When Covid-19 hit in March 2020, the funding Macmillan received was dealt a catastrophic blow. 98% of their income comes from public donations.

In addition, it soon became apparent cancer was becoming the “Forgotten C” and Macmillan’s services were more vital than ever. Because of this disruption, as many as 50,000 people in the UK are missing a cancer diagnosis.

This entry deals with the film, which is an ideal medium for the type of emotional storytelling we wanted to portray. With raw truth, we see Macmillan nurses literally doing ‘Whatever it takes’. We see their tough, tenacious side and their more well-known caring qualities. Having seen their unflinching grit, skill, ingenuity, humour and tenderness, we’re left with a better understanding of the important work they do.

Not applicable. Cancer and Covid-19 are unfortunately universal.

Shooting during Covid during covid meant that we couldn't work with real cancer patients. The spot features a mixture of real people and actors so we could achieve an authentic and diverse cast yet retain their genuine stories.

Jonathan wanted to find people who had an emotional backstory so he could tap into that on set . It didn’t have to be cancer but he was keen on meeting cancer survivors. All of the people we met had been affected by cancer and so casting was a real journey for all us and the casting sessions were tough . Meeting some of the cast in person was crucial for Jonathan to see if he could push their emotional levels. Some of the cast had non threatening illnesses and one of our lead children found a heart transplant on the day of the shoot.