He’s got a point. Doctor Who hasn’t lacked for anniversary celebrations of late. The 60th in November 2023 came in alarmingly hot pursuit of the 50th in November 2013. (Apparently there was an entire decade between them but where’s the proof? It felt like… five minutes.)
And just before the diamond celebration, there was a whole 100-years-of-the-BBC hoopla complete with a multi-Doctor(ish) story and special episodes of Blue Peter and The Repair Shop.
Really, for anybody who’s keeping track, there must be a Doctor Who anniversary to celebrate on any given day of the year. To mark it all would be madness, and so showrunner Russell T Davies makes perfect sense when he says that 2025 won’t have a special to mark two decades since the show’s 2005 revival.
Writing in March 2024 in Doctor Who Magazine 602, Davies explained:
“…ever since I came back to this job,...
And just before the diamond celebration, there was a whole 100-years-of-the-BBC hoopla complete with a multi-Doctor(ish) story and special episodes of Blue Peter and The Repair Shop.
Really, for anybody who’s keeping track, there must be a Doctor Who anniversary to celebrate on any given day of the year. To mark it all would be madness, and so showrunner Russell T Davies makes perfect sense when he says that 2025 won’t have a special to mark two decades since the show’s 2005 revival.
Writing in March 2024 in Doctor Who Magazine 602, Davies explained:
“…ever since I came back to this job,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
UK TV producers will be given the opportunity to pitch to helm the BBC’s Eurovision Song Contest coverage, Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty) awards and iconic kids show Blue Peter as the BBC unveils its next set of tenders.
When in-house producer BBC Studios was handed the greenlight to make shows for third parties in 2017, the BBC in return said it would tender its in-house shows and give the indie sector the opportunity to bid for them. The BBC retains the rights to shows even if it loses the tender, as was the case with the likes of The Proms coverage and quiz show Mastermind.
The BBC has put Blue Peter, Cardiff Singer of the World, the Eurovision Song Contest and Spoty coverage to the market and bids will open next month. If BBC in-house loses the tenders, the first Spoty produced by the winner would air later this year,...
When in-house producer BBC Studios was handed the greenlight to make shows for third parties in 2017, the BBC in return said it would tender its in-house shows and give the indie sector the opportunity to bid for them. The BBC retains the rights to shows even if it loses the tender, as was the case with the likes of The Proms coverage and quiz show Mastermind.
The BBC has put Blue Peter, Cardiff Singer of the World, the Eurovision Song Contest and Spoty coverage to the market and bids will open next month. If BBC in-house loses the tenders, the first Spoty produced by the winner would air later this year,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Richard Bacon’s Yes Yes Media has headed on a senior hiring spree, bringing in former The X Factor showrunner Mark Sidaway and Hidden Light production boss Lydia Arding.
The indie launched six months ago, backed by an eclectic mix including Chernobyl producer Sister, Friends star Courtney Cox, French production house Satisfaction and the lead singer of Snow Patrol. It aims to create TV shows and podcasts and plans to develop proprietary hardware and software to allow viewers to interact with formats on multiple devices.
Sidaway becomes Head of Entertainment and Arding takes on the Director of Production post. Working closely with Bacon, Sidaway will build out the company’s entertainment department, while Arding will oversee all financial and operational activity for the business and drive strategy across the production slate.
Sidaway is a storied unscripted vet who most recently showran The Coronation Concert and the BBC’s Platinum...
The indie launched six months ago, backed by an eclectic mix including Chernobyl producer Sister, Friends star Courtney Cox, French production house Satisfaction and the lead singer of Snow Patrol. It aims to create TV shows and podcasts and plans to develop proprietary hardware and software to allow viewers to interact with formats on multiple devices.
Sidaway becomes Head of Entertainment and Arding takes on the Director of Production post. Working closely with Bacon, Sidaway will build out the company’s entertainment department, while Arding will oversee all financial and operational activity for the business and drive strategy across the production slate.
Sidaway is a storied unscripted vet who most recently showran The Coronation Concert and the BBC’s Platinum...
- 12/14/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Becoming Xtraordinary, a biographical docuseries showcasing inspirational life stories and insights into success, which is produced by BecomingX, a company founded by Bear Grylls that encourages personal development, studio Chrome Productions and family edutainment brand Da Vinci, is launching this Sunday, May 28.
The first 10-episode season, for which a recently launched trailer provides a taste, debuts on Da Vinci in the 8 p.m. Et time slot, with two more seasons already announced. The series will feature such Hollywood stars as Julia Roberts, Channing Tatum and Courteney Cox, along with sporting legends, such as tennis star Roger Federer, Nobel laureates and famous figures from other fields, as well as lesser-known people with inspiring stories. The show is presented by Grylls and guided by in-studio hosts Mwaksy Mudenda, a host of British entertainment series Blue Peter, and YouTube star Evan Edinger.
Da Vinci says it has more than 550 distribution partners for its...
The first 10-episode season, for which a recently launched trailer provides a taste, debuts on Da Vinci in the 8 p.m. Et time slot, with two more seasons already announced. The series will feature such Hollywood stars as Julia Roberts, Channing Tatum and Courteney Cox, along with sporting legends, such as tennis star Roger Federer, Nobel laureates and famous figures from other fields, as well as lesser-known people with inspiring stories. The show is presented by Grylls and guided by in-studio hosts Mwaksy Mudenda, a host of British entertainment series Blue Peter, and YouTube star Evan Edinger.
Da Vinci says it has more than 550 distribution partners for its...
- 5/26/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ryan Reynolds has reportedly bought a home in a small village not far from Wrexham in Wales, where he owns the city’s soccer club.
The Canadian actor snapped up a £1.5 million (just over $2.5 million Cad) house in Marford, according to The Sun.
The property is said to boast four bedrooms and is around five miles from Wrexham A.F.C’s Racecourse Ground.
Read More: Ryan Reynolds Poses With Fans Dressed As ‘Deadpool’ At Ottawa Senators Game Amid Efforts To Buy NHL Team
A source told the paper: “Ryan is moving to Marford and it’s all the locals can talk about. His house is on the poshest road.
“The most famous person from Marford is Tim Vincent from ‘Blue Peter’, so a Hollywood star is a step up!
“It might not be the Big Apple but the red carpet will be rolled out when Ryan comes to town.
The Canadian actor snapped up a £1.5 million (just over $2.5 million Cad) house in Marford, according to The Sun.
The property is said to boast four bedrooms and is around five miles from Wrexham A.F.C’s Racecourse Ground.
Read More: Ryan Reynolds Poses With Fans Dressed As ‘Deadpool’ At Ottawa Senators Game Amid Efforts To Buy NHL Team
A source told the paper: “Ryan is moving to Marford and it’s all the locals can talk about. His house is on the poshest road.
“The most famous person from Marford is Tim Vincent from ‘Blue Peter’, so a Hollywood star is a step up!
“It might not be the Big Apple but the red carpet will be rolled out when Ryan comes to town.
- 4/10/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Friends star Courteney Cox and UK producer Sister are investing in a new production venture from British TV producer Richard Bacon.
Bacon has launched Yes Yes Media, which will have bases in London and LA and focus on non-scripted and has a host of high-profile investors. Joining Cox and Sister in backing the venture are Snow Patrol star Johnny McDaid, 17-time Grammy nominee Savan Kotecha and French production house Satisfaction.
Sister, the producer behind Chernobyl and Giri/Haji, has taken a “significant stake” in the business. Yes Yes will tap into Sister’s investments in television, film, podcasting, publishing and live events to secure work.
Satisfaction will also have a “significant” stake in the business and has signed an agreement with Bacon to co-develop formats for local and global buyers.
Bacon, known for presenting British kids TV magazine show Blue Peter, also plans to develop proprietary hardware and software to...
Bacon has launched Yes Yes Media, which will have bases in London and LA and focus on non-scripted and has a host of high-profile investors. Joining Cox and Sister in backing the venture are Snow Patrol star Johnny McDaid, 17-time Grammy nominee Savan Kotecha and French production house Satisfaction.
Sister, the producer behind Chernobyl and Giri/Haji, has taken a “significant stake” in the business. Yes Yes will tap into Sister’s investments in television, film, podcasting, publishing and live events to secure work.
Satisfaction will also have a “significant” stake in the business and has signed an agreement with Bacon to co-develop formats for local and global buyers.
Bacon, known for presenting British kids TV magazine show Blue Peter, also plans to develop proprietary hardware and software to...
- 4/4/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
This week, the BBC announced the latest Blue Peter presenter – wheelchair racer Abby Cook – making her the 42nd presenter in the 65-year history of this wholesome children’s entertainment show.
