Sharpe's Challenge

Last Update: 22 April 2006

Two years after Wellington crushes Napoleon at Waterloo, dispatches from
India tell of a local Maharaja, Khande Rao, who is threatening British

interests there. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to

be his most dangerous mission to date.

The last scout sent—whom we discover is Sharpe’s best friend, Sgt Harper—

has gone missing. His latest report suggests that the real power behind the

Maharaja is one Colonel Dodd (a malcontent East India Company officer ‘turned

rogue’) and that the Maharaja has gathered into his impregnable fort a

contingent of refugees from Napoleon’s army—adventurers looking to make their

fortunes in India. It’s the French that trouble Wellington the most: their

experience, tactics and discipline could help fashion the Indians into something

more than ‘just a perennial bloody nuisance’…

As usual, Wellington has not painted the full picture. For once in India, Sharpe

discovers the situation is already far graver than he was led to believe; and

things only get worse when the daughter of General Burroughs, the commander

of His Britannic Majesty’s forces in the region, is kidnapped and held in the

Maharajah’s fort by his villainous henchman, Colonel Dodd (Toby Stephens)

and the scheming yet beautiful Madhuvanthi (Padma Lakshmi). The British

were planning to storm the Maharajah’s fort by blowing up one of the outer

walls—but the Maharajah now vows to execute the General’s daughter if

any such attack is carried out. Worse still, it turns out that General Burroughs

has gone down with a fever and that Sharpe’s gutless nemesis, General

Simmerson, is now in overall charge of the army.

Sharpe, now reunited with Harper (Daragh O’Malley), devises a plan. The

two friends will disguise themselves as deserters and become part of the

Maharajah’s motley crew. Once inside the fort they will rescue the General’s

daughter and get word to him of her safety—together with details of which

side of the fort they should attack.

General Simmerson reluctantly agrees. However once inside the fort things

don’t quite go as Sharpe has planned...

 

 

 

Location shots in Jaipur, India. November 3, 2005 Photos by Justin Reprinted with permission of Picture Palace Productions Click on the pics for larger versions.

 

 

 

 

 

Epic in scale, this Sharpe was shot on location in India with sumptuous

fort and palace locations replete with all that exotic India has to offer plus

stunning, nail-biting fight sequences featuring thousands of extras.

 

Sharpe's Challenge is a 2 x 90 minute mini series for ITV which began filming on

3rd November 2005 and lasted up until Christmas. It will also screen on BBC
America and will be sold around the world by BBC Worldwide.

 

 

A spokesman from Picture Palace Productions stated, "When we made the

last film, Sharpe's Waterloo, Sean Bean and ourselves really felt that

we had made the last Sharpe. But seven years later we now find ourselves

missing our favourite production and Sean is certainly very happy to come

back on board. Sean has of course been busy making big Hollywood films

since the last Sharpe, but he is very enthusiastic about resuming his role

which is very special to him. He told me he can't wait to get started."

 

(Source: the Sharpe Appreciation Society)

 

Sean flew to India on Tuesday, November 2, 2005, to begin filming
Sharpe's Challenge. He was in India until December 21, 2005.

 

Read all about the rumour history of Sharpe's Challenge here.

There's a great story (with pix) written by Richard Bonehill, the sword master

on Sharpe's Challenge. Read it here.
Visit the official Sharpe's Challenge website (trailer, pix, behind the scenes, etc.)

See behind-the-scenes photos courtesy "Rifleman Moore", the film's armourer.

Production Notes (click on the links):

 

Sean Bean is Richard Sharpe

Padma Lakshmi is Madhuvanthi

Toby Stephens is William Dodd

Daragh O’Malley is Patrick Harper

 

Behind-the-Camera Fact File

The Producer: Malcolm Craddock

The Producer: Muir Sutherland

The Creator: Bernard Cornwell

The Writer: Russell Lewis

The Sword Master: Richard Bonehill

 

 

Click HERE to see images from Sharpe's Challenge.

 

Thanks to the Official Sharpe's Challenge website for these interviews and images.

 

SHARPE’S CHALLENGE …BEHIND THE SCENES

ITV3’s exclusive 60-minute documentary is a fascinating look behind the scenes of ITV’s

latest big budget drama. Sharpe’s Challenge …Behind The Scenes features in-depth

interviews and stunning location footage. During ITV’s exclusive programme, Sean Bean

talks viewers through the history of the series, and reveals why he thinks audiences

respond so favourably to the character of Sharpe.

 

Only a handful of the cast and crew have been involved in all of the 15 Sharpe films.

ITV3’s fascinating documentary illustrates the strong bond which has developed amongst

them as they once more take on the roles which are part of ITV1’s successful drama.

 

Watch Sharpe's Challenge ...Behind the Scenes
ITV3 (UK) - April 24, 10.30 pm

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS:

Richard Sharpe Patrick Harper William Dodd Sir Samuel Rawlinson Ramona Harper Celia Burroughs General Sir Henry Simmerson Sgt. Shadrach Bickerstaff General Burroughs Colonel Hector McRae

Sean Bean Daragh O'Malley Toby Stephens Michael Elwyn Diana Perez Lucy Brown Michael Cochrane Peter-Hugo Daly Peter Symonds Graham McTavish

Davi Lal Captain Leonard Major Crosby Wellington Captain Lawrence Lt Mohan Singh Khande Rao Madhuvanthi Lalima Colonel Pierre Gudin Major John Stokes Sgt Jaques Bonnet

Karan Arora Oliver Chris Nicholas Blane Hugh Fraser Lex Shrapnel Alyy Khan Karan Panthaky Padma Lakshmi Shruti Vyas Aurelien Recoing Gary Dunnington Thierry Hancisse

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

SHARPE’S CHALLENGE is produced by Malcolm Craddock and Muir Sutherland, co-produced by Julia Stannard and the executive producers are Stuart Sutherland, Kathryn Mitchell and Steve Wilkinson. It is a Celtic Films Entertainment/Picture Place Films/BBC America co-production for ITV. BBC Worldwide holds the worldwide distribution rights for SHARPE’S CHALLENGE. www.bbcworldwidetv.com Global distribution rights for all other Sharpe titles are held by Granada International. www.granadamedia.com/international

Genre

Adventure

Producers Executive Producers Co-Producer

Malcolm Craddock / Muir Sutherland Stuart Sutherland / Kathryn Mitchell / Steve Wilkinson Julia Stannard

Directed by Screenplay

Tom Clegg Russell Lewis

Production Accountant Production Designer Armourer / Military Advisor 1st Assistant Director Director Of Photography Casting Director Composers Casting Director (France) Costume Designer Editor Health And Safety Advisor Lighting Gaffer Locations Manager (India) Hair & Make Up Designer Prop Master Stills Photographer Script Supervisor Script Editor Historical Consultant Production Sound Mixer Special Effects Supervisor Stunt Co-ordinator Swordmaster Horse Master

Maxine Davis Tom McCullagh Richard Rutherford-Moore Michael Mallinson Nigel Willoughby John Hubbard Dominic Muldowney, John Tams Laurence Gormezano-Wayser Claire Anderson Chris Ridsdale David Sutcliffe Tom Gates Vrajesh Sampat Marella Shearer Harveer Singh Tony Nutley Caroline O'reilly Rachel Murrell Dr Kim A. Wagner Alistair Crocker Tony Auger Gareth Milne Richard Bonehill Gerard Naprous

Running time Broadcast Dates

2 x 90 minutes (ITV1) 1 x 101 minutes (BBC America) 23 April and 24 April 2006 (ITV1)

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