Exclusive: Willy Wonka, the eccentric founder of the Wonka Chocolate Factory from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has been played by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp and Timothée Chalamet on the big screen.
He’s now set to come to the small-screen in a much different way.
Deadline understands that Netflix is preparing a reality competition series based on the Roald Dahl story. This comes after the streamer acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021.
The expansive project is the latest example of a burgeoning trend in the unscripted market in the U.S. – The Bake-Off.
We hear that Netflix went out to a number of production companies, believed to include American Idol producer Fremantle, Wall to Wall, the British production company behind Who Do You Think You Are?, Nobody’s Hero, the production company behind Netflix’s Bullsh*t: The Game Show and Snack vs. Chef, and The Garden, which was...
He’s now set to come to the small-screen in a much different way.
Deadline understands that Netflix is preparing a reality competition series based on the Roald Dahl story. This comes after the streamer acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021.
The expansive project is the latest example of a burgeoning trend in the unscripted market in the U.S. – The Bake-Off.
We hear that Netflix went out to a number of production companies, believed to include American Idol producer Fremantle, Wall to Wall, the British production company behind Who Do You Think You Are?, Nobody’s Hero, the production company behind Netflix’s Bullsh*t: The Game Show and Snack vs. Chef, and The Garden, which was...
- 5/9/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Ian Gelder, the British actor who played Kevan Lannister on HBO’s Game of Thrones and the villain Zellin on Doctor Who, has died. He was 74.
“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder,” the actor Ben Daniels announced on Instagram. Daniels revealed that Gelder had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer five months ago and that “neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.”
“He was my absolute rock and we’d been partners for more than 30 years. If we weren’t together we spoke to each other everyday,” Daniels wrote. “He was the kindest, most generous spirited and loving human being. He was a wonderful wonderful actor, and everyone who worked with him was touched by his heart and light.
“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder,” the actor Ben Daniels announced on Instagram. Daniels revealed that Gelder had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer five months ago and that “neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.”
“He was my absolute rock and we’d been partners for more than 30 years. If we weren’t together we spoke to each other everyday,” Daniels wrote. “He was the kindest, most generous spirited and loving human being. He was a wonderful wonderful actor, and everyone who worked with him was touched by his heart and light.
- 5/8/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
She is one of the first east Asian actors to play the lead in a big British drama, and her new show Red Eye is a nerve-jangler. She discusses culture shock, sexism and the sheer joy of making Crazy Rich Asians
As a teenager, Jing Lusi was something of a wild child. She was smoking and drinking by the time she was 13, frequently ended up in detention at school and even got suspended for smoking on school premises. “I needed to let off steam,” she says. The actor was rebelling against her strict parents but also against the stereotype of east Asians as well-behaved, “dorky” students. Hers was one of the few Chinese immigrant families living in Southampton in the 90s. She just wanted to fit in. “I managed to get through school by adopting this persona of: ‘I’m wild and erratic, don’t pick on me because I’m not submissive.
As a teenager, Jing Lusi was something of a wild child. She was smoking and drinking by the time she was 13, frequently ended up in detention at school and even got suspended for smoking on school premises. “I needed to let off steam,” she says. The actor was rebelling against her strict parents but also against the stereotype of east Asians as well-behaved, “dorky” students. Hers was one of the few Chinese immigrant families living in Southampton in the 90s. She just wanted to fit in. “I managed to get through school by adopting this persona of: ‘I’m wild and erratic, don’t pick on me because I’m not submissive.
- 4/10/2024
- by Ann Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
The BBC has cancelled The Goes Wrong Show, it’s finally been revealed. More details on that not-very-good news right here.
Very sad news. The BBC has cancelled The Goes Wrong Show. For anybody who hasn’t had the pleasure, the show – created and written by Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, who are also part of the onscreen ensemble – follows the misadventures of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, an amateur theatre troupe who attempt to stage a different play each week in front of a studio audience, but are woefully unsuited to the task.
From malapropisms to slapstick, egocentric fights between actors, physical comedy and stunts, Sayer, Lewis and Shields wring every possible gag out of the premise, heightened by the bravura comic acting of the Mischief Theatre ensemble – Charlie Russell, Dave Hearn, Bryony Corrigan, Nancy Zamit, Chris Leask, Greg Tannahill and Ellie Morris.
The first series was...
Very sad news. The BBC has cancelled The Goes Wrong Show. For anybody who hasn’t had the pleasure, the show – created and written by Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, who are also part of the onscreen ensemble – follows the misadventures of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, an amateur theatre troupe who attempt to stage a different play each week in front of a studio audience, but are woefully unsuited to the task.
From malapropisms to slapstick, egocentric fights between actors, physical comedy and stunts, Sayer, Lewis and Shields wring every possible gag out of the premise, heightened by the bravura comic acting of the Mischief Theatre ensemble – Charlie Russell, Dave Hearn, Bryony Corrigan, Nancy Zamit, Chris Leask, Greg Tannahill and Ellie Morris.
The first series was...
- 4/8/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Micheal Ward is a rising young British actor who has rapidly gained recognition for his acclaimed performances on screen. Though only in his mid-20s, Ward has already landed starring roles in high-profile TV shows and films, establishing himself as one of the most promising talents of his generation.
Ward first drew major attention for his role as Jamie in Top Boy, the Netflix revival of the hit crime drama series. His emotional performance as a conflicted teenager navigating London’s underground drug trade earned widespread praise. This breakthrough has led to other prominent parts, including co-starring in Steve McQueen’s award-winning anthology film series Small Axe. With his raw talent and versatility, Ward represents the future of Black British acting.
Micheal Ward in Top Boy (2011) Early Life and Education
Micheal Ward was born on June 18, 1997 in Homerton, London to parents of Jamaican descent. He grew up in Hackney with his mother,...
Ward first drew major attention for his role as Jamie in Top Boy, the Netflix revival of the hit crime drama series. His emotional performance as a conflicted teenager navigating London’s underground drug trade earned widespread praise. This breakthrough has led to other prominent parts, including co-starring in Steve McQueen’s award-winning anthology film series Small Axe. With his raw talent and versatility, Ward represents the future of Black British acting.
Micheal Ward in Top Boy (2011) Early Life and Education
Micheal Ward was born on June 18, 1997 in Homerton, London to parents of Jamaican descent. He grew up in Hackney with his mother,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Exclusive: The race to replace Ralph Lee at the helm of BBC Studios Productions is underway, with the studio signaling its ambition by approaching some of the UK’s top unscripted executives.
Lee will step down as the CEO of BBC Studios Productions next month after a six-year stint to “pursue a new challenge” but Deadline is told that headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates is already scoping out successors.
The successful candidate will run a production unit that contributed heavily to BBC Studios’ £1.6B ($2B) content revenue last year, overseeing hits including Good Omens, Strictly Come Dancing, and David Attenborough’s natural history tentpoles.
Deadline understands that Russell Reynolds has held tentative early conversations with potential candidates including Stv Studios managing director David Mortimer, ITV Studios unscripted director Angela Jain and Karl Warner, Channel 4’s outgoing head of youth and digital.
Fatima Salaria, who previously ran The Apprentice producer Naked,...
Lee will step down as the CEO of BBC Studios Productions next month after a six-year stint to “pursue a new challenge” but Deadline is told that headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates is already scoping out successors.
The successful candidate will run a production unit that contributed heavily to BBC Studios’ £1.6B ($2B) content revenue last year, overseeing hits including Good Omens, Strictly Come Dancing, and David Attenborough’s natural history tentpoles.