Blue Peter is famous for being the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world, as well as for its iconic badge, and its notoriously disastrous time capsules.
But in amongst the strange craft projects, ‘fun’ facts and sometimes controversial competitions, Blue Peter had some real geek gems:
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill Met a Tortoise and Ate Star Wars Stew (1980)
Through a 2023 lens, this seems like a fever dream, but against the odds it all actually happened. To celebrate the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the Blue Peter team treated us to an appearance from R2D2, a strangely silent C3P0, ‘hairy old Chewbacca’ and Darth Vader.
Then the real fun happens: Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill...
Blue Peter is famous for being the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world, as well as for its iconic badge, and its notoriously disastrous time capsules.
But in amongst the strange craft projects, ‘fun’ facts and sometimes controversial competitions, Blue Peter had some real geek gems:
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill Met a Tortoise and Ate Star Wars Stew (1980)
Through a 2023 lens, this seems like a fever dream, but against the odds it all actually happened. To celebrate the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the Blue Peter team treated us to an appearance from R2D2, a strangely silent C3P0, ‘hairy old Chewbacca’ and Darth Vader.
Then the real fun happens: Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill...
- 3/8/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Sex/Life star Sarah Shahi has opened up about the season two scene where she and co-star (and real-life boyfriend) Adam Demos couldn’t stop “giggling” during filming.
The erotic drama, which was first released on Netflix in 2021, follows Billie (Shahi), a restless married woman who begins reminiscing about her former lover Brad (Adam Demos).
The series returned for a second season on Thursday (2 March) where it topped Netflix’s TV chart in the UK, with one particularly Nsfw scene already getting fans talking.
However, Shahi, who is in a relationship with her on-screen love interest Demos, admitted that it was a different scene from the finale that left her red in the face.
*Warning: Spoilers for Sex/Life season two below*
In the final episode of season two, Billie and Brad finally come together after ending their respective relationships. They get married in the last scene, and it is then revealed that Billie is pregnant.
The erotic drama, which was first released on Netflix in 2021, follows Billie (Shahi), a restless married woman who begins reminiscing about her former lover Brad (Adam Demos).
The series returned for a second season on Thursday (2 March) where it topped Netflix’s TV chart in the UK, with one particularly Nsfw scene already getting fans talking.
However, Shahi, who is in a relationship with her on-screen love interest Demos, admitted that it was a different scene from the finale that left her red in the face.
*Warning: Spoilers for Sex/Life season two below*
In the final episode of season two, Billie and Brad finally come together after ending their respective relationships. They get married in the last scene, and it is then revealed that Billie is pregnant.
- 3/6/2023
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Wheelchair racer Abby Cook has been announced as the Blue Peter’s 42nd presenter.
The 20-year-old will make her debut on the world’s longest-running children’s show on Friday (10 March), during which she will showing her skills at the track and meeting animals in the studio.
Cook, who hails from Falkirk in Scotland, said that she was “speechless” when she learnt she’d got the job on the Cbbc series, which first aired in 1958.
“I had to check it was true,” she said. “It was a very emotional moment knowing I would actually be presenting a show I love and had grown up with.”
Wheelchair user Cook trains twice a week with Paralympians as part of the athletics club Forth Valley Flyers.
Since studying applied biological science at college, she has worked as a mental health project administrator for Scottish Disability Sport and for an initiative encouraging disabled and...
The 20-year-old will make her debut on the world’s longest-running children’s show on Friday (10 March), during which she will showing her skills at the track and meeting animals in the studio.
Cook, who hails from Falkirk in Scotland, said that she was “speechless” when she learnt she’d got the job on the Cbbc series, which first aired in 1958.
“I had to check it was true,” she said. “It was a very emotional moment knowing I would actually be presenting a show I love and had grown up with.”
Wheelchair user Cook trains twice a week with Paralympians as part of the athletics club Forth Valley Flyers.
Since studying applied biological science at college, she has worked as a mental health project administrator for Scottish Disability Sport and for an initiative encouraging disabled and...
- 3/6/2023
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
BBC Studios Kids & Family has initiated a major restructure, unifying the team under one slate and budget and seeking creative, commercial and development bosses.
Cecilia Persson’s team is operating with five pillars, with respective focuses on Business, Commercial, Development, Production and Content Strategy, according to a BBC Studios spokesman.
A trio of job adverts have been issued in the past few days for a Head of Content & Strategy, Head of Commercial and VP/Creative Director, Development for the team, which is run by former WarnerMedia exec Persson. All three are newly-created and Persson will say more about them during a Mipcom keynote in October.
Once the three are onboard, the BBC Studios Kids & Family division will be significantly enhanced as it unifies to focus on one slate and budget, seeking growth in commercial kids genres such as animation, high-end drama and pre-school.
The Head of Strategy will set out...
Cecilia Persson’s team is operating with five pillars, with respective focuses on Business, Commercial, Development, Production and Content Strategy, according to a BBC Studios spokesman.
A trio of job adverts have been issued in the past few days for a Head of Content & Strategy, Head of Commercial and VP/Creative Director, Development for the team, which is run by former WarnerMedia exec Persson. All three are newly-created and Persson will say more about them during a Mipcom keynote in October.
Once the three are onboard, the BBC Studios Kids & Family division will be significantly enhanced as it unifies to focus on one slate and budget, seeking growth in commercial kids genres such as animation, high-end drama and pre-school.
The Head of Strategy will set out...
- 8/11/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC and BBC Studios have revealed that U.K. television coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest will be produced and broadcast from their broadcast center at Salford, Greater Manchester.
From this year the points awarded by the U.K. professional jury will be announced by the spokesperson from a North West of England location for the first time ever. This result will be beamed live to the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final hosts in Turin, Italy and to a global audience.
With an audience in excess of 180 million viewers, Eurovision is the world’s biggest and most watched song competition. The U.K. has participated in the contest 63 times but in recent years has an abysmal record, finishing last in 2021. Along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the U.K. is one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ countries that automatically qualify for the finals every year.
Salford will be the permanent production base for the U.
From this year the points awarded by the U.K. professional jury will be announced by the spokesperson from a North West of England location for the first time ever. This result will be beamed live to the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final hosts in Turin, Italy and to a global audience.
With an audience in excess of 180 million viewers, Eurovision is the world’s biggest and most watched song competition. The U.K. has participated in the contest 63 times but in recent years has an abysmal record, finishing last in 2021. Along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the U.K. is one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ countries that automatically qualify for the finals every year.
Salford will be the permanent production base for the U.
- 1/20/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Studios has appointed former WarnerMedia exec Cecilia Persson to head up its children’s division, which is shifting from being an in-house BBC team to operating under the commercial outfit.
Persson is the second senior Warner exec to join the BBC over the past year, following in the footsteps of Director of Children’s and Education Patricia Hidalgo, as the BBC looks to the commercial opportunities in what has traditionally been a public service genre.
Persson will lead the BBC’s in-house children’s TV department’s transition to being part of commercial outfit BBC Studios, at which point it will be able to produce programming for third parties in line with other BBC Studios divisions such as the Natural History Unit (Nhu). The in-house arm is behind BBC kids hits such as Cbbc’s Blue Peter and CBeebies’ JoJo & Gran Gran, while BBC Studios distributes global children’s...
Persson is the second senior Warner exec to join the BBC over the past year, following in the footsteps of Director of Children’s and Education Patricia Hidalgo, as the BBC looks to the commercial opportunities in what has traditionally been a public service genre.
Persson will lead the BBC’s in-house children’s TV department’s transition to being part of commercial outfit BBC Studios, at which point it will be able to produce programming for third parties in line with other BBC Studios divisions such as the Natural History Unit (Nhu). The in-house arm is behind BBC kids hits such as Cbbc’s Blue Peter and CBeebies’ JoJo & Gran Gran, while BBC Studios distributes global children’s...
- 12/8/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
A statue of Bugs Bunny in Leicester Square may have already been a featured attraction in the London hotspot but to celebrate the upcoming release of ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ the infamous bunny has had a bit of an upgrade.
The iconic figure has been brought to life with a shiny silver basketball and a backboard sporting the vibrant colours of the Tune Squad ahead of the much-anticipated release. The updated bronze statue was unveiled by young basketball players from Park View Community School in Tottenham who took part in performances and challenges alongside Sky Sports NBA presenter and former Blue Peter star Radzi Chinyanganya.
