Set in South Yorkshire, AN ANGEL FOR MAY is a lyrical fantasy-adventure that tells the tale of twelve year old schoolboy Tom, who is transported from the present to the time of the Second World War. Tom's time tunnel is a burnt out fireplace in the ruins of an old farmhouse in a remote valley and his time travel guide is a sheep dog called Tess.

Tom tumbles through the fireplace to the thriving farm, run by gruff but warm-hearted Sam Wheeler, who is looking after orphaned evacuee May.

Tom develops an immediate and strong friendship with May. Others Tom meets in the 1940s are housekeeper Susan Higgins, Sam's daughter Alison and the vigilant local bobby PC Clegg.

In the present day Tom's mother Barbara is separated from Tom's father and wants to marry Bob Harris. Tom is not happy with his mother's plans for re-marriage. Also in Tom's present day world are his next door neighbour and an old beggar woman Rosie. Stories in both timeframes are intricately told and interwoven.

Back in the present after being 'missing' for three days, Tom is shocked to hear that the friends he made in the '40s died in a bombing raid soon after he returned home. He rushes back to the magical fireplace and searches for Tess. He's desperate to get back to the past to see if he can prevent the tragedy. But what happens when he gets back there has consequences in the present that he couldn't imagine.

Running time
96 minutes and
4 x 30 minutes

Starring
Tom Wilkinson
Geraldine James
Hugo Speer
Anna Massey
Angeline Ball
Dora Bryan
Julie Cox
Matthew Beard
Charlotte Wakefield

Produced and directed by Harley Cokeliss

A Spice Factory Production in association with the Yorkshire Media Production Agency, ITV, Take Three and Portman.