Deadline understands that Russell Reynolds has held tentative early conversations with potential candidates including Stv Studios managing director David Mortimer, ITV Studios unscripted director Angela Jain and Karl Warner, Channel 4’s outgoing head of youth and digital.
Fatima Salaria, who previously ran The Apprentice producer Naked,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Max Goldbart and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
A feast for the eyeballs! That’s what the UK’s new TV drama (British shows returning for another series this year are here) output looks like for 2024 – a year of thrills, chills and laughs, from supernatural escapism to immersive historical dramas, true stories brought to life, and plenty to feed Britain’s crime mystery obsession.
Here’s a flavour of what 2024 holds for your TV: book adaptations include a new imagining of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective stories coming to the BBC, a scandalous adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel Rivals (starring David Tennant), Jack Thorne’s take on Lord of the Flies, and much much more.
There’s high-stakes action in thrillers like Red Eye, Black Doves and Nightsleeper, and you can transport yourself back in time to discover the lives of a notorious eighties jewel thief in Joan, sinister Jacobean power play in Mary and George,...
Here’s a flavour of what 2024 holds for your TV: book adaptations include a new imagining of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective stories coming to the BBC, a scandalous adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel Rivals (starring David Tennant), Jack Thorne’s take on Lord of the Flies, and much much more.
There’s high-stakes action in thrillers like Red Eye, Black Doves and Nightsleeper, and you can transport yourself back in time to discover the lives of a notorious eighties jewel thief in Joan, sinister Jacobean power play in Mary and George,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Death In Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise is back for a second series, and here’s the trailer.
As Death In Paradise nears the end of its 13th series, the BBC is preparing to launch the second series of successful spin-off Beyond Paradise, the most watched new drama of last year
The new series will see the return of Kris Marshall as Di Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn PC Kelby Hartford, Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd, Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins, Jade Harison as Cs Charlie Woods, Melina Sinadinou as Zoe, Eva Feiler as Lucy, Isaac Vincent-Norgate as Ryan, Amelia Vitale as Hannah. Also returning is Selwyn the Duck.
The official synopsis reads as follows:
Shipton Abbott continues to keep Di Humphrey Goodman and his team busy, with a baffling new crime each episode. From a death on a steam train to a missing teacher,...
As Death In Paradise nears the end of its 13th series, the BBC is preparing to launch the second series of successful spin-off Beyond Paradise, the most watched new drama of last year
The new series will see the return of Kris Marshall as Di Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn PC Kelby Hartford, Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd, Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins, Jade Harison as Cs Charlie Woods, Melina Sinadinou as Zoe, Eva Feiler as Lucy, Isaac Vincent-Norgate as Ryan, Amelia Vitale as Hannah. Also returning is Selwyn the Duck.
The official synopsis reads as follows:
Shipton Abbott continues to keep Di Humphrey Goodman and his team busy, with a baffling new crime each episode. From a death on a steam train to a missing teacher,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
John Savident, best known to fans of the UK soap Coronation Street as Fred the butcher, died on Feb. 21 at the age of 86.
“He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him,” his rep said in a statement.
More from TVLinePamela Salem, of EastEnders and Doctor Who, Dead at 80Ewen MacIntosh, 'Big Keith' From UK's The Office, Dead at 50Robin Windsor, Strictly Come Dancing Star, Dead at 44
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts on the ITV sudser, reacted to her onetime...
“He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him,” his rep said in a statement.
More from TVLinePamela Salem, of EastEnders and Doctor Who, Dead at 80Ewen MacIntosh, 'Big Keith' From UK's The Office, Dead at 50Robin Windsor, Strictly Come Dancing Star, Dead at 44
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts on the ITV sudser, reacted to her onetime...
- 2/23/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
John Savident, who played the booming voiced Fred Elliott in British soap Coronation Street, died Wednesday. He was 86.
His agent confirmed his passing in a statement to press, saying: “We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February. He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Savident joined ITV soap in 1994 as a butcher with a disastrous love life. His comic timing and turn of phrase made him one of the long-running program’s most familiar faces before his character was killed off in 2006 after almost 1,000 episodes. His quirk of adding the words, “I say” in between others has been widely parodied in the UK.
The Coronation Street X account shared an image of the actor, and wrote: “Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident’s death.
His agent confirmed his passing in a statement to press, saying: “We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February. He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Savident joined ITV soap in 1994 as a butcher with a disastrous love life. His comic timing and turn of phrase made him one of the long-running program’s most familiar faces before his character was killed off in 2006 after almost 1,000 episodes. His quirk of adding the words, “I say” in between others has been widely parodied in the UK.
The Coronation Street X account shared an image of the actor, and wrote: “Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident’s death.
- 2/23/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Acorn TV, the Anglophilic streaming service, has partnered with Paramount’s British broadcaster Channel 5 on a new three-part detective drama series starring Sharon D Clarke.
The two networks have ordered Ellis, a feature-length series that stars Clarke as the eponymous detective.
Clarke, who is best known for her role on British hospital drama Holby City, is a three-time Olivier Award winner and a 2022 Tony Award nominee and has starred in series including BBC’s Showtrial and appeared in Rocketman.
The series follows Dci Ellis, a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis – accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower (Outlander) – arrive at a different police station, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked,...
The two networks have ordered Ellis, a feature-length series that stars Clarke as the eponymous detective.
Clarke, who is best known for her role on British hospital drama Holby City, is a three-time Olivier Award winner and a 2022 Tony Award nominee and has starred in series including BBC’s Showtrial and appeared in Rocketman.
The series follows Dci Ellis, a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis – accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower (Outlander) – arrive at a different police station, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked,...
- 2/6/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Death In Paradise returns to our screens in February, and the BBC have released plot and cast details.
Death In Paradise has been one of the BBC’s most successful dramas in recent years. Created by Robert Thorogood in 2011, the show’s thirteenth series is about to hit our screens. It has seen Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and current detective Ralf Little solve a remarkably high number of murders for such a small Caribbean island.
Last year, Marshall’s character Humphrey Goodman starred in spin-off Beyond Paradise, which paired him with Not Going Out star Sally Bretton and relocated the action to Cornwall. Proving popular with viewers, it recently returned for a Christmas special and a second series will be broadcast this year.
A further spin off, entitled Return to Paradise was announced last year, with action taking place in Australia.
Death In Paradise itself is back for a new series,...
Death In Paradise has been one of the BBC’s most successful dramas in recent years. Created by Robert Thorogood in 2011, the show’s thirteenth series is about to hit our screens. It has seen Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and current detective Ralf Little solve a remarkably high number of murders for such a small Caribbean island.
Last year, Marshall’s character Humphrey Goodman starred in spin-off Beyond Paradise, which paired him with Not Going Out star Sally Bretton and relocated the action to Cornwall. Proving popular with viewers, it recently returned for a Christmas special and a second series will be broadcast this year.
A further spin off, entitled Return to Paradise was announced last year, with action taking place in Australia.
Death In Paradise itself is back for a new series,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Exclusive: The Harry Potter television series is moving closer to fruition.
In April, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that a series, based on the classic wizarding world, would be coming to its streaming service Max.
Deadline understands that things in Potterworld are now heating up with a marathon of pitches underway from writers vying for the right to adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven books.
Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran and Michael Lesslie are among those who are presenting their visions to the streaming service and Warner Bros Television, sources said. It’s an interesting mix of Brits and Americans. We’ve heard that the group of writers were commissioned by Max to create pitches for a series reflecting their take on the IP.