To celebrate the release of Space Jam: A New Legacy in cinemas on 16th July, young basketball players from charitable organisation Who’s Got Game and sports presenter Radzi Chinyanganya unveil the new look Bugs Bunny statue in Leicester Square, part of the long-term...
The iconic figure has been brought to life with a shiny silver basketball and a backboard sporting the vibrant colours of the Tune Squad ahead of the much-anticipated release. The updated bronze statue was unveiled by young basketball players from Park View Community School in Tottenham who took part in performances and challenges alongside Sky Sports NBA presenter and former Blue Peter star Radzi Chinyanganya.
To celebrate the release of Space Jam: A New Legacy in cinemas on 16th July, young basketball players from charitable organisation Who’s Got Game and sports presenter Radzi Chinyanganya unveil the new look Bugs Bunny statue in Leicester Square, part of the long-term...
- 7/6/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
ITV Drops First Look At ‘The Ipcress File’
ITV has offered the first look at The Ipcress File, its adaptation of Len Deighton’s spy novel, which inspired the 1965 Michael Caine film of the same name. Penned by BAFTA-winning Trainspotting writer John Hodge, the cast is led by Gangs Of London and Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole, alongside Bohemian Rhapsody actress Lucy Boynton, and The Night Manager’s Tom Hollander. The Ipcress File is the first major project housed at Will Clarke and Andy Mayson’s Altitude Television, a production arm of the British film and TV company Altitude Media Group. Filming is underway and other cast include Ashley Thomas (NYPD Blue), Joshua James (Industry), David Dencik (McMafia), and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Dublin Murders).
BBC Studios Inhales BBC Kids
BBC Studios has announced that BBC Children’s Production will become part of the commercial arm. The public service division is behind...
ITV has offered the first look at The Ipcress File, its adaptation of Len Deighton’s spy novel, which inspired the 1965 Michael Caine film of the same name. Penned by BAFTA-winning Trainspotting writer John Hodge, the cast is led by Gangs Of London and Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole, alongside Bohemian Rhapsody actress Lucy Boynton, and The Night Manager’s Tom Hollander. The Ipcress File is the first major project housed at Will Clarke and Andy Mayson’s Altitude Television, a production arm of the British film and TV company Altitude Media Group. Filming is underway and other cast include Ashley Thomas (NYPD Blue), Joshua James (Industry), David Dencik (McMafia), and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Dublin Murders).
BBC Studios Inhales BBC Kids
BBC Studios has announced that BBC Children’s Production will become part of the commercial arm. The public service division is behind...
- 3/10/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Richard Bacon is used to reinventing himself. The British presenter was notoriously booted off iconic BBC kids show Blue Peter after being caught binging cocaine, but survived the ignominy to become a near-ubiquitous presence on UK television and radio. By 2016, Bacon relocated to America to host Nat Geo’s Explorer series and later, Fox syndicated talkshow Top 30. But it’s his latest career twist that is perhaps the most remarkable: Bacon has transformed himself from the man in front of the camera, to the one creating the content — and he already has a Universal Television Alternative Studios overall deal and three series to show for his efforts.
The Brit traces this change of direction back to personal trauma in 2018, when he was struck down with suspected pneumonia on a flight from the U.S. to Britain and was placed in a medically-induced coma. He said at the time that...
The Brit traces this change of direction back to personal trauma in 2018, when he was struck down with suspected pneumonia on a flight from the U.S. to Britain and was placed in a medically-induced coma. He said at the time that...
- 2/16/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Former UK TV presenter John Leslie has been found not guilty of sexual assault at a trial in London.
The 55-year-old was accused of grabbing a woman’s breasts at a Christmas party in 2008, a complaint which was lodged to the police in 2017.
Leslie, once a prominent UK TV personality, began his career in 1989 on the BBC’s popular kids’ show Blue Peter show. He went on to host Wheel Of Fortune, This Morning and the UK version of Survivor.
According to reports from the court Leslie collapsed in tears on hearing today’s verdict. He had described the accusations as “ludicrous and crazy”, adding he had been made suicidal after the loss of his TV career and media reports about him.
His former co-presenters Anthea Turner and Fern Britton were among his character witnesses in the trial.
Judge Deborah Taylor said: “Mr Stott [Leslie’s birth name], you for the second time leave...
The 55-year-old was accused of grabbing a woman’s breasts at a Christmas party in 2008, a complaint which was lodged to the police in 2017.
Leslie, once a prominent UK TV personality, began his career in 1989 on the BBC’s popular kids’ show Blue Peter show. He went on to host Wheel Of Fortune, This Morning and the UK version of Survivor.
According to reports from the court Leslie collapsed in tears on hearing today’s verdict. He had described the accusations as “ludicrous and crazy”, adding he had been made suicidal after the loss of his TV career and media reports about him.
His former co-presenters Anthea Turner and Fern Britton were among his character witnesses in the trial.
Judge Deborah Taylor said: “Mr Stott [Leslie’s birth name], you for the second time leave...
- 10/19/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
On the afternoon of the 9th of September 1985, UK children were introduced to their new big brother. Phillip Schofield, a vision in a side-parting, a geometric print jumper and a beaming smile, arrived in the Children’s BBC Broom Cupboard to babysit the nation’s kids for an hour and a half every weekday.
Schofield’s job was to ferry us through the post-school slump and drop us off at Neighbours no later than 5.35pm. He let us watch cartoons, wished us happy birthday, praised our felt-tip drawings of Jimbo and the Jet Set, and never once told us off for eating too many packs of salt and vinegar Chipsticks before tea.
After Phillip came Debbie Flint, who was awesome because her earrings didn’t match, and then Andy Crane, who taught us all the words to the Around The World With Willy Fog theme song. Cheery Simon Parkin and...
Schofield’s job was to ferry us through the post-school slump and drop us off at Neighbours no later than 5.35pm. He let us watch cartoons, wished us happy birthday, praised our felt-tip drawings of Jimbo and the Jet Set, and never once told us off for eating too many packs of salt and vinegar Chipsticks before tea.
After Phillip came Debbie Flint, who was awesome because her earrings didn’t match, and then Andy Crane, who taught us all the words to the Around The World With Willy Fog theme song. Cheery Simon Parkin and...
- 9/9/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: British TV and radio host Richard Bacon is continuing his segue into production with an overall deal with Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal Television.
Bacon will develop and produce non-scripted shows for the World of Dance and The Wall studio. He is already in development with a couple of projects with the company.
This comes after he created The Hustler, a mystery-based gameshow that was handed a series order by ABC last year. The show, which is hosted by Craig Ferguson, is produced by All3Media’s Studio Lambert, the company behind Undercover Boss and The Circle.
Bacon is a well-known figure in the UK, where he used to host BBC kids’ series Blue Peter as well as The Big Breakfast and presented on BBC radio.
In the States, he previously hosted Nat Geo’s Explorer series, where he hiked with President Barack Obama through Yosemite National Park, and Fox syndicated talkshow Top 30,...
Bacon will develop and produce non-scripted shows for the World of Dance and The Wall studio. He is already in development with a couple of projects with the company.
This comes after he created The Hustler, a mystery-based gameshow that was handed a series order by ABC last year. The show, which is hosted by Craig Ferguson, is produced by All3Media’s Studio Lambert, the company behind Undercover Boss and The Circle.
Bacon is a well-known figure in the UK, where he used to host BBC kids’ series Blue Peter as well as The Big Breakfast and presented on BBC radio.
In the States, he previously hosted Nat Geo’s Explorer series, where he hiked with President Barack Obama through Yosemite National Park, and Fox syndicated talkshow Top 30,...
- 5/28/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Hanks plays the cherished Us children’s TV star Fred Rogers in this surprisingly moving drama about his transformative encounter with a hardbitten reporter
Has anyone in Britain ever heard of Fred Rogers? He was an American children’s TV presenter whose folksy show for toddlers, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, ran from 1968 to 2001 and made him a national treasure in the Us, much admired for the way he encouraged children (and adults) to talk and think about their feelings. But unlike Sesame Street, it was not shown in the UK and so Rogers, played here with extraordinary Zen self-possession and force by Tom Hanks, may be unfamiliar. The equivalent would be showing Americans a biopic of Blue Peter’s John Noakes. (To cast this imaginary Bafta-winner, I suggest Jamie Bell as Noakes, Erin Doherty as Valerie Singleton, Daniel Radcliffe as Peter Purves and Meryl Streep as Biddy Baxter.
