable behavior could ruin his promising career.

According to Little White Lies, Lawtey gives a strong performance, especially considering he’s playing such a famous and unique figure. However, the film, like many biopics, struggles with the challenge of having any actor portray an incredibly iconic person.

You can watch Mr Burton tonight at 8pm on BBC One, and it will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer after it airs.

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2025-11-10 10:19