We hear the first round of pitch meetings happened in Los Angeles this week and sources said that the top choices will go on to the next round in the UK.
In April, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that a series, based on the classic wizarding world, would be coming to its streaming service Max.
Deadline understands that things in Potterworld are now heating up with a marathon of pitches underway from writers vying for the right to adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven books.
Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran and Michael Lesslie are among those who are presenting their visions to the streaming service and Warner Bros Television, sources said. It’s an interesting mix of Brits and Americans. We’ve heard that the group of writers were commissioned by Max to create pitches for a series reflecting their take on the IP.
We hear the first round of pitch meetings happened in Los Angeles this week and sources said that the top choices will go on to the next round in the UK.
- 1/19/2024
- by Peter White, Nellie Andreeva and Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Indo-British sports drama “A Game of Two Halves,” which tackles themes of identity crisis and racial dissonance, is set for a global bow in 2024.
Directed by British Asian filmmaker Khayam Khan (“Bus Ride”), the film is set across the U.K. and India. It chronicles the transformative, coming-of-age journey of Sanjay, a young British student who discovers his true self not amidst the academic pressures of a prestigious university, but on the dusty fields of Hyderabad, India, while teaching soccer to underprivileged children.
The cast includes Saaj Raja (“Eternals”), Harish Khanna (“12th Fail”), Lucy Jackson (“The Ride”), Swaroopa Ghosh (“War”), Nikkita Chadha (“Barbie”), Sudha Bhuchar (“Mary Poppins Returns”), Chizzy Akudolu (“Holby City”), Rajiv Kumar Aneja (“Tiger Nageswara Rao”), Pawan Chopra (“Asur”) and Sachin Chaudhary (“Sacred Games”).
The film is written by Shirley Day (“My Day”). It is produced by Nicola Gregory and Sheila Nortley under the banners K Squared Films,...
Directed by British Asian filmmaker Khayam Khan (“Bus Ride”), the film is set across the U.K. and India. It chronicles the transformative, coming-of-age journey of Sanjay, a young British student who discovers his true self not amidst the academic pressures of a prestigious university, but on the dusty fields of Hyderabad, India, while teaching soccer to underprivileged children.
The cast includes Saaj Raja (“Eternals”), Harish Khanna (“12th Fail”), Lucy Jackson (“The Ride”), Swaroopa Ghosh (“War”), Nikkita Chadha (“Barbie”), Sudha Bhuchar (“Mary Poppins Returns”), Chizzy Akudolu (“Holby City”), Rajiv Kumar Aneja (“Tiger Nageswara Rao”), Pawan Chopra (“Asur”) and Sachin Chaudhary (“Sacred Games”).
The film is written by Shirley Day (“My Day”). It is produced by Nicola Gregory and Sheila Nortley under the banners K Squared Films,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Priscilla Parish has quietly stepped down as the head of drama at BBC Studios after four years.
Parish joined the BBC’s commercial production unit in October 2019 from Line of Duty and Bodyguard producer World Productions.
Her departure was not announced by BBC Studios, but the company confirmed the news to Deadline. Her replacement is expected to be announced soon.
Mark Linsey, president of scripted at BBC Studios Productions, said: “We want to thank Priscilla for all her work and wish her all the best for the future.”
Parish has overseen shows including BAFTA-winner Time, starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. A second season recently launched with Bella Ramsey and Jodie Whittaker.
Also on BBC Studios’ slate is the upcoming Kidnapped, which will dramatize the abduction of model Chloe Ayling. Parish was also an executive producer on Netflix feature Luther: The Fallen Sun.
BBC Studios has suffered some blows in recent years,...
Parish joined the BBC’s commercial production unit in October 2019 from Line of Duty and Bodyguard producer World Productions.
Her departure was not announced by BBC Studios, but the company confirmed the news to Deadline. Her replacement is expected to be announced soon.
Mark Linsey, president of scripted at BBC Studios Productions, said: “We want to thank Priscilla for all her work and wish her all the best for the future.”
Parish has overseen shows including BAFTA-winner Time, starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. A second season recently launched with Bella Ramsey and Jodie Whittaker.
Also on BBC Studios’ slate is the upcoming Kidnapped, which will dramatize the abduction of model Chloe Ayling. Parish was also an executive producer on Netflix feature Luther: The Fallen Sun.
BBC Studios has suffered some blows in recent years,...
- 11/9/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
After Di Jimmy Perez deliberately sacrificed his career in the name of justice (if not the law) and went off to pastures new with nurse Meg at the end of series seven, Shetland now has a new sheriff in town. Sort of.
While DS Tosh performs the duties of acting Di at Lerwick Police Station, detective Ruth Calder has come up from London in search of a missing witness in a serious crime case. It just so happens that Calder is an old Shetlander who left the islands as a teenager and was glad to be rid of the place, where she’s confronted by some old ghosts.
Ugly Betty and Agatha Raisin’s Ashley Jensen plays Calder, along with a new guest cast of Scottish stars as well as Shetland’s returning favourites. The latter includes Alison O’Donnell as DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh, Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson,...
While DS Tosh performs the duties of acting Di at Lerwick Police Station, detective Ruth Calder has come up from London in search of a missing witness in a serious crime case. It just so happens that Calder is an old Shetlander who left the islands as a teenager and was glad to be rid of the place, where she’s confronted by some old ghosts.
Ugly Betty and Agatha Raisin’s Ashley Jensen plays Calder, along with a new guest cast of Scottish stars as well as Shetland’s returning favourites. The latter includes Alison O’Donnell as DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh, Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
There is no cure for “Doctors,” the long-running soap that has been canceled by the BBC after 23 years for financial reasons.
Created by Chris Murray, “Doctors” debuted in 2000 and followed the lives of the staff of a National Health Service doctor’s surgery and and a university campus surgery and the lives of their families and friends in the fictional town of Letherbridge in the U.K.’s West Midlands. It has featured the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Eddie Redmayne, Sheridan Smith and Nicholas Hoult.
“Doctors” stands canceled after 23 years, 24 seasons and 4,389 episodes. It scored four BAFTA nominations, had numerous wins at the British Soap Awards and has also won gongs at the Royal Television Society and Writers’ Guild of Great Britain awards.
The BBC said in a statement: “We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama ‘Doctors’ to an end after 23 years. With super inflation in drama production,...
Created by Chris Murray, “Doctors” debuted in 2000 and followed the lives of the staff of a National Health Service doctor’s surgery and and a university campus surgery and the lives of their families and friends in the fictional town of Letherbridge in the U.K.’s West Midlands. It has featured the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Eddie Redmayne, Sheridan Smith and Nicholas Hoult.
“Doctors” stands canceled after 23 years, 24 seasons and 4,389 episodes. It scored four BAFTA nominations, had numerous wins at the British Soap Awards and has also won gongs at the Royal Television Society and Writers’ Guild of Great Britain awards.
The BBC said in a statement: “We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama ‘Doctors’ to an end after 23 years. With super inflation in drama production,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has canceled Doctors, one of its longest-running dramas of all time.
A statement from the pubcaster said the “difficult decision” to end Doctors after 23 years had been made due to “super inflation in drama production” along with the need to refurbish the site where Doctors is made. The final episode will air in December 2024 with “the finale it deserves,” said the BBC.
“With a flat license-fee, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make tough choices in order to deliver greater value to audiences,” said the statement. “With super inflation in drama production, the cost of the programme has increased significantly, and further investment is also now required to refurbish the site.”