Has anyone in Britain ever heard of Fred Rogers? He was an American children’s TV presenter whose folksy show for toddlers, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, ran from 1968 to 2001 and made him a national treasure in the Us, much admired for the way he encouraged children (and adults) to talk and think about their feelings. But unlike Sesame Street, it was not shown in the UK and so Rogers, played here with extraordinary Zen self-possession and force by Tom Hanks, may be unfamiliar. The equivalent would be showing Americans a biopic of Blue Peter’s John Noakes. (To cast this imaginary Bafta-winner, I suggest Jamie Bell as Noakes, Erin Doherty as Valerie Singleton, Daniel Radcliffe as Peter Purves and Meryl Streep as Biddy Baxter.
- 1/30/2020
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Angelina Jolie and the BBC want to give young viewers real tools to stop fake news,
Jolie will executive produce “BBC My World,” a program that explains the stories behind news and offers facts and information that helps kids over the age of 13 make up their own minds on pressing international issues. The series will tap the reporting of the BBC World Service and is a co-production with Jolie and Microsoft Education. The BBC will retain final editorial approval of content in the series.
“As a parent I am happy to be able to give my support to a program that aims to help children learn more about the lives of other young people around the world, and connect to them to each other,” says Jolie in a prepared statement. “I hope it will help children find the information and tools they need to make a difference on the issues that matter to them,...
Jolie will executive produce “BBC My World,” a program that explains the stories behind news and offers facts and information that helps kids over the age of 13 make up their own minds on pressing international issues. The series will tap the reporting of the BBC World Service and is a co-production with Jolie and Microsoft Education. The BBC will retain final editorial approval of content in the series.
“As a parent I am happy to be able to give my support to a program that aims to help children learn more about the lives of other young people around the world, and connect to them to each other,” says Jolie in a prepared statement. “I hope it will help children find the information and tools they need to make a difference on the issues that matter to them,...
- 1/23/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
BAFTA has announced the winners of this year’s British Academy Children’s Awards. There were three first-time winners at the ceremony in London, including Emily Burnett who won the BAFTA for Performer for her role in The Dumping Ground; Lindsey Russell for Presenter for Blue Peter; and Bella Ramsay for her performance in The Worst Witch in the Young Performer category.
Dirk Campbell, also for The Worst Witch, won in the Director category. The coming-of-age film Leaving Care, following two care leavers as they navigate a series of firsts without the help of a family, won two BAFTAs: Content For Change and Teen.
CBeebies won Channel, the seventh time since the category was introduced in 2006.
Horrible Histories won Comedy, the sixth time it has won in this category. The Drama award was won by Creeped Out.
The show that pitches the nation’s pets against each other – Play...
Dirk Campbell, also for The Worst Witch, won in the Director category. The coming-of-age film Leaving Care, following two care leavers as they navigate a series of firsts without the help of a family, won two BAFTAs: Content For Change and Teen.
CBeebies won Channel, the seventh time since the category was introduced in 2006.
Horrible Histories won Comedy, the sixth time it has won in this category. The Drama award was won by Creeped Out.
The show that pitches the nation’s pets against each other – Play...
- 12/1/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Former British television presenter John Leslie, who previously hosted kids show Blue Peter and ITV’s remake of Wheel of Fortune, has been charged over a sexual offence.
Leslie was charged by Scotland Yard’s Central West Command Unit over the incident, which is understood to have taken place in Soho, London in 2008. Leslie is reported to have been informed of the charge in June. He is set to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on July 25 to face the charge.
Scotland Yard said Leslie “was charged by postal requisition on Wednesday, 5 June with sexual touching of a woman aged 16 or over, contrary to Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003”.
Leslie has not regularly appeared on television since the early 2000s but has appeared as a radio DJ on stations including Castle FM and the Scottish Bauer Radio Am network over the last five years.
Leslie was charged by Scotland Yard’s Central West Command Unit over the incident, which is understood to have taken place in Soho, London in 2008. Leslie is reported to have been informed of the charge in June. He is set to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on July 25 to face the charge.
Scotland Yard said Leslie “was charged by postal requisition on Wednesday, 5 June with sexual touching of a woman aged 16 or over, contrary to Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003”.
Leslie has not regularly appeared on television since the early 2000s but has appeared as a radio DJ on stations including Castle FM and the Scottish Bauer Radio Am network over the last five years.
- 7/12/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
She's Kate Middleton, TV star! Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is making a surprise appearance on Thursday on the popular, long-running BBC kids' show Blue Peter, where she launched a royal garden competition, which encourages kids to design a sculpture that will in September be placed in the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley in England, inside a specific one inspired by the "Back to Nature" garden she had designed for the Chelsea Flower Show. On the TV program, Kate played with a group of children, joining them in "pond-dipping," or examining wildlife in a pond. "We're all ready to do a bit of pond-dipping,"...
- 6/13/2019
- E! Online
Produced by Germany’s Gringo Films, “Stitch Head” will pitch at March’s Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux, a leading European event for animation coming down the pipeline. Fellow German studios Lavalabs and Studio Rakete co-produce.
“Stitch Head” will be a stereoscopic 3D animated feature directed by Toby Genkel, co-director –alongside Reza Memari– of the successful “A Stork’s Journey,” a German production from Ulysses Filmproduktion which secured a U.S. release through Grindstone and Lionsgate, and was sold by Global Screen.
“Stitch Head” is a family entertainment adventure-comedy intended for mainstream audiences. According to its producers, it’s a fun take on the Frankenstein myth, where the monsters are the good guys, and the humans are scary.
“It’s based on a simple premise: If a mad professor is obsessively bringing monstrous creatures to Almost-Life in his castle’s laboratory… then who takes care of the monsters? Who keeps them fed and clean?...
“Stitch Head” will be a stereoscopic 3D animated feature directed by Toby Genkel, co-director –alongside Reza Memari– of the successful “A Stork’s Journey,” a German production from Ulysses Filmproduktion which secured a U.S. release through Grindstone and Lionsgate, and was sold by Global Screen.
“Stitch Head” is a family entertainment adventure-comedy intended for mainstream audiences. According to its producers, it’s a fun take on the Frankenstein myth, where the monsters are the good guys, and the humans are scary.
“It’s based on a simple premise: If a mad professor is obsessively bringing monstrous creatures to Almost-Life in his castle’s laboratory… then who takes care of the monsters? Who keeps them fed and clean?...
- 2/14/2019
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Louisa Mellor Mar 5, 2018
Could life get any worse for Marcella? Probably. Spoilers ahead in our review of the latest episode…
This review contains spoilers.
See related Luke Cage: making a star of a lesser-known character Jessica Jones season 2: episode titles and fantastic pulp covers released Iron Fist season 2: Alice Eve joins the cast Daredevil season 3: Vincent D’Onofrio teases Fisk's evolution The Punisher season 2 adds Supergirl's Floriana Lima
They’re never happy, TV detectives, but Marcella’s heap of woes makes the rest of these lonely, alcoholic trauma victims look like giddy little Care Bears.
Not only did Marcella’s little girl die, leaving her with regular stress-induced blackouts, but now there’s a chance the baby was killed by older brother Edward. Is that the memory Marcella’s mind has repressed all these years? This week’s episode would like us to think so.
Could life get any worse for Marcella? Probably. Spoilers ahead in our review of the latest episode…
This review contains spoilers.
See related Luke Cage: making a star of a lesser-known character Jessica Jones season 2: episode titles and fantastic pulp covers released Iron Fist season 2: Alice Eve joins the cast Daredevil season 3: Vincent D’Onofrio teases Fisk's evolution The Punisher season 2 adds Supergirl's Floriana Lima
They’re never happy, TV detectives, but Marcella’s heap of woes makes the rest of these lonely, alcoholic trauma victims look like giddy little Care Bears.
Not only did Marcella’s little girl die, leaving her with regular stress-induced blackouts, but now there’s a chance the baby was killed by older brother Edward. Is that the memory Marcella’s mind has repressed all these years? This week’s episode would like us to think so.
- 3/1/2018
- Den of Geek
Pete Dillon-Trenchard Dec 25, 2017
We dig deep into the Doctor Who Christmas special, Twice Upon A Time...
One Doctor dying at Christmas is unfortunate, but two? That’s just cruel. They’re certainly going out on a high though, at least judging by the number of references and callbacks in the episode. It’s our longest one ever, so grab a mince pie, raid the spirits cupboard and join us for our traditional festive viewing notes.
See related Krypton, Gotham and the glut of TV prequels Superman origin series Krypton in development David Goyer interview: Da Vinci’s Demons season 3, cancellation
Spoilers Lie Ahead.
Return to Snowcap
We kick off proceedings with footage from William Hartnell’s final serial The Tenth Planet, which aired from 8-29th October 1966 and was also notable for the introduction of the Cybermen – specifically the ‘Mondasian’ variety last seen in Series 10 finale The Doctor Falls.
