"It was particularly exciting, not to say a little emotional,
morning when cast and crew gathered together to read through
the script."
Ten years ago Russell Lewis was asked to write the television
adaptation of Sharpes Battle. It was such a good experience
he was happy to be involved in Sharpes return. He explains:
It had always been Malcolm Craddocks dream to film
Sharpes Tiger, but because the story was essentially a
prequel to the Peninsular adventures, which culminated in Waterloo,
rank was very much an issue. At the end of Waterloo, Sharpe is
a Lt.Colonel, however, in Tiger hes still a Private, which
obviously colours a lot of the adventure his place in
the military pecking order, how he was able to speak to higher
ranks and how much independence he could credibly exhibit.
So, we resolved to construct a
new adventure based in part on Bernard Cornwells Indian
novels, but set after Waterloo, and which would fit in with Bernards
guideline for an adventure in the high hills. I did
some digging and found a somewhat overlooked campaign
the 2nd Maratha War 1817-1818 which by employing a certain
amount of the fog of war we could press into service. This was
a very different prospect to Sharpes Battle, not least
because of the present geo-political situation, and felt, creatively,
a bit like walking a tightrope over a minefield. The scripts
were written against the backdrop of the Iraq war and so the
central antagonist of Sharpes Tiger, the Tippoo, or Tipu
Sultan a proud Muslim warrior-king with a just grievance
was redrawn as the young and idealistic Hindu princeling
Khande Rao.
The role of villain-in-chief fell
to William Dodd a renengade East India Company officer
who features in Triumph and Fortress.
It felt right to shift the emphasis across to Dodd, who, when
alls said and done, was after exactly the same thing as
the East India Company riches and power. In his machinations,
Dodd was assisted and encouraged by the former courtesan Madhuvanthi,
another character I was able to crib from history (albeit her
name has been changed). As for our hero, I felt the story had
to acknowledge to some degree the time that had passed for Sharpe
since we left him on the hill at Mont St.Jean. So, we find him
a little older, a little wiser, and initially reluctant to be
drawn back into wars in far off places even if the request
does come from Wellington. He has become a farmer in France and
hoped to have put the killing behind him. Of course, with Sharpe
being Sharpe it was never going to be that easy.
Sharpe decides to go to India
from his sense of duty to his greatest friend Patrick
Harper. Certainly, theres a theme of friendship running
through the piece, and, even so far as the French, Sharpes
historical enemies, are concerned, Ive tried to underline
the notion that sooner or later even old enemies have to make
peace and embrace one another.
Being involved in bringing Sharpe
back to televisual life was a true consumation devoutly
to be wished. Im a huge fan of Bernards books,
so to get to play with his hero and be a part of it all was high
cotton. It was particularly exciting, not to say a little
emotional, morning when cast and crew gathered together to read
through the script. Sean was in fantastic form looking
and sounding better than ever. So it was eyes down for a full
house, Scene One, page one, and with a cry of Rifles! To
me! we were off on Sharpes Challenge!