The BBC thanked “all the Doctors cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 2000,” adding: “We know the crucial role Doctors has played in nurturing talent, and we will work to...
A statement from the pubcaster said the “difficult decision” to end Doctors after 23 years had been made due to “super inflation in drama production” along with the need to refurbish the site where Doctors is made. The final episode will air in December 2024 with “the finale it deserves,” said the BBC.
“With a flat license-fee, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make tough choices in order to deliver greater value to audiences,” said the statement. “With super inflation in drama production, the cost of the programme has increased significantly, and further investment is also now required to refurbish the site.”
The BBC thanked “all the Doctors cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 2000,” adding: “We know the crucial role Doctors has played in nurturing talent, and we will work to...
- 10/18/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Tall Story Pictures, the ITV Studios label behind returning dramas such as The Bay and Grace, has named Phil Hunter as Executive Producer. The news follows yesterday’s announcement that former Tall Story producer Patrick Schweitzer has moved to Red Production Company as CEO.
Hunter will work across projects both in production and development, and will be EP on the next series of Grace, the ITV drama which is an adaptation of Peter James’ award winning novels, starring John Simm as Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.
Most recently, Hunter was co-producer on the Apple TV+ show Criminal Record starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo. Prior to that, he was executive producer on five seasons of ITV’s Vera.
Other credits include producing Midsomer Murders for Bentley Productions, as well as working as a producer and script editor on a range of shows such as Hollyoaks, EastEnders, Holby City and Hustle.
Hunter will work across projects both in production and development, and will be EP on the next series of Grace, the ITV drama which is an adaptation of Peter James’ award winning novels, starring John Simm as Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.
Most recently, Hunter was co-producer on the Apple TV+ show Criminal Record starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo. Prior to that, he was executive producer on five seasons of ITV’s Vera.
Other credits include producing Midsomer Murders for Bentley Productions, as well as working as a producer and script editor on a range of shows such as Hollyoaks, EastEnders, Holby City and Hustle.
- 9/26/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
U.K. consultancy and theatre company Access All Areas is launching a new production outfit, co-led by learning disabled and autistic talent, and focused on improving learning disabled and neurodivergent representation in TV and film.
The launch coincides with a renewed drive for inclusion via the TV Access Project — a coalition of U.K. broadcasters and streamers who have pledged to support disability on and off screen — which is hosting a panel at this week’s Edinburgh TV Festival that will set out new standards for the industry. Access All Areas is joining the TV Access Project as a partner.
Launched in 2007, Access All Areas has worked with major broadcasters and streamers to improve accessibility at different stages of production, both on and off screen. Recent credits include “I Used to Be Famous” and “The Crown” for Netflix; “Ralph & Katie,” “The Cleaner” and “Holby City” for BBC; “Hollyoaks” for...
The launch coincides with a renewed drive for inclusion via the TV Access Project — a coalition of U.K. broadcasters and streamers who have pledged to support disability on and off screen — which is hosting a panel at this week’s Edinburgh TV Festival that will set out new standards for the industry. Access All Areas is joining the TV Access Project as a partner.
Launched in 2007, Access All Areas has worked with major broadcasters and streamers to improve accessibility at different stages of production, both on and off screen. Recent credits include “I Used to Be Famous” and “The Crown” for Netflix; “Ralph & Katie,” “The Cleaner” and “Holby City” for BBC; “Hollyoaks” for...
- 8/21/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
‘Citadel’ VFX Outfit Signs Chief Business Officer
Good Omens 2 and Citadel VFX outfit Milk has snapped up a former Dneg exec as Chief Business Development Officer and Exec Producer. Marianne Speight will lead the outfit’s new business and bidding teams, supporting group studios in London, France, Spain and Ireland. Working closely with Milk’s production team, she will focus on securing new business and developing stronger strategic relationships with major content partners across the industry. Speight is a 20-year industry vet who has previously held roles including Global Head of Bidding and Development at Dneg and VFX Producer at Scanline. Milk has recently delivered the likes of Good Omens 2, Citadel and Gerard Butler-starrer Kandahar. “Marianne has enjoyed a stellar career and we look forward to her bringing her energy, experience a’d connections to help us drive the next stage of our growth,” said Milk Executive Chairman Jag Mundi.
Good Omens 2 and Citadel VFX outfit Milk has snapped up a former Dneg exec as Chief Business Development Officer and Exec Producer. Marianne Speight will lead the outfit’s new business and bidding teams, supporting group studios in London, France, Spain and Ireland. Working closely with Milk’s production team, she will focus on securing new business and developing stronger strategic relationships with major content partners across the industry. Speight is a 20-year industry vet who has previously held roles including Global Head of Bidding and Development at Dneg and VFX Producer at Scanline. Milk has recently delivered the likes of Good Omens 2, Citadel and Gerard Butler-starrer Kandahar. “Marianne has enjoyed a stellar career and we look forward to her bringing her energy, experience a’d connections to help us drive the next stage of our growth,” said Milk Executive Chairman Jag Mundi.
- 8/18/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Back in the fall of 2003, Femi Oguns — then a working British actor who had appeared in a number of well-known U.K. TV shows — was on the streets of London handing out flyers for his yet-to-open school.
Having felt that his own experience at drama school had been stifled due to his race (he was one of just two non-white students in his year) and that there was a distinct lack of diverse talent in such institutions and a major gap in the market, he decided to launch a part-time alternative. It was to be somewhere, says Oguns — the eldest son of a British-born Nigerian mother and a Nigerian immigrant father — that would give “actors of color and from all different backgrounds the opportunity to celebrate their identity through acting.”
And so, having parked his own on-screen ambitions (although he would star alongside Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect soon after...
Having felt that his own experience at drama school had been stifled due to his race (he was one of just two non-white students in his year) and that there was a distinct lack of diverse talent in such institutions and a major gap in the market, he decided to launch a part-time alternative. It was to be somewhere, says Oguns — the eldest son of a British-born Nigerian mother and a Nigerian immigrant father — that would give “actors of color and from all different backgrounds the opportunity to celebrate their identity through acting.”
And so, having parked his own on-screen ambitions (although he would star alongside Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect soon after...
- 8/10/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Why do we find murder mysteries so uniquely relaxing? This is one of the age-old questions about human nature, up there with ‘what is consciousness?’ and ‘why do we keep eating mouldy cheese and fish eggs like it’s a good thing?’ Because, despite the grief and blood and mountains of paperwork that a gruesome murder causes, we simply can’t get enough of curling up on the sofa with a mug of tea and a cosy crime drama to keep us blissfully entertained all the way through to bedtime.
This isn’t a new thing, either: while modern series like Death in Paradise and Shakespeare and Hathaway are the current champions of cosy crime TV, back in the eighties and nineties classics like Murder She Wrote and Hetty Wainthropp Investigates taught us how it’s done. So whether you’re after the latest in the cosy crime genre or some more nostalgic viewing,...
This isn’t a new thing, either: while modern series like Death in Paradise and Shakespeare and Hathaway are the current champions of cosy crime TV, back in the eighties and nineties classics like Murder She Wrote and Hetty Wainthropp Investigates taught us how it’s done. So whether you’re after the latest in the cosy crime genre or some more nostalgic viewing,...
- 7/29/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
As non-industry folk are hopefully learning during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, the vast majority of the union's members are not multi-millionaires. Acting is a job, and if you want to maintain a successful career, you can't always be as picky as you'd like to be. You have to audition aggressively, take what's offered, and, as soon as you've completed the gig, start fretting about doing it all over again.