The...
We dig deep into the Doctor Who Christmas special, Twice Upon A Time...
One Doctor dying at Christmas is unfortunate, but two? That’s just cruel. They’re certainly going out on a high though, at least judging by the number of references and callbacks in the episode. It’s our longest one ever, so grab a mince pie, raid the spirits cupboard and join us for our traditional festive viewing notes.
See related Krypton, Gotham and the glut of TV prequels Superman origin series Krypton in development David Goyer interview: Da Vinci’s Demons season 3, cancellation
Spoilers Lie Ahead.
Return to Snowcap
We kick off proceedings with footage from William Hartnell’s final serial The Tenth Planet, which aired from 8-29th October 1966 and was also notable for the introduction of the Cybermen – specifically the ‘Mondasian’ variety last seen in Series 10 finale The Doctor Falls.
The...
- 12/20/2017
- Den of Geek
Prince William and Princess Kate were awarded gold Blue Peter badges for their philanthropic work
Come back every day at 8:30 a.m. Est to watch People Now streaming live from Time Inc. headquarters in New York City, and rebroadcast at 11:30 a.m. Est. Get the absolute latest in celebrity news, real-life people stories & the best of fashion and food.
Want even more? Watch clips from yesterday’s People Now.
Come back every day at 8:30 a.m. Est to watch People Now streaming live from Time Inc. headquarters in New York City, and rebroadcast at 11:30 a.m. Est. Get the absolute latest in celebrity news, real-life people stories & the best of fashion and food.
Want even more? Watch clips from yesterday’s People Now.
- 12/12/2017
- by People Staff
- PEOPLE.com
Kate Middleton is bringing some Christmas cheer to families who lost their homes when the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy struck six months ago.
Kate, who is expecting her third child in April, helped out at the “Magic Mums” group, which aims to support mothers and their young children. During her visit, Kate, in a coat dress by Seraphine, played Santa by handing out presents, met with the young people taking part in a music workshop and helped organize the children’s Christmas party.
Seventy-one people were killed when a deadly blaze tore through Grenfell Tower in London on June 14. On Thursday,...
Kate, who is expecting her third child in April, helped out at the “Magic Mums” group, which aims to support mothers and their young children. During her visit, Kate, in a coat dress by Seraphine, played Santa by handing out presents, met with the young people taking part in a music workshop and helped organize the children’s Christmas party.
Seventy-one people were killed when a deadly blaze tore through Grenfell Tower in London on June 14. On Thursday,...
- 12/12/2017
- by Simon Perry
- PEOPLE.com
Louisa Mellor Dec 7, 2017
UK kids wouldn’t have survived the 90s without The Crystal Maze, Knightmare, Gladiators and more…
Remember boredom? Boredom was to a nineties childhood what stress is to modern adulthood – a constant and inescapable presence, relieved only by television.
See related Gotham season 4 episode 7 review: A Day In The Narrows
The difference is, even television could be boring in the nineties. Grown-ups exclusively watched One Man And His Dog, The Budget and Ballykissangel, the sort of programmes that gave you Sunday-night-dread any day of the week. Try as you might to escape border collies, Kenneth Clarke and priests having harvest festival scrapes in picturesque Irish villages, it simply wasn’t possible. There were no streaming services to come to your rescue. Video rental was a birthdays-only treat. What else were you supposed to do? Read?
Every so often, a bright light would shine through, illuminating the murk of Ground Force and Oh,...
UK kids wouldn’t have survived the 90s without The Crystal Maze, Knightmare, Gladiators and more…
Remember boredom? Boredom was to a nineties childhood what stress is to modern adulthood – a constant and inescapable presence, relieved only by television.
See related Gotham season 4 episode 7 review: A Day In The Narrows
The difference is, even television could be boring in the nineties. Grown-ups exclusively watched One Man And His Dog, The Budget and Ballykissangel, the sort of programmes that gave you Sunday-night-dread any day of the week. Try as you might to escape border collies, Kenneth Clarke and priests having harvest festival scrapes in picturesque Irish villages, it simply wasn’t possible. There were no streaming services to come to your rescue. Video rental was a birthdays-only treat. What else were you supposed to do? Read?
Every so often, a bright light would shine through, illuminating the murk of Ground Force and Oh,...
- 12/5/2017
- Den of Geek
British television presenter John Leslie has become the latest entertainer to become embroiled in a sexual assault scandal after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub in Edinburgh, Scotland. Leslie, who formerly hosted BBC kids TV series Blue Peter and the UK remake of Wheel of Fortune for ITV between 1998 and 2001, is alleged to have put his hand up a woman's skirt at Atik, a nightclub in the city's West Tollcross district in June. Leslie will…...
- 11/25/2017
- Deadline TV
Dyson has already perfected the vacuum cleaner and the bladeless fan. They have now set their sights on developing the perfect electric car. Founder James Dyson made the announcement which you can read in full below:
By 1993 we had developed several working prototypes and showed an early iteration to British television programme Blue Peter. The team went on to develop a much more sophisticated technology.
To our chagrin, nobody at the time was interested in employing our diesel exhaust capture system and we stopped the project. The industry said that ‘disposing’ of the collected soot was too much of a problem! Better to breathe it in?
In the period since, governments around the world have encouraged the adoption of oxymoronically designated ‘clean diesel’ engines through subsidies and grants. Major auto manufacturers have circumvented and duped clean air regulations. As a result, developed and developing cities are full of smog-belching cars,...
By 1993 we had developed several working prototypes and showed an early iteration to British television programme Blue Peter. The team went on to develop a much more sophisticated technology.
To our chagrin, nobody at the time was interested in employing our diesel exhaust capture system and we stopped the project. The industry said that ‘disposing’ of the collected soot was too much of a problem! Better to breathe it in?
In the period since, governments around the world have encouraged the adoption of oxymoronically designated ‘clean diesel’ engines through subsidies and grants. Major auto manufacturers have circumvented and duped clean air regulations. As a result, developed and developing cities are full of smog-belching cars,...
- 9/27/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Louisa Mellor May 30, 2017
Sad news: former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes has passed away at the age of 83...
Some sad news: television presenter John Noakes, a familiar face to children of the sixties and seventies, has passed away.
Noakes was well-loved for his work presenting BBC children's programme Blue Peter, on which he regularly performed exciting stunts to the delight of the young audience.
Noakes' name is indivisible from a generation of kids' childhood memories, and he will be remembered for his energetic, fun and warm-hearted approach.
A family statement announcing his passing confirmed that Noakes had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease in his later years and continued to say:
"Whilst he will be greatly missed by his wife, family and many friends his release from continuing ill health must be counted as a blessing".
"His many escapades with his faithful companion Shep, during his time with Blue Peter, will...
Sad news: former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes has passed away at the age of 83...
Some sad news: television presenter John Noakes, a familiar face to children of the sixties and seventies, has passed away.
Noakes was well-loved for his work presenting BBC children's programme Blue Peter, on which he regularly performed exciting stunts to the delight of the young audience.
Noakes' name is indivisible from a generation of kids' childhood memories, and he will be remembered for his energetic, fun and warm-hearted approach.
A family statement announcing his passing confirmed that Noakes had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease in his later years and continued to say:
"Whilst he will be greatly missed by his wife, family and many friends his release from continuing ill health must be counted as a blessing".
"His many escapades with his faithful companion Shep, during his time with Blue Peter, will...
- 5/30/2017
- Den of Geek
Red Carpet Interviews: The 2017 Into Film Awards – Charles Dance, Amma Asante, Sophie Cookson & more
Author: Jon Lyus
Yesterday the 2017 Into Film Awards brought together some of the brightest new young filmmakers in the UK to celebrate their achievements, and promote the ongoing commitment to teaching film in schools. Many of the young filmmakers walked the red carpet before the ceremony, rubbing shoulders with some of our finest actors, directors and producers, and we were able to speak to many of them.
Eddie Redmayne, Daniel Craig, Amma Asante and Charles Dance were among those attending the event, and our collection of interviews are below. The great work Into Film undertakes to promote film education is second to none. Supported by the BFI and the National Lottery there is much to celebrate here, and we wish them well on their continuing adventure.
Scott Davis and Dave Sztypuljak were on the red carpet yesterday to speak with the new stars of the British Film Industry. Here’s how they got on…...
