Fisherman’s Friends: One And All - New film charts success of shanty singers 'buoy band' including Yorkshireman

The sleepy fishing village of Port Isaac in North Cornwall has long been known for its picturesque harbour, complete with barnacle-encrusted trawlers and quaint stone cottages.

That was until a group of local fishermen and their pitch-perfect sea shanties stole the limelight.

Depicted as part of 2019’s big screen adaptation Fisherman’s Friends, the locals’ journey from innocuous a capella group to internationally renowned ‘buoy band’ has been nothing short of monumental.

Based on real life events, it’s a story that’s now set to continue as part of the forthcoming cinema release Fisherman’s Friends: One And All.

Describing the story of the Fisherman’s Friends as “a gift”, actor James Purefoy notes the highly-anticipated follow-up is no less impressive when it comes to the colossal feats achieved by this wayward group of hometown heroes. “We wouldn’t bother doing another film, if there wasn’t more story to tell,” says Purefoy, 58. “In chapter two, they end up playing Glastonbury – and not just Glastonbury, they were supporting Beyoncé on the Pyramid Stage…

“Anybody who’s seen the trailer will see me dressed up as a fish finger. That might herald the end of my career. We shall wait with bated breath to see if that happens.”

A succinct blend of comedic highs and heartfelt lows, Fisherman’s Friends: One And All is a joyful tale of the underdog, documenting the group’s triumphs as well as individual battles.

The group is bound together by lifelong friendship and shared experience for more than 25 years and among its members is ‘Professional Yorkshireman’ John McDonnell. Originally from Leeds, he moved to Port Isaac in 1977.

Purefoy says the upcoming release is not only a continuation of the group’s real life tale but “shines a light on people and characters we hadn’t seen in the first films”. It’s a nod to co-star Imelda May, who plays Aubrey Flynn, a character described as a “washed-up, notorious rock star” seeking a quieter life in Cornwall, who is perhaps the only person who can truly understand fisherman-turned-vocalist Jim’s battles on and off-stage.

“[This film] has taken it to the next level, because it examines the lives of people after they’ve had success,” notes Dublin-born May, 48. “What comes with that and family things that happen; where you are still expected to go on stage and perform like nothing’s happening at all – and I could definitely relate to that. And you know, the show must go on.”

With the initial instalment depicting the group’s rise to stardom following their first major label record deal, it also introduced the very real and emotive personal stories underpinning their success. “The first film came out about the time when we were actually leaving Europe,” reflects Purefoy. “I think there was a lot of polarisation in the country… It felt quite fractured, I think, the nation at that time.

“A story about community, family and friends, and those things being so important really acted as a kind of a balm and a sticking plaster on the nation and those who went to see it.”

With Jim losing his father early in the tale, the second film delves into the emotional impact of loss, alongside the trials and tribulations that accompany a rapid rise to fame. Fisherman’s Friends: One And All rejoins the shanty singers a year on, at a time when Jim is struggling with his mental health and using alcohol as a crutch.

Purefoy says it is but “a part of the massive Jigsaw of mental health”, noting the importance of speaking openly about such a prevalent subject matter. “It makes you realise the importance of your family and your friends and your support network around you. And how critical that is, do any of our well beings,” says Purefoy.

“I think a lot of blokes – and I’m using that word very specifically, blokes – find it quite hard to talk about their feelings [and] emotions. Sometimes if they have an emotional trauma, they sit on it, they don’t talk about it, and it squeaks out sideways and manifests itself in other ways.”

Describing the way in which his character’s increased reliance on alcohol is accompanied by anger and frustration, Purefoy says Jim begins “blaming the band and blaming his family for what’s going on around him”.

“Actually, the core of what he’s going through is the fact that he’s not dealt with the death of his father,” adds Purefoy. “And fortunately for him, he meets a woman. And it’s the love of a good woman who helps him just begin to talk about those things again.”

With Port Isaac acting as the chosen backdrop once again, the band’s success has led the quaint village to become something of a tourist hotspot. A stunning coastal setting that’s no stranger to on-screen appearances, the port has long been a go-to location for hit dramas including ITV’s Doc Martin and the BBC’s Poldark.

It is, however, an issue that translates into the real world and an increasingly important subject for local residents. With an influx of visitors flooding into the sleepy fishing village every summer, the sense of community is being diluted during the winter months by empty houses purchased as second homes.

“I did notice when we started filming, because of the lockdown, how much of the village was in darkness,” says May. Describing it as a problem that “needs to be addressed”, the singer says that “people need to be able to live in their own communities” and not be “pushed out because somebody wants a second or third home”.

May adds: “You don’t have to own something to enjoy it.”

Fisherman’s Friends: One And All docks in cinemas on Friday, August 19.