If you're really lucky, you might eventually piece together a body of work that serves as a calling card. At this point, you're a known quantity, someone for whom a writer might create a character. Or perhaps your strengths as a performer will make you a director's first choice for a specific role.
For most actors, it's a long, hard road to this kind of rare success, and once they've attained it, they take nothing for granted. That's why someone like...
If you're really lucky, you might eventually piece together a body of work that serves as a calling card. At this point, you're a known quantity, someone for whom a writer might create a character. Or perhaps your strengths as a performer will make you a director's first choice for a specific role.
For most actors, it's a long, hard road to this kind of rare success, and once they've attained it, they take nothing for granted. That's why someone like...
- 7/22/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Streaming
Prime Video and BBC Studios have launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India. The subscription-based service will provide Indian viewers a curated line-up of popular British content spanning dramas, comedy, documentaries, factual shows, entertainment, lifestyle programming and children’s shows. Prime members can purchase an annual add-on subscription to BBC Player for Inr 599 ($7.30) that includes full access to BBC Kids. Alternatively, members can also subscribe to BBC Kids only for Inr 199 ($2.42) annually.
Title available at launch on BBC Player include “Six Four,” “The Diplomat,” “Chivalry,” “Citizen Khan,” “Sherlock,” “Unforgotten,” “Happy Valley,” “Top Gear,” “The Great British Bake Off,” “This is Going to Hurt,” “Small Axe” and “Strictly Come Dancing.” BBC Kids will feature “Hey Duggee,” “Go Jetters,” “JoJo & Gran Gran,” “Sarah & Duck” and “Junior Bake Off.”
Stanley Fernandes, VP distribution BBC Studios, South Asia, said: “These brands will offer a curated, multi-genre content line-up,...
Prime Video and BBC Studios have launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India. The subscription-based service will provide Indian viewers a curated line-up of popular British content spanning dramas, comedy, documentaries, factual shows, entertainment, lifestyle programming and children’s shows. Prime members can purchase an annual add-on subscription to BBC Player for Inr 599 ($7.30) that includes full access to BBC Kids. Alternatively, members can also subscribe to BBC Kids only for Inr 199 ($2.42) annually.
Title available at launch on BBC Player include “Six Four,” “The Diplomat,” “Chivalry,” “Citizen Khan,” “Sherlock,” “Unforgotten,” “Happy Valley,” “Top Gear,” “The Great British Bake Off,” “This is Going to Hurt,” “Small Axe” and “Strictly Come Dancing.” BBC Kids will feature “Hey Duggee,” “Go Jetters,” “JoJo & Gran Gran,” “Sarah & Duck” and “Junior Bake Off.”
Stanley Fernandes, VP distribution BBC Studios, South Asia, said: “These brands will offer a curated, multi-genre content line-up,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Ah, Ready Steady Cook – you were a product of simpler times. The BBC’s teatime TV cooking show saw two contestants bring along a bag of ingredients, team up with a celebrity chef, (becoming Team Green Pepper and Team Red Tomato) and spend 20 minutes transforming what they’d brought into a tasty dinner.
They only had a maximum budget of £5 (which these days would probably only stretch to half a cucumber and a pot noodle) so the dishes weren’t fancy – none of this nonsense about serving some daft gravy-with-notions and calling it a ‘jus’. No, the likes of Ainsley Harriott or Anthony Worrall Thompson usually just hastily assembled a lasagne, and then the audience voted for a winner – and by ‘vote’, we mean they lifted up a picture of a green pepper or a red tomato.
It was sweet, harmless daytime TV, so when they decided to introduce a celebrity version,...
They only had a maximum budget of £5 (which these days would probably only stretch to half a cucumber and a pot noodle) so the dishes weren’t fancy – none of this nonsense about serving some daft gravy-with-notions and calling it a ‘jus’. No, the likes of Ainsley Harriott or Anthony Worrall Thompson usually just hastily assembled a lasagne, and then the audience voted for a winner – and by ‘vote’, we mean they lifted up a picture of a green pepper or a red tomato.
It was sweet, harmless daytime TV, so when they decided to introduce a celebrity version,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Ray Stevenson, a versatile actor known for genre fare such as Punisher: War Zone, the Thor movies, HBO’s Rome and much, much more, has died. He was 58.
Born George Raymond Stevenson on May 25, 1964, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, he harbored acting ambitions from an early age. He enrolled at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, from where he eventually obtained his graduate degree.
From there, he kicked off a career in British and European TV, starting with 1993’s A Woman’s Guide To Adultery, in which he had a small role as a journalist. He racked up credits in a number of TV series well known to audiences, including Peak Practice, Holby City and The Bill.
But on the small screen, his true big break was HBO’s Rome, in which he played the cheery, violent Titus Pollo. It raised his profile, and he began to score bigger parts both on TV and the big screen.
Born George Raymond Stevenson on May 25, 1964, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, he harbored acting ambitions from an early age. He enrolled at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, from where he eventually obtained his graduate degree.
From there, he kicked off a career in British and European TV, starting with 1993’s A Woman’s Guide To Adultery, in which he had a small role as a journalist. He racked up credits in a number of TV series well known to audiences, including Peak Practice, Holby City and The Bill.
But on the small screen, his true big break was HBO’s Rome, in which he played the cheery, violent Titus Pollo. It raised his profile, and he began to score bigger parts both on TV and the big screen.
- 5/23/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Crime dramas can sit on a pretty broad spectrum: some are campy, cosy and even comfortingly formulaic, whereas others make you need to sleep with the light on. The one guarantee is that in the UK at least, there’s such an appetite for detectives and crime stories that TV will never run out of new cases to solve.
We’ve already had some top examples in 2023, from the Happy Valley and Endeavour finales to the excellent Belfast-based Blue Lights, but there are plenty more fresh crime dramas on the way, from police procedurals to true crime and murder mysteries. See what’s coming up below.
After The Flood
Very much what it says on the tin, After The Flood begins… after a flood, which devastates a town, but when the waters clear they leave behind an unidentified dead man in the lift of an underground car park. PC Joanna Marshall is on the case,...
We’ve already had some top examples in 2023, from the Happy Valley and Endeavour finales to the excellent Belfast-based Blue Lights, but there are plenty more fresh crime dramas on the way, from police procedurals to true crime and murder mysteries. See what’s coming up below.
After The Flood
Very much what it says on the tin, After The Flood begins… after a flood, which devastates a town, but when the waters clear they leave behind an unidentified dead man in the lift of an underground car park. PC Joanna Marshall is on the case,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #337: ‘Make Your Film’ Live from London Independent Film Festival with Debs Paterson,...
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #337: ‘Make Your Film’ Live from London Independent Film Festival with Debs Paterson,...
- 5/8/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The second season of AMC’s Interview with the Vampire TV series is set to begin filming in Prague this week (before moving on to other locations like Paris and New Orleans), but before the cameras start rolling we have some unexpected casting news to report. Deadline has broken the news that Bailey Bass will not be reprising the role of teen vampire Claudia in season 2. Instead, she’s being replaced by Delainey Hayles, whose previous credits include the TV shows Too Close on ITV and Holby City on the BBC.
AMC provided the following statement: “Bailey Bass is a talented actor who did a remarkable job bringing the character of Claudia to life in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. For a variety of reasons, Delainey Hayles will appear as Claudia in season two. We are grateful for Bailey’s unforgettable performance in season one and wish her nothing but the best.