Yesterday the 2017 Into Film Awards brought together some of the brightest new young filmmakers in the UK to celebrate their achievements, and promote the ongoing commitment to teaching film in schools. Many of the young filmmakers walked the red carpet before the ceremony, rubbing shoulders with some of our finest actors, directors and producers, and we were able to speak to many of them.
Eddie Redmayne, Daniel Craig, Amma Asante and Charles Dance were among those attending the event, and our collection of interviews are below. The great work Into Film undertakes to promote film education is second to none. Supported by the BFI and the National Lottery there is much to celebrate here, and we wish them well on their continuing adventure.
Scott Davis and Dave Sztypuljak were on the red carpet yesterday to speak with the new stars of the British Film Industry. Here’s how they got on…...
- 3/15/2017
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Alex Westthorp Oct 3, 2016
It's 40 years since Multi-Coloured Swap Shop made its television debut and kick-started the Saturday morning kids' TV slot...
Imagine the excitement - it's just before 9.30am on Saturday 2nd October 1976. It's almost like Christmas has come early, such is the anticipation. The nation's kids, who hitherto got their kicks at the Saturday morning pictures, settle in front of their television screens and press the button marked 'BBC1'. Those who read their parents' Radio Times know a new show is about to start with Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ Noel Edmonds at the helm. 28 year old Noel is cool and down with the kids. Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen - the Doctor and Sarah Jane from Doctor Who - are to be the first star guests, and you can actually speak to them live by telephone! The TV set warms up and the familiar blue and yellow BBC...
It's 40 years since Multi-Coloured Swap Shop made its television debut and kick-started the Saturday morning kids' TV slot...
Imagine the excitement - it's just before 9.30am on Saturday 2nd October 1976. It's almost like Christmas has come early, such is the anticipation. The nation's kids, who hitherto got their kicks at the Saturday morning pictures, settle in front of their television screens and press the button marked 'BBC1'. Those who read their parents' Radio Times know a new show is about to start with Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ Noel Edmonds at the helm. 28 year old Noel is cool and down with the kids. Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen - the Doctor and Sarah Jane from Doctor Who - are to be the first star guests, and you can actually speak to them live by telephone! The TV set warms up and the familiar blue and yellow BBC...
- 9/28/2016
- Den of Geek
Starz, in association with Sony Pictures Television, has announced today that two key roles have been cast in Outlander Season 3.
Joining Jamie’s world in the 18th century, John Bell (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) will play the role of Young Ian, a nephew of Jamie's.
Joining Claire’s world set in Boston in the 20th Century, Wil Johnson (Waking the Dead) will play her friend and medical colleague, Joe Abernathy.
Young Ian Murray is a tall, gangly Scottish lad with a heart of gold, a stubborn streak and a penchant for getting into trouble. Bursting with charm, he’s more like his adventurous, fierce uncle Jamie Fraser than his farmer father Ian – but when we meet him, he is still a very gawky boy.
However, he keeps trying to prove that he is a man and we will see him grow into quite a formidable one as the series evolves.
Joining Jamie’s world in the 18th century, John Bell (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) will play the role of Young Ian, a nephew of Jamie's.
Joining Claire’s world set in Boston in the 20th Century, Wil Johnson (Waking the Dead) will play her friend and medical colleague, Joe Abernathy.
Young Ian Murray is a tall, gangly Scottish lad with a heart of gold, a stubborn streak and a penchant for getting into trouble. Bursting with charm, he’s more like his adventurous, fierce uncle Jamie Fraser than his farmer father Ian – but when we meet him, he is still a very gawky boy.
However, he keeps trying to prove that he is a man and we will see him grow into quite a formidable one as the series evolves.
- 9/20/2016
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Alex Westthorp Sep 19, 2016
We revisit Tom's Midnight Garden, Moondial, The Chronicles Of Narnia and a few lesser-known UK children's TV series...
Read our look-back at UK kids' fantasy dramas 1980 - 1984 here.
By 1985 British TV's children's drama had really hit its stride, achieving "a balanced diet of programmes" as Edward Barnes, the head of the BBC children's department observed. The late 80s, arguably, saw a new golden age for spooky and magical kids drama. Excellent production values, improved significantly by well-honed special effects work using Quantel, Paintbox and Harry, and moreover some interesting casting - often of very talented newcomers - produced some of the most memorable dramas of the era.
The second half of the decade saw the BBC riding high on the back of the success of their state-of-the-art adaptation of John Masefield's Box Of Delights. Meanwhile, anthology series Dramarama was going from strength to strength on ITV.
We revisit Tom's Midnight Garden, Moondial, The Chronicles Of Narnia and a few lesser-known UK children's TV series...
Read our look-back at UK kids' fantasy dramas 1980 - 1984 here.
By 1985 British TV's children's drama had really hit its stride, achieving "a balanced diet of programmes" as Edward Barnes, the head of the BBC children's department observed. The late 80s, arguably, saw a new golden age for spooky and magical kids drama. Excellent production values, improved significantly by well-honed special effects work using Quantel, Paintbox and Harry, and moreover some interesting casting - often of very talented newcomers - produced some of the most memorable dramas of the era.
The second half of the decade saw the BBC riding high on the back of the success of their state-of-the-art adaptation of John Masefield's Box Of Delights. Meanwhile, anthology series Dramarama was going from strength to strength on ITV.
- 8/16/2016
- Den of Geek
Alex Westthorp Sep 14, 2016
Did fantasy dramas Chocky, The Box Of Delights and Dramarama leave an impression on you as a kid? Revisit those nightmares here...
Spooky, always magical and occasionally downright scary dramas are the bedrock of kids' television. For me, the pinnacle of this sort of programme was reached in the 1980s. The decade saw a new approach to both traditional and contemporary drama by both UK broadcasters: ITV committed itself to regular seasons of children's plays with Dramarama (1983-89), a kind of youth version of the venerable BBC Play For Today (1970-84), which saw the 1988 television debut of one David Tennant. The BBC, building upon an impressive body of work from the early 70s onwards, produced some of its very best family drama in this era, embracing cutting edge technology to bring treats like The Box Of Delights (1984) and The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (1988) to the screen.
Did fantasy dramas Chocky, The Box Of Delights and Dramarama leave an impression on you as a kid? Revisit those nightmares here...
Spooky, always magical and occasionally downright scary dramas are the bedrock of kids' television. For me, the pinnacle of this sort of programme was reached in the 1980s. The decade saw a new approach to both traditional and contemporary drama by both UK broadcasters: ITV committed itself to regular seasons of children's plays with Dramarama (1983-89), a kind of youth version of the venerable BBC Play For Today (1970-84), which saw the 1988 television debut of one David Tennant. The BBC, building upon an impressive body of work from the early 70s onwards, produced some of its very best family drama in this era, embracing cutting edge technology to bring treats like The Box Of Delights (1984) and The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (1988) to the screen.
- 8/15/2016
- Den of Geek
Rob Leane Aug 15, 2016
The Doctor Who TV movie is heading to Blu-ray, with extensive extras, on Monday the 19th of September...
The Doctor Who TV movie is heading to Blu-ray. An 'upscaled' version of Paul McGann's debut as the eighth Doctor (and Sylvester McCoy's last on-screen appearance as the seventh one, to date) will be available on Blu-ray disc from Monday the 19th of September, with this extensive list of extras...
Disc 1 Extras
• Commentary #1
From director Geoffrey Sax (recorded 2001)
• Commentary #2
By Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy, moderated by Nicolas Briggs (recorded 2009)
• The Seven Year Hitch
Documenting the return Doctor Who to the screen. Narrated by Amanda Drew.
• The Doctor’s Strange Love
Writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier discuss The TV Movie with comedian Josie Long.
• The Night of the Doctor
The Night of the Doctor was a mini-episode released in 2013 in the run-up to the show’s 50th anniversary special.
The Doctor Who TV movie is heading to Blu-ray, with extensive extras, on Monday the 19th of September...
The Doctor Who TV movie is heading to Blu-ray. An 'upscaled' version of Paul McGann's debut as the eighth Doctor (and Sylvester McCoy's last on-screen appearance as the seventh one, to date) will be available on Blu-ray disc from Monday the 19th of September, with this extensive list of extras...
Disc 1 Extras
• Commentary #1
From director Geoffrey Sax (recorded 2001)
• Commentary #2
By Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy, moderated by Nicolas Briggs (recorded 2009)
• The Seven Year Hitch
Documenting the return Doctor Who to the screen. Narrated by Amanda Drew.
• The Doctor’s Strange Love
Writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier discuss The TV Movie with comedian Josie Long.
• The Night of the Doctor
The Night of the Doctor was a mini-episode released in 2013 in the run-up to the show’s 50th anniversary special.
