Alex Westthorp Jan 23, 2017
We revisit Dark Season and Century Falls, two children's dramas that established Russell T. Davies' early screenwriting career...
Russell T. Davies, a man synonymous with the successful revival of Doctor Who, was initially a graphic artist for Why Don't You? but he did several jobs on the show, eventually writing, directing and producing the programme. He showed his versatility when he presented an edition of Play School in its final year. Saturday morning summer filler On The Waterfront made its reputation in part due to Davies' own unique take on the classic serial The Flashing Blade. Next came Breakfast Serials, which Davies both wrote and produced. When Tony Robinson decided to take a break from making Maid Marian And Her Merry Men, an afternoon drama slot opened up and Rtd's first major breakthrough in Children's television drama began with the 1991 science fiction thriller Dark Season.
See...
We revisit Dark Season and Century Falls, two children's dramas that established Russell T. Davies' early screenwriting career...
Russell T. Davies, a man synonymous with the successful revival of Doctor Who, was initially a graphic artist for Why Don't You? but he did several jobs on the show, eventually writing, directing and producing the programme. He showed his versatility when he presented an edition of Play School in its final year. Saturday morning summer filler On The Waterfront made its reputation in part due to Davies' own unique take on the classic serial The Flashing Blade. Next came Breakfast Serials, which Davies both wrote and produced. When Tony Robinson decided to take a break from making Maid Marian And Her Merry Men, an afternoon drama slot opened up and Rtd's first major breakthrough in Children's television drama began with the 1991 science fiction thriller Dark Season.
See...
- 12/6/2016
- Den of Geek
Alex pays a fond return revisit to 1960s classic TV series, The Avengers...
Stylish crime fighting, despicable evil masterminds, a bowler-hatted old Etonian gentleman spy and a series of beautiful leather cat-suited, kinky-booted, no-nonsense heroines. The Avengers had all this and more. What began as a monochrome tape series in January 1961 ran the whole of the Sixties, becoming a colourful slice of period hokum, full of flair, wit and sophistication, yet with its tongue firmly in its cheek.
Always the perfect gentleman, John Steed was played by Patrick Macnee. Originally billed second to the late Ian Hendry, Macnee was still playing Steed over 15 years later when he was teamed with the youthful duo of Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt for The New Avengers in 1976. In the 1998 film, the role of Steed was given to Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman played Emma Peel. I will say no more about the film.
Stylish crime fighting, despicable evil masterminds, a bowler-hatted old Etonian gentleman spy and a series of beautiful leather cat-suited, kinky-booted, no-nonsense heroines. The Avengers had all this and more. What began as a monochrome tape series in January 1961 ran the whole of the Sixties, becoming a colourful slice of period hokum, full of flair, wit and sophistication, yet with its tongue firmly in its cheek.
Always the perfect gentleman, John Steed was played by Patrick Macnee. Originally billed second to the late Ian Hendry, Macnee was still playing Steed over 15 years later when he was teamed with the youthful duo of Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt for The New Avengers in 1976. In the 1998 film, the role of Steed was given to Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman played Emma Peel. I will say no more about the film.
- 10/13/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The lineup for this year's Pointless Celebrities series has been announced by BBC One.
Beginning with an August 9 comedy special, the upcoming series will feature different themes each week.
Four teams of two from the world of music, TV, soaps, sport, food and drink, journalism, radio and theatre will compete for charity in weekly specials to air on Saturday evenings on BBC One.
The first show pits Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather against Ronni Ancona and Phil Cornwell, Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc, and Josh Widdicombe and his partner Sara Pascoe.
Standout teams from the series include Stefan Dennis and fellow Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou, who will square off against Ray Quinn and Louis Emerick from Brookside.
Antony Costa from Blue will team with 5ive's Scott Robinson in the music special, while TV stars Louie Spence and Carol McGiffin will face off against the likes...
Beginning with an August 9 comedy special, the upcoming series will feature different themes each week.
Four teams of two from the world of music, TV, soaps, sport, food and drink, journalism, radio and theatre will compete for charity in weekly specials to air on Saturday evenings on BBC One.
The first show pits Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather against Ronni Ancona and Phil Cornwell, Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc, and Josh Widdicombe and his partner Sara Pascoe.
Standout teams from the series include Stefan Dennis and fellow Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou, who will square off against Ray Quinn and Louis Emerick from Brookside.
Antony Costa from Blue will team with 5ive's Scott Robinson in the music special, while TV stars Louie Spence and Carol McGiffin will face off against the likes...
- 7/25/2014
- Digital Spy
Children's TV icon Derek Griffiths has joined the voice cast of CBeebies show Sarah & Duck.
The Play School and SuperTed star will join The Thick Of It's Roger Allam and Downton Abbey's Lesley Nicol in the animated series.
Griffiths will voice new character the Cloud Captain in the show, which returns in August.
Five new episodes will see Sarah & Duck embarking on more adventures, including visiting the Cloud Tower.
The episode 'Cloud Tower' will be screened at the BFI, celebrating 60 years of BBC children's characters, on Sunday, July 13, with Griffiths attending.