AMC provided the following statement: “Bailey Bass is a talented actor who did a remarkable job bringing the character of Claudia to life in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. For a variety of reasons, Delainey Hayles will appear as Claudia in season two. We are grateful for Bailey’s unforgettable performance in season one and wish her nothing but the best.
- 4/3/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The first season of AMC's "Interview With the Vampire" was a delicious high point of last year's oversaturated TV landscape, and the show is already set for a second season, but the news has now broken that it will be continuing on without one of its stars. Bailey Bass, the rising star who put a sensational spin on the character of teen vampire Claudia in the show's first batch of episodes, is stepping away from the role, per Variety. When the show returns, actor Delainey Hayles will take over the part of the eager and impetuous adoptee of turn-of-the-century undead lovers Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat (Sam Reid).
In a statement shared to her Instagram, Bass thanked the cast, crew, and fans for supporting her during her time in the "dream role." The actor didn't single out one specific reason for her departure, but said she would be unable...
In a statement shared to her Instagram, Bass thanked the cast, crew, and fans for supporting her during her time in the "dream role." The actor didn't single out one specific reason for her departure, but said she would be unable...
- 4/2/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Bailey Bass won’t be continuing in the role of Claudia for Season 2 of AMC’s “Interview With a Vampire,” the network announced late Friday.
“Bailey Bass is a talented actor who did a remarkable job bringing the character of Claudia to life in Anne Rice’s ‘Interview With the Vampire.’ For a variety of reasons, Delainey Hayles will appear as Claudia in season two. We are grateful for Bailey’s unforgettable performance in season one and wish her nothing but the best,” the network said in a statement.
In her own statement, Bass said, “Playing Claudia has been a dream role and an incredible ride. I wish Delainey the best of luck in taking over. I cannot wait to watch. I’m extremely appreciative of AMC, the producers, Jacob, Sam, the crew and, of course, the wonderful fans.”
Also Read:
AMC Studios Head Says Network Is ‘Optimally Positioned’ Following Layoffs,...
“Bailey Bass is a talented actor who did a remarkable job bringing the character of Claudia to life in Anne Rice’s ‘Interview With the Vampire.’ For a variety of reasons, Delainey Hayles will appear as Claudia in season two. We are grateful for Bailey’s unforgettable performance in season one and wish her nothing but the best,” the network said in a statement.
In her own statement, Bass said, “Playing Claudia has been a dream role and an incredible ride. I wish Delainey the best of luck in taking over. I cannot wait to watch. I’m extremely appreciative of AMC, the producers, Jacob, Sam, the crew and, of course, the wonderful fans.”
Also Read:
AMC Studios Head Says Network Is ‘Optimally Positioned’ Following Layoffs,...
- 4/1/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
With production on Season 2 of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire set to begin next week in Prague, the AMC adaptation has announced some recasting news.
Described as a “sensuous, contemporary adaptation of Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel,” AMC’s Interview With the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (played by Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian).
More from TVLineThe Walking Dead: Dead City Gets AMC Premiere Date and a Revealing PromoFear the...
Described as a “sensuous, contemporary adaptation of Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel,” AMC’s Interview With the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (played by Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian).
More from TVLineThe Walking Dead: Dead City Gets AMC Premiere Date and a Revealing PromoFear the...
- 4/1/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
“Interview With the Vampire” star Bailey Bass won’t be continuing in the role of Claudia in Season 2 of the AMC Networks show.
Delainey Hayles will take over the role. Production on Season 2 will begin next week in Prague, and the show will also shoot in Paris and New Orleans.
“Due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances I’m unable to return to Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ for the second season,” Bass said in a statement. “Playing Claudia has been a dream role and an incredible ride. I wish Delainey the best of luck in taking over. I cannot wait to watch. I’m extremely appreciative of AMC, the producers, Jacob, Sam, the crew and, of course, the wonderful fans.”
A spokesperson for AMC added, “Bailey Bass is a talented actor who did a remarkable job bringing the character of Claudia to life in Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire.
Delainey Hayles will take over the role. Production on Season 2 will begin next week in Prague, and the show will also shoot in Paris and New Orleans.
“Due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances I’m unable to return to Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ for the second season,” Bass said in a statement. “Playing Claudia has been a dream role and an incredible ride. I wish Delainey the best of luck in taking over. I cannot wait to watch. I’m extremely appreciative of AMC, the producers, Jacob, Sam, the crew and, of course, the wonderful fans.”
A spokesperson for AMC added, “Bailey Bass is a talented actor who did a remarkable job bringing the character of Claudia to life in Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire.
- 4/1/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
British actor Sylvia Syms, best known for her roles in “Ice Cold in Alex” and “Victim,” died Friday in London. She was 89.
Syms’ family said that she died at Denville Hall, a care home in London for entertainment industry people.
“Our mother, Sylvia, died peacefully this morning. She has lived an amazing life and gave us joy and laughter right up to the end. Just yesterday we were reminiscing together about all our adventures. She will be so very missed,” Syms’ children, Beatie and Ben Edney, said in a statement. “We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Denville Hall for the truly excellent care they have taken of our Mum over the past year.”
Syms was educated at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In the first phase of her storied career, Syms had significant roles in British war classic “Ice Cold in Alex...
Syms’ family said that she died at Denville Hall, a care home in London for entertainment industry people.
“Our mother, Sylvia, died peacefully this morning. She has lived an amazing life and gave us joy and laughter right up to the end. Just yesterday we were reminiscing together about all our adventures. She will be so very missed,” Syms’ children, Beatie and Ben Edney, said in a statement. “We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Denville Hall for the truly excellent care they have taken of our Mum over the past year.”
Syms was educated at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In the first phase of her storied career, Syms had significant roles in British war classic “Ice Cold in Alex...
- 1/27/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Do decent people become real bastards when they acquire wealth?” For Hugh Quarshie, that’s the central question in the soapy new drama, Riches, in which he plays the CEO of a family-run Black haircare company. For reasons that quickly become clear, Quarshie doesn’t end up having much screen time – but his impact is felt throughout the entire show. Over six episodes, the debut season follows the Richards family as they figure out how to save their business from financial ruin.
Taking the role in Riches was not a difficult decision for Quarshie. Since his first professional credit in 1979, the 68-year-old’s career has ranged widely, from medical procedural Holby City to the title role in Othello for the RSC. Earlier this year, he was Bafta-nominated for best actor in Stephen, a miniseries about the aftermath of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. When he first spoke to Riches showrunner Abby Ajayi,...
Taking the role in Riches was not a difficult decision for Quarshie. Since his first professional credit in 1979, the 68-year-old’s career has ranged widely, from medical procedural Holby City to the title role in Othello for the RSC. Earlier this year, he was Bafta-nominated for best actor in Stephen, a miniseries about the aftermath of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. When he first spoke to Riches showrunner Abby Ajayi,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
On the 8th of December, ITV Hub is being replaced by ITV’s brand-new streaming service, Itvx. Yes, this might seem like the latest in a long line of rebrands that don’t appear to change anything concrete but Itvx will host new and exclusive programmes.
Like ITV Hub currently, you’ll also be able to watch the ITV channels live on Itvx – although let’s hope the new service has ironed out the live-streaming problems that frustrated so many football fans during last year’s Euros.
Itvx: Free and Paid For Options (Including BritBox)
Itvx will have over 10,000 hours of content to stream for free, including past and present ITV dramas and documentaries, some US series, and hundreds of films (including the Back to the Future trilogy).
There’s also a paid subscription option which removes adverts and also includes BritBox – the boxset streaming service which ITV formerly collaborated...