- 8/15/2016
- Den of Geek
Den Of Geek Aug 9, 2016
With a budget of £5 at their local pound shop, we set three of our writers the challenge of building a Dalek. Did they manage it? Er…
Channelling the spirit of summer school holiday classic Why Don’t You?, Den Of Geek decided its writers should just switch off their television sets and go out and do something less boring instead. That thing would be to construct a home-made Dalek to the best of their abilities, using a budget of £5* and items purchased at their local pound shop.
Here’s what happened.
*We were allowed to go up to £7 if required. Anyone that chose to go up to £7 definitely did not cheat - Lm
Entry 1: Carley Tauchert-Hutchins - Freelance Contributor/Dawson's Creek Fan
Can you build a Dalek for £5 using just items from your local poundshop? It wasn’t a question I was ever expecting to...
With a budget of £5 at their local pound shop, we set three of our writers the challenge of building a Dalek. Did they manage it? Er…
Channelling the spirit of summer school holiday classic Why Don’t You?, Den Of Geek decided its writers should just switch off their television sets and go out and do something less boring instead. That thing would be to construct a home-made Dalek to the best of their abilities, using a budget of £5* and items purchased at their local pound shop.
Here’s what happened.
*We were allowed to go up to £7 if required. Anyone that chose to go up to £7 definitely did not cheat - Lm
Entry 1: Carley Tauchert-Hutchins - Freelance Contributor/Dawson's Creek Fan
Can you build a Dalek for £5 using just items from your local poundshop? It wasn’t a question I was ever expecting to...
- 8/8/2016
- Den of Geek
Oscar-winner and director of The Bfg ‘always secretly privately wanted’ children’s TV’s greatest honour
Steven Spielberg has joined a select group including the Queen, Jk Rowling and Sir David Attenborough by being awarded a gold Blue Peter badge.
The Oscar-winning director, producer and screenwriter said he had “always secretly privately wanted” the badge, which is the BBC children’s television programme’s highest accolade.
Continue reading...
Steven Spielberg has joined a select group including the Queen, Jk Rowling and Sir David Attenborough by being awarded a gold Blue Peter badge.
The Oscar-winning director, producer and screenwriter said he had “always secretly privately wanted” the badge, which is the BBC children’s television programme’s highest accolade.
Continue reading...
- 7/21/2016
- by Press Association
- The Guardian - Film News
Aaron Birch Jul 13, 2016
The Crystal Maze, Cyber Zone, Fort Boyard... We look back at the UK game shows that dared to ask more than just quiz questions...
If the idea of yet another TV game show with an uninspiring presenter and ever so slight spin on the tried and tested Q&A formula fills you with apathy, you're not alone. Although TV quiz shows often rake in the viewers for a relatively low production budget, hence their popularity with TV studios, the whole genre feels a little stagnant. Perhaps it's the rise of the Internet, a general change in viewer culture, and the changing tastes that come with it. While many shows of the past delighted audiences with images of shiny new appliances, cars, and holidays to far-off destinations, today's shows mostly award cold, hard, and boring cash. Great for the winner, but not too interesting for the viewer. Give...
The Crystal Maze, Cyber Zone, Fort Boyard... We look back at the UK game shows that dared to ask more than just quiz questions...
If the idea of yet another TV game show with an uninspiring presenter and ever so slight spin on the tried and tested Q&A formula fills you with apathy, you're not alone. Although TV quiz shows often rake in the viewers for a relatively low production budget, hence their popularity with TV studios, the whole genre feels a little stagnant. Perhaps it's the rise of the Internet, a general change in viewer culture, and the changing tastes that come with it. While many shows of the past delighted audiences with images of shiny new appliances, cars, and holidays to far-off destinations, today's shows mostly award cold, hard, and boring cash. Great for the winner, but not too interesting for the viewer. Give...
- 5/23/2016
- Den of Geek
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Buffy, Doctor Who, Star Trek and more have all devoted episodes to members of their supporting cast...
Over an extended run, some television shows give off the impression that all life in their universe revolves around a small number of characters, but if they run long enough, writers and producers will invariably have to look elsewhere every once in a whle. Maybe on another day to every other episode, when the forces of evil rally and all seems lost, the good guys are... otherwise occupied, leaving someone else to pick up the slack.
As a dramatic convention in pop culture, foregrounding minor characters dates at least as far back as Tom Stoppard's 1966 play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, which takes place “in the wings” of Shakespeare's Hamlet as the two minor characters have little comprehension of the tragic events going on concurrently. But over the years, geek...
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Buffy, Doctor Who, Star Trek and more have all devoted episodes to members of their supporting cast...
Over an extended run, some television shows give off the impression that all life in their universe revolves around a small number of characters, but if they run long enough, writers and producers will invariably have to look elsewhere every once in a whle. Maybe on another day to every other episode, when the forces of evil rally and all seems lost, the good guys are... otherwise occupied, leaving someone else to pick up the slack.
As a dramatic convention in pop culture, foregrounding minor characters dates at least as far back as Tom Stoppard's 1966 play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, which takes place “in the wings” of Shakespeare's Hamlet as the two minor characters have little comprehension of the tragic events going on concurrently. But over the years, geek...
- 4/27/2016
- Den of Geek
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BBC Three put Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s wilfully shambolic live act and radio series, The Mighty Boosh, on TV…
Part of The Mighty Boosh’s delight comes from its unlikelihood as a TV sitcom. Its boundless Day-Glo imagination isn’t an immediate fit with the constraints of the form. A sunshine simpleton and his awkward, jazz-obsessed colleague meet mythic monsters and talking animals while performing expertly observed musical parody? It’s not exactly My Family.
As comedian, writer, and director of Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s 1999 Edinburgh show Arctic Boosh, Stewart Lee, put it, “No television exec would ever have gone ‘What we need is a kind of purple head with tentacles coming out of it which speaks like a member of the Small Faces’”.
And yet a television exec did. Granted, probably not in those exact words. After Danny Wallace opened the door...
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BBC Three put Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s wilfully shambolic live act and radio series, The Mighty Boosh, on TV…
Part of The Mighty Boosh’s delight comes from its unlikelihood as a TV sitcom. Its boundless Day-Glo imagination isn’t an immediate fit with the constraints of the form. A sunshine simpleton and his awkward, jazz-obsessed colleague meet mythic monsters and talking animals while performing expertly observed musical parody? It’s not exactly My Family.
As comedian, writer, and director of Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s 1999 Edinburgh show Arctic Boosh, Stewart Lee, put it, “No television exec would ever have gone ‘What we need is a kind of purple head with tentacles coming out of it which speaks like a member of the Small Faces’”.
And yet a television exec did. Granted, probably not in those exact words. After Danny Wallace opened the door...
- 2/16/2016
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
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The Gerry Anderson toys that arrived in the 1990s may have been a little bit shonky, but they provided hours of fun...
Millions of years ago, in 1992, the BBC made a very wise decision: it broadcast the Gerry Anderson series Thunderbirds on its second channel. Back in those days BBC 2 on Sunday mornings (and 6pm weekdays) appeared to be curated entirely for geeks, with episodes of Star Trek, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica and further Gerry Anderson series such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet being broadcast alongside Shooting Stars and This Morning With Richard Not Judy. It was hella formative.
The renewed popularity of Thunderbirds had led to Matchbox releasing a Tracy Island playset. This became a must-have Christmas item, to the extent that fights were reported over the remaining sets in stores. With supply failing to match demand Blue Peter - the BBC’s flagship-show-named-after-a ship’s...
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The Gerry Anderson toys that arrived in the 1990s may have been a little bit shonky, but they provided hours of fun...
Millions of years ago, in 1992, the BBC made a very wise decision: it broadcast the Gerry Anderson series Thunderbirds on its second channel. Back in those days BBC 2 on Sunday mornings (and 6pm weekdays) appeared to be curated entirely for geeks, with episodes of Star Trek, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica and further Gerry Anderson series such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet being broadcast alongside Shooting Stars and This Morning With Richard Not Judy. It was hella formative.
The renewed popularity of Thunderbirds had led to Matchbox releasing a Tracy Island playset. This became a must-have Christmas item, to the extent that fights were reported over the remaining sets in stores. With supply failing to match demand Blue Peter - the BBC’s flagship-show-named-after-a ship’s...
- 2/1/2016
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
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With help from Peter Serafinowicz, Star Wars At The BBC will bring back little-seen archive footage from coverage of the original trilogy…
Here’s an interesting one. The BBC has just announced Star Wars At The BBC, a new iPlayer-only documentary showcasing archive footage from the BBC vaults blended together with a new narration from Darth Maul’s official vocal chords provider, Peter Serafinowicz.