Producer Jamie Badminton said: "We are thrilled to welcome Derek Griffiths to the cast of Sarah & Duck. He brings incredible character and warmth to the show and complements our existing cast beautifully."
Griffiths added: "I'm delighted to be on board Sarah & Duck, it's an exciting project and a great team."
Roger Allan provides the narration for the 2D animated series,...
The Play School and SuperTed star will join The Thick Of It's Roger Allam and Downton Abbey's Lesley Nicol in the animated series.
Griffiths will voice new character the Cloud Captain in the show, which returns in August.
Five new episodes will see Sarah & Duck embarking on more adventures, including visiting the Cloud Tower.
The episode 'Cloud Tower' will be screened at the BFI, celebrating 60 years of BBC children's characters, on Sunday, July 13, with Griffiths attending.
Producer Jamie Badminton said: "We are thrilled to welcome Derek Griffiths to the cast of Sarah & Duck. He brings incredible character and warmth to the show and complements our existing cast beautifully."
Griffiths added: "I'm delighted to be on board Sarah & Duck, it's an exciting project and a great team."
Roger Allan provides the narration for the 2D animated series,...
- 7/10/2014
- Digital Spy
Iconic children's programme Play School celebrates its 50th anniversary today (April 21).
The show launched on April 21, 1964 and is noted for being the first programme to air on BBC Two.
Play School ran for 24 years until 1988 and was fronted by presenters including Brian Cant, Carol Chell, Johnny Ball, Derek Griffiths and Floella Benjamin.
The programme celebrated landmarks such as becoming the first children's programme broadcast in colour on BBC Two in 1968, and became the first children's show in the UK to feature a black host when Paul Danquah joined the team in 1965.
To mark half a century since the show's launch, Play School will be part of a special exhibition commemorating Children's BBC called 'Here's One We Made Earlier', which is due to open in July at The Lowry in Manchester.
The Children's Media Foundation are also supporting a special reunion of people who worked on the show.
Former head of...
The show launched on April 21, 1964 and is noted for being the first programme to air on BBC Two.
Play School ran for 24 years until 1988 and was fronted by presenters including Brian Cant, Carol Chell, Johnny Ball, Derek Griffiths and Floella Benjamin.
The programme celebrated landmarks such as becoming the first children's programme broadcast in colour on BBC Two in 1968, and became the first children's show in the UK to feature a black host when Paul Danquah joined the team in 1965.
To mark half a century since the show's launch, Play School will be part of a special exhibition commemorating Children's BBC called 'Here's One We Made Earlier', which is due to open in July at The Lowry in Manchester.
The Children's Media Foundation are also supporting a special reunion of people who worked on the show.
Former head of...
- 4/20/2014
- Digital Spy
This week's Digital Spy Icon is not someone you would necessarily recognise if you bumped into him down your local Asda. Although Derek Griffiths has done some fabulous work on screen down the years, entertaining generations with his sublime acting, children's TV presenting and wacky humour, his most memorable feature is actually his voice. His dulcet tones are immediately recognisable and will most probably bring tears of nostalgic joy to anyone from the ages of 25 to 65. He took starring roles in the likes of Play Away and Play School in the 1960s and 1970s, but it was when he went behind the camera that Griffiths really came into his own. His singing (more)...
- 10/8/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
The BBFC have cleared extras for the DVD release of the Second Doctor story The Dominators.
This 1968 five-part story has been expected ever since an official promo for the story was leaked to YouTube at the end of last year. The story stars Patrick Troughton as the Doctor along with Frazer Hines as Jamie and Wendy Padbury as Zoe.
The story is set on the planet Dulkis, under threat from two alien Dominators, Rago and his subordinate Toba, who have landed in a spaceship. It features the robot Quarks.
Guest stars include Ronald Allen, who was well known at the time for his starring role in the soap opera Compact and later for his role in Crossroads and Brian Cant who was a staple of Children's television in the sixties and seventies, well known for his work on Play School and Play Away and for his narration on the popular Trumpton,...
This 1968 five-part story has been expected ever since an official promo for the story was leaked to YouTube at the end of last year. The story stars Patrick Troughton as the Doctor along with Frazer Hines as Jamie and Wendy Padbury as Zoe.
The story is set on the planet Dulkis, under threat from two alien Dominators, Rago and his subordinate Toba, who have landed in a spaceship. It features the robot Quarks.
Guest stars include Ronald Allen, who was well known at the time for his starring role in the soap opera Compact and later for his role in Crossroads and Brian Cant who was a staple of Children's television in the sixties and seventies, well known for his work on Play School and Play Away and for his narration on the popular Trumpton,...
- 4/22/2010
- by Marcus
- The Doctor Who News Page
Floella Benjamin is a children's TV institution. The Trinidad-born presenter, who was rightly awarded an OBE in 2001, was one of the driving forces behind the long-running BBC kids shows Play School and Play Away. Alongside the likes of Brian Cant, Jeremy Irons and Johnny Ball, Benjamin kept millions of British children smiling with her enthusiasm in front of camera. Other successful projects from her '80s pomp included Channel 4's Treehouse and the zany sketch show Fast Forward. Aside from her work on children's (more)...
- 3/6/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
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