Like ITV Hub currently, you’ll also be able to watch the ITV channels live on Itvx – although let’s hope the new service has ironed out the live-streaming problems that frustrated so many football fans during last year’s Euros.
Itvx: Free and Paid For Options (Including BritBox)
Itvx will have over 10,000 hours of content to stream for free, including past and present ITV dramas and documentaries, some US series, and hundreds of films (including the Back to the Future trilogy).
There’s also a paid subscription option which removes adverts and also includes BritBox – the boxset streaming service which ITV formerly collaborated...
- 11/15/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
The so-called “Strictly curse” has been a tabloid mainstay for at least a decade, founded on the idea that participating on Strictly Come Dancing (whether as a celebrity or a professional dancer) threatens the status of the relationship you’re in when you sign up.
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
- 10/2/2022
- by Adam White
- The Independent - TV
The so-called “Strictly curse” has been a tabloid mainstay for at least a decade, founded on the idea that participating on Strictly Come Dancing (whether as a celebrity or a professional dancer) threatens the status of the relationship you’re in when you sign up.
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
- 10/1/2022
- by Adam White
- The Independent - TV
Gwyneth Powell, who starred in the BBC’s long-running kids drama series Grange Hill as Bridget McClusky has died aged 76, her agent confirmed Monday (12 September).
Her representative, Matthew Lacey, said in a statement on behalf of the family that the actor died after “complications following a major operation for a perforated colon”.
Per the BBC, he added that she “passed away peacefully” with her husband, actor Alan Leith, and niece beside her last Thursday (8 September).
“Gwyneth will be greatly missed by her adoring family and friends along with her many fans from multiple TV appearances,” he added.
Powell played Mrs McClusky, arguably Grange Hill School’s best-known head teacher, for eleven series between 1981 to 1991.
“At first, Mrs McClusky was written as a ‘twin set and pearls’ role, but I was quite young at the time and didn’t want to play it like that,” she told the BBC in 2008.
“My...
Her representative, Matthew Lacey, said in a statement on behalf of the family that the actor died after “complications following a major operation for a perforated colon”.
Per the BBC, he added that she “passed away peacefully” with her husband, actor Alan Leith, and niece beside her last Thursday (8 September).
“Gwyneth will be greatly missed by her adoring family and friends along with her many fans from multiple TV appearances,” he added.
Powell played Mrs McClusky, arguably Grange Hill School’s best-known head teacher, for eleven series between 1981 to 1991.
“At first, Mrs McClusky was written as a ‘twin set and pearls’ role, but I was quite young at the time and didn’t want to play it like that,” she told the BBC in 2008.
“My...
- 9/12/2022
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - TV
The so-called “Strictly curse” has been a tabloid mainstay for at least a decade, founded on the idea that participating on Strictly Come Dancing (whether as a celebrity or a professional dancer) threatens the status of the relationship you’re in when you sign up.
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
- 9/6/2022
- by Adam White
- The Independent - TV
Jed Mercurio’s Htm Television’s is working on Payback, a six-part crime drama for the UK’s ITV and Britbox International. Morven Christie, Peter Mullan and Prasanna Puwanarajah are leading the cast, and screenwriter Debbie O’Malley is writing.
Billed as a “compelling character-led series,” Payback will follows Lexie Noble,, as she becomes entangled in a perilous police operation to topple a notorious crime lord, Cal Morris. Puwanarajah and Derek Riddell play financial investigators looking into Lexie’s husband Jared, who has been laundering Cal’s illegal earnings behind her back.
Htm Television Creative Director Jed Mercurio is working alongside Hill, his Htm partner Madonna Baptiste and Diederick Santer on behalf of BritBox International on the series.
Billed as a “compelling character-led series,” Payback will follows Lexie Noble,, as she becomes entangled in a perilous police operation to topple a notorious crime lord, Cal Morris. Puwanarajah and Derek Riddell play financial investigators looking into Lexie’s husband Jared, who has been laundering Cal’s illegal earnings behind her back.
Htm Television Creative Director Jed Mercurio is working alongside Hill, his Htm partner Madonna Baptiste and Diederick Santer on behalf of BritBox International on the series.
- 9/1/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
The so-called “Strictly curse” has been a tabloid mainstay for at least a decade, founded on the idea that participating on Strictly Come Dancing (whether as a celebrity or a professional dancer) threatens the status of the relationship you’re in when you sign up.
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
Stories of its destructive power arrive like clockwork each winter. Along with forgotten B-listers and stars of Holby City and/or EastEnders hitting the dance floor, hysterical headlines will report on Strictly duos left so erotically charged in pasodoble rehearsals that they dump their spouses.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has repeatedly shot down the curse, once saying that it’s less a supernatural occurrence as merely the Strictly experience being “intoxicating”. It is also true that dancing is an obvious aphrodisiac. Regardless whether you're rehearsing an intimate routine or not, dancing releases endorphins and makes you happy (it’s science!). Similarly, throwing yourself into a diligent...
- 8/30/2022
- by Adam White
- The Independent - TV
In 2019 “Killing Eve” lead Jodie Comer triumphed as Best Drama Actress on her very first Emmy nomination, notably defeating her co-star Sandra Oh, who was then on her eighth career acting bid. The 26-year-old thus became the all-time youngest Best Drama Actress winner and held that record until the very next year, when she was beaten on her second outing by Zendaya. Now that she has been recognized for her work on the final season of “Killing Eve,” Comer stands behind only Peggy Lipton (“The Mod Squad”) among the youngest women to amass three Best Drama Actress nominations.
SEE10 youngest Emmy nominees for Best Comedy Actor: List includes two former teen stars
Comer has submitted the season four “Killing Eve” episode “Don’t Get Eaten” for Emmy consideration. In the installment, which aired on BBC America in March, she plays both regular character Villanelle and a Christ-like apparition with whom Villanelle interacts.
SEE10 youngest Emmy nominees for Best Comedy Actor: List includes two former teen stars
Comer has submitted the season four “Killing Eve” episode “Don’t Get Eaten” for Emmy consideration. In the installment, which aired on BBC America in March, she plays both regular character Villanelle and a Christ-like apparition with whom Villanelle interacts.
- 8/26/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
British independent comedy feature “The Effects of Lying” has completed post-production and will be screened for distributors at BAFTA.
Based on a script by James Hey (“Doctors”), and directed by Isher Sahota (“Hollyoaks”), the film follows a dutiful husband and loving father whose life falls apart when decades of festering secrets are exposed and he’s forced to face up to who he really is. The cast includes Ace Bhatti, Laila Rouass, Navin Chowdhry, Shaheen Khan (“Mogul Mowgli”), Lauren Patel (“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”), Adam Bregman and Mark Williams (the Harry Potter franchise).
Variety caught up with the cast and crew of the film on set in London during principal photography.
The central family in the movie happens to be British Asian. “It’s not a British Asian Film. It’s a film about family, about secrets, about loss, about desire,” says Sahota of the project, which is his debut feature.
Based on a script by James Hey (“Doctors”), and directed by Isher Sahota (“Hollyoaks”), the film follows a dutiful husband and loving father whose life falls apart when decades of festering secrets are exposed and he’s forced to face up to who he really is. The cast includes Ace Bhatti, Laila Rouass, Navin Chowdhry, Shaheen Khan (“Mogul Mowgli”), Lauren Patel (“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”), Adam Bregman and Mark Williams (the Harry Potter franchise).
Variety caught up with the cast and crew of the film on set in London during principal photography.