Star Wars At The BBC will take us on a trawl through the “BBC’s archive to find the biggest Star Wars actors and characters from the Seventies appearing on shows like Blue Peter, Pebble Mill and Ask Aspel,” according to the press bumf, and we’ve been sent a brace of exclusive images as proof (at least of the Blue Peter bit, as you can see in the gallery above).
“The footage, most of which hasn’t been seen since its original broadcast,...
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With help from Peter Serafinowicz, Star Wars At The BBC will bring back little-seen archive footage from coverage of the original trilogy…
Here’s an interesting one. The BBC has just announced Star Wars At The BBC, a new iPlayer-only documentary showcasing archive footage from the BBC vaults blended together with a new narration from Darth Maul’s official vocal chords provider, Peter Serafinowicz.
Star Wars At The BBC will take us on a trawl through the “BBC’s archive to find the biggest Star Wars actors and characters from the Seventies appearing on shows like Blue Peter, Pebble Mill and Ask Aspel,” according to the press bumf, and we’ve been sent a brace of exclusive images as proof (at least of the Blue Peter bit, as you can see in the gallery above).
“The footage, most of which hasn’t been seen since its original broadcast,...
- 12/15/2015
- by rleane
- Den of Geek
Strictly Come Dancing is already three celebrities down... and we're going to lose another this week! The remaining stars will be doing everything to make sure it's not them, so we should be in for some pretty spectacular moves this evening.
As we saw last week with Jay's quickstep, anything could happen, so join us from 6.35pm when the show kicks off on BBC One and we'll bring you all the action...
20:20That's your lot for tonight though? Do keep hitting the comments to let us know what you made of tonight's action. Who was the best? Who was the worst? And who do you think will be going home? And stick with DS for all the Strictly coverage you need!
20:17Right, so Kellie and Helen are at the top of the leaderboard... while Jeremy is down at the bottom. But will that stay the same after you've cast your votes?...
As we saw last week with Jay's quickstep, anything could happen, so join us from 6.35pm when the show kicks off on BBC One and we'll bring you all the action...
20:20That's your lot for tonight though? Do keep hitting the comments to let us know what you made of tonight's action. Who was the best? Who was the worst? And who do you think will be going home? And stick with DS for all the Strictly coverage you need!
20:17Right, so Kellie and Helen are at the top of the leaderboard... while Jeremy is down at the bottom. But will that stay the same after you've cast your votes?...
- 10/24/2015
- Digital Spy
Horrible Histories could be heading to success at this year's British Academy Children's Awards after being nominated in three categories.
The programme leads the nominations with nods in the Comedy and Writing categories, while Jessica Ransom is also nominated in the performer category for her turn as Mary, Queen of Scots.
Elsewhere, The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm is nominated in the Comedy category, while star Harry Hill is also a contender.
Meanwhile, Peppa Pig is up for awards in the Preschool: Animation and Writer categories, while Operation Ouch! is in the running for a Factual award.
Operation Ouch! hosts Drs Alexander and Chris van Tulleken are nominated for Presenter awards, as are Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes of Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up.
Harriet's Army has nominations for Drama and Writer, while The Dumping Ground, Wolfblood and Katie Morag are all up for Drama awards.
All At Sea...
The programme leads the nominations with nods in the Comedy and Writing categories, while Jessica Ransom is also nominated in the performer category for her turn as Mary, Queen of Scots.
Elsewhere, The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm is nominated in the Comedy category, while star Harry Hill is also a contender.
Meanwhile, Peppa Pig is up for awards in the Preschool: Animation and Writer categories, while Operation Ouch! is in the running for a Factual award.
Operation Ouch! hosts Drs Alexander and Chris van Tulleken are nominated for Presenter awards, as are Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes of Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up.
Harriet's Army has nominations for Drama and Writer, while The Dumping Ground, Wolfblood and Katie Morag are all up for Drama awards.
All At Sea...
- 10/22/2015
- Digital Spy
Louisa Mellor Sep 9, 2016
31 years ago, Cbbc's Broom Cupboard opened its doors. We salute some of its most memorable moments...
On the afternoon of the 9th of September 1985, UK children were introduced to their new big brother. Phillip Schofield, a vision in a side-parting, a geometric print jumper and a beaming smile, arrived in the Children’s BBC Broom Cupboard to babysit the nation’s kids for an hour and a half every weekday.
Schofield’s job was to ferry us through the post-school slump and drop us off at Neighbours no later than 5.35pm. He let us watch cartoons, wished us happy birthday, praised our felt-tip drawings of Jimbo and the Jet Set, and never once told us off for eating too many packs of salt and vinegar Chipsticks before tea.
After Phillip came Debbie Flint, who was awesome because her earrings didn’t match, and then Andy Crane, who...
31 years ago, Cbbc's Broom Cupboard opened its doors. We salute some of its most memorable moments...
On the afternoon of the 9th of September 1985, UK children were introduced to their new big brother. Phillip Schofield, a vision in a side-parting, a geometric print jumper and a beaming smile, arrived in the Children’s BBC Broom Cupboard to babysit the nation’s kids for an hour and a half every weekday.
Schofield’s job was to ferry us through the post-school slump and drop us off at Neighbours no later than 5.35pm. He let us watch cartoons, wished us happy birthday, praised our felt-tip drawings of Jimbo and the Jet Set, and never once told us off for eating too many packs of salt and vinegar Chipsticks before tea.
After Phillip came Debbie Flint, who was awesome because her earrings didn’t match, and then Andy Crane, who...
- 9/3/2015
- Den of Geek
To mark Cbbc’s thirtieth birthday, we delve into the Broom Cupboard to salute some cherished childhood memories…
On the afternoon of the 9th of September 1985, UK children were introduced to their new big brother. Phillip Schofield, a vision in a side-parting, a geometric print jumper and a beaming smile, arrived in the Children’s BBC Broom Cupboard to babysit the nation’s kids for an hour and a half every weekday.
Schofield’s job was to ferry us through the post-school slump and drop us off at Neighbours no later than 5.35pm. He let us watch cartoons, wished us happy birthday, praised our felt-tip drawings of Jimbo and the Jet Set, and never once told us off for eating too many packs of salt and vinegar Chipsticks before tea.
After Phillip came Debbie Flint, who was awesome because her earrings didn’t match, and then Andy Crane, who taught...
On the afternoon of the 9th of September 1985, UK children were introduced to their new big brother. Phillip Schofield, a vision in a side-parting, a geometric print jumper and a beaming smile, arrived in the Children’s BBC Broom Cupboard to babysit the nation’s kids for an hour and a half every weekday.
Schofield’s job was to ferry us through the post-school slump and drop us off at Neighbours no later than 5.35pm. He let us watch cartoons, wished us happy birthday, praised our felt-tip drawings of Jimbo and the Jet Set, and never once told us off for eating too many packs of salt and vinegar Chipsticks before tea.
After Phillip came Debbie Flint, who was awesome because her earrings didn’t match, and then Andy Crane, who taught...
- 9/3/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Kimberly Wyatt and John Partridge will judge Cbbc talent show The Next Step.
The pair will be joined on the panel by Simeon Qsyea, while Blue Peter's Lindsey Russell is presenting.
The reality-style drama focuses on a group of dancers who attend The Next Step Dance Studio and their highs and lows as they strive to win a series of dance competitions.
More than 1,300 dancers auditioned for the series, as the judges aim to whittle that number down to six.
"I'm so excited to be judging auditions for The Next Step," said former Pussycat Dolls star Wyatt. "I've had a fantastic journey as a professional dancer in the industry and have seen some amazing young dancers coming out of the UK.
"I look forward to seeing what our young hopefuls have to offer - I just hope they're ready to take The Next Step."
Partridge added: "I've been a...
The pair will be joined on the panel by Simeon Qsyea, while Blue Peter's Lindsey Russell is presenting.
The reality-style drama focuses on a group of dancers who attend The Next Step Dance Studio and their highs and lows as they strive to win a series of dance competitions.
More than 1,300 dancers auditioned for the series, as the judges aim to whittle that number down to six.
"I'm so excited to be judging auditions for The Next Step," said former Pussycat Dolls star Wyatt. "I've had a fantastic journey as a professional dancer in the industry and have seen some amazing young dancers coming out of the UK.
"I look forward to seeing what our young hopefuls have to offer - I just hope they're ready to take The Next Step."
Partridge added: "I've been a...
- 8/21/2015
- Digital Spy
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