The central family in the movie happens to be British Asian. “It’s not a British Asian Film. It’s a film about family, about secrets, about loss, about desire,” says Sahota of the project, which is his debut feature.
- 7/25/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor), Will Davis, Adelle Leonce (A Discovery of Witches), William Hope (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Steven Cree (Terminator: Dark Fate) and Sharon D Clarke will join The Hunger Games franchise’s Sam Claflin in the Lionsgate supernatural thriller, Bagman.
The film centers on Patrick McKee (Claflin), a father who desperately struggles against his deepest inner fear when a sinister threat from his childhood returns to haunt him. Only this time, the fight isn’t for himself; it’s for his family. Thomas will play Patrick’s wife Karina, with Cree as his brother, Liam. Davis is set for the title role of Bagman, with Leonce to portray Karina’s sister Anna. Hope will play Chief Isaacs, with Clarke as the therapist, Barbara.
Colm McCarthy (The Girl with All the Gifts) is directing from a script by John Hulme, with Temple Hill...
The film centers on Patrick McKee (Claflin), a father who desperately struggles against his deepest inner fear when a sinister threat from his childhood returns to haunt him. Only this time, the fight isn’t for himself; it’s for his family. Thomas will play Patrick’s wife Karina, with Cree as his brother, Liam. Davis is set for the title role of Bagman, with Leonce to portray Karina’s sister Anna. Hope will play Chief Isaacs, with Clarke as the therapist, Barbara.
Colm McCarthy (The Girl with All the Gifts) is directing from a script by John Hulme, with Temple Hill...
- 7/20/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Doctor Sleep, Harriet and The Nevers star Zackary Momoh is set to take a ride in AMC’s remake of British drama The Driver, joining the series in a lead role, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Set to launch on AMC and AMC+ and due to go into production in August, the six-part U.S. series comes from creators Danny Brocklehurst (Safe, Come Home) and Sunu Gonera (Snowfall, Class of ’09), with Theo Travers (Billions, House of Lies) set as showrunner.
The drama stars Giancarlo Esposito as a taxi driver whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to chauffeur a New Orleans-based Zimbabwean gangster, played by Momoh, and a man notorious for exploiting undocumented immigrants at U.S. southern ports. Paula Malcomson (Redemption) has also been cast as a series regular.
The three-part 2014 BBC original, created by Brocklehurst with Jim Poyser and...
Doctor Sleep, Harriet and The Nevers star Zackary Momoh is set to take a ride in AMC’s remake of British drama The Driver, joining the series in a lead role, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Set to launch on AMC and AMC+ and due to go into production in August, the six-part U.S. series comes from creators Danny Brocklehurst (Safe, Come Home) and Sunu Gonera (Snowfall, Class of ’09), with Theo Travers (Billions, House of Lies) set as showrunner.
The drama stars Giancarlo Esposito as a taxi driver whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to chauffeur a New Orleans-based Zimbabwean gangster, played by Momoh, and a man notorious for exploiting undocumented immigrants at U.S. southern ports. Paula Malcomson (Redemption) has also been cast as a series regular.
The three-part 2014 BBC original, created by Brocklehurst with Jim Poyser and...
- 7/18/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mona Hammond, a former “EastEnders” star and West End trailblazer, has died. She was 91.
No cause of death has been given.
Hammond was best known for playing “EastEnders” matriarch Blossom on the long-running British soap opera as well as co-founding the Black British theater company Talawa alongside Yvonne Brewster, Carmen Munroe and Inigo Espejel in 1986.
The actor was of Chinese and Jamaican heritage, according to the Guardian, changing her name from Mavis Chin to Mona Hammond to avoid typecasting. Hammond was born in Jamaica and moved to Britain in 1959, working in an office while attending evening acting classes. Before long, she had won a scholarship to leading British acting college Rada. She graduated in 1964 and was soon gracing the boards in theaters across the country.
She also appeared in 70 roles on screen, including in comedies “The Crouches” and “Us Girls,” as well as playing Aunty Susu in sitcom “Desmond’s,” which...
No cause of death has been given.
Hammond was best known for playing “EastEnders” matriarch Blossom on the long-running British soap opera as well as co-founding the Black British theater company Talawa alongside Yvonne Brewster, Carmen Munroe and Inigo Espejel in 1986.
The actor was of Chinese and Jamaican heritage, according to the Guardian, changing her name from Mavis Chin to Mona Hammond to avoid typecasting. Hammond was born in Jamaica and moved to Britain in 1959, working in an office while attending evening acting classes. Before long, she had won a scholarship to leading British acting college Rada. She graduated in 1964 and was soon gracing the boards in theaters across the country.
She also appeared in 70 roles on screen, including in comedies “The Crouches” and “Us Girls,” as well as playing Aunty Susu in sitcom “Desmond’s,” which...
- 7/6/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Production on Outlander Season 7 is well underway.
That much we've known for a while now.
However, story details have very much been scarce... until now.
Deadline revealed Monday that popular novel characters Denny and Rachel Hunter will be a part of the series.
Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips have joined the Starz series as Rachel and Denny, respectively.
“We’re excited to welcome Izzy and Joey to the Outlander family and can’t wait for fans to see how these two fantastic actors bring Rachel and Denzell to life,” Matthew B. Roberts, showrunner, writer, and executive producer, said in a statement to Deadline revealing the news.
In the novel series from Diana Gabaldon, the Hunter siblings become caught up with Claire and Jamie and their family.
They meet Young Ian and William, with the latter becoming injured and needing medical attention.
Meikle-Small has appeared in Never Let Me Go, Great Expectations,...
That much we've known for a while now.
However, story details have very much been scarce... until now.
Deadline revealed Monday that popular novel characters Denny and Rachel Hunter will be a part of the series.
Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips have joined the Starz series as Rachel and Denny, respectively.
“We’re excited to welcome Izzy and Joey to the Outlander family and can’t wait for fans to see how these two fantastic actors bring Rachel and Denzell to life,” Matthew B. Roberts, showrunner, writer, and executive producer, said in a statement to Deadline revealing the news.
In the novel series from Diana Gabaldon, the Hunter siblings become caught up with Claire and Jamie and their family.
They meet Young Ian and William, with the latter becoming injured and needing medical attention.
Meikle-Small has appeared in Never Let Me Go, Great Expectations,...
- 6/27/2022
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Outlanders, thy favorite show has cast two major players for Season 7 and beyond.
Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips have joined the Starz series as Rachel and Dr. Denzell Hunter, our sister site Deadline reports.
More from TVLineGarret Dillahunt Boards Hightown Season 3 as South Boston GangsterGaslit Creator Breaks Down Finale's 'Hopeful' Ending for Martha Mitchell: 'She Was F-king Right!' (Grade It!)Becoming Elizabeth Stars on Exploring Monarch's Teen Years, Inappropriate Thomas Seymour Romance
Readers of Diana Gabaldon’s novel series, on which the show is based, will recognize the Hunters as a pair of siblings who become enmeshed in...
Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips have joined the Starz series as Rachel and Dr. Denzell Hunter, our sister site Deadline reports.
More from TVLineGarret Dillahunt Boards Hightown Season 3 as South Boston GangsterGaslit Creator Breaks Down Finale's 'Hopeful' Ending for Martha Mitchell: 'She Was F-king Right!' (Grade It!)Becoming Elizabeth Stars on Exploring Monarch's Teen Years, Inappropriate Thomas Seymour Romance
Readers of Diana Gabaldon’s novel series, on which the show is based, will recognize the Hunters as a pair of siblings who become enmeshed in...
- 6/27/2022
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
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