With new Ricky Gervais’s new sitcom pilot ‘Derek’ due to air at a BAFTA screening next week, we wonder why commissioners Channel 4 appear so reluctant to simply order a full series.
The pilot features Gervais as Derek, a care home worker described as ‘a tender, innocent man whose love for his job and the people he cares for shines through. He’s 49 years old and loves animals, Rolf Harris, Jesus, Deal or No Deal, Million Pound Drop and Britain’s Got Talent – but his main hobby is autograph hunting’. The show also features Karl Pilkington, in his first acting role, and (reportedly) Sean Connery.
So, with Gervais’s sitcom history and a big name cast, this would seem to be a significant opportunity for Channel 4 to score a sure-fire hit – why are they dragging their feet in only making a pilot?
In a statement the channel say: ‘Channel 4 is very excited to be working with Ricky Gervais on this new project and it’s wrong to say we have rejected a series. The pilot will be on TV in April and then there’ll be further discussions about the potential for a full series.’
However, after the critical disaster of Gervais’s last sitcom ‘Life’s Too Short’ and (relatively) poor audience figures it would appear either that Channel 4 have slightly cold feet about what would be a major series for them or that Gervais himself wants feedback before he commits to another less-than-popular project.
You get chance to decide for yourselves as the pilot airs on Channel 4 in next month.
Channel 4 has recomissioned ‘Big Fat Gypsy Weddings’.
The station were thrilled with the response to the first series of the programme – which averaged 9.1 million viewers over five episodes – and Firecracker Films executives have already begun meeting members of travelling communities ahead of filming the six-episode series, which will air early in 2012.
Jes Wilkins, the show’s executive producer, said: “We are excited about the creative challenge of how to follow up such a successful series.
“We are extremely grateful to all the gypsies and travellers who have opened up their lives to us over the last two years and we look forward to cultivating more relationships going forward.”
The new series will explore similar rituals to the first – including lavish weddings and confirmation ceremonies – while also exploring life on the road, health, family, prejudice, cultural differences and relationships in different travelling communities, as well as work and finance issues.
Tina Flintoff, Channel 4 factual entertainment commissioning editor said:”‘Big Fat Gypsy Weddings’ was a phenomenon.
“It would have been very easy for us to just commission more of the same but we wanted to enhance the series by adding more journalism and offering an even deeper insight into the gypsy and traveller way of life without losing what makes the show accessible – the weddings, christenings and spectacular celebrations.”
As well as introducing new families, the second series will also feature popular stars of the first series, including some of the brides, Irish traveller Paddy Doherty and dressmaker Thelma Madine.
Lily Cole will play a dangerous seductress when she makes a guest appearance on ‘Doctor Who’ this Saturday (07.05.11).
The 22-year-old supermodel is set to terrorise a pirate – played by ‘Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville – and his crew as she puts them under a spell and lures them away one by one in the BBC One sci-fi drama, only to be stopped by the Time Lord and his faithful assistant Amy Pond when the Tardis lands on top of the pirate ship.
However the Doctor (Matt Smith) is at first unwilling to help the captain who pulls a gun on him, and jokes: “You’re big on the gun thing aren’t you? Freud would say that you’re compensating.”
Lily – who has also appeared alongside Heath Ledger in ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ – has previously revealed she was delighted to have landed a part in ‘Doctor Who’.
She said: “It’s a great script and a fun character and I am glad to be involved.”
According to one insider, the flame-haired beauty “jumped at the chance” to feature in the series as she’s a huge fan of the show.
The source added: “Lily’s a big fan of the show and jumped at the chance to appear. It’s a real ocean adventure.”
The Cybermen are returning to the new series of ‘Doctor Who’ – and they are bringing an old friend with them.
The metal-clad cyborgs will battle Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith when the BBC One sci-fi show hits screens later this year and they will be joined by the Cybermats – small, cybernetic creatures which resemble large metallic silverfish and which are used by their masters as weapons of attack and can tune into human brainwaves.
The iconic monsters and their ‘pets’ will reportedly feature in the same storyline which see James Corden reprise his role as Craig Owens from last season’s episode ‘The Lodger’.
The Cybermats first featured in the story ‘The Tomb of the Cybermen’, which aired in September 1967 and starred Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, and they made regular appearances up until the 1970s.
Rumours have been rife the Cybermats could be returning after they were featured in the ‘Doctor Who: The Adventure Games’ title ‘Blood of the Cybermen’, which was available as a free download on the programme’s official website last year.
In the video game, they were able to convert humans into Cyberslaves – who were subservient to their Cybermen masters.
Matt has no made no secret of the fact his favourite ‘Doctor Who’ storyline from the classic series is ‘The Tomb of the Cybermen’ and recently admitted he would love to battle the emotionless monsters, who originate from Earth’s twin planet Mondas.
He told BANG Showbiz: “I really like the old Cybermen from ‘Tomb of the Cybermen’, when they’ve got those funny little suits on, and I’ve not really faced the Cybermen properly. I mean there’s the bit where I sort of fought an arm in the ‘Pandorica Opens’, but I’d quite like to come up against them.”
Peep Show. There’s got to be something seriously wrong with your humour if you don’t find it funny.
And many people seem to agree with the series still flying high after seven years.
We’re not quite sure what the magic formula with this is, but the pairing of Mark (David Mitchell) and Jeremy (Robert Webb) just seems to work. And since series one the partnership has moved on in leaps and bounds.
They’ve grown up – Mark’s obviously going to be a dad in the next series – and begun to understand each other more, meaning that they get on far better than they once did. However, whilst some comedies may have suffered with this part, this one has only grown. This has no doubt got to be the dry humour that has run through the show since they pair first said hello. And of course let’s not forget the slightly seedy, sometimes a little bit gross, moments that we’ve all come to love.
In fact, we’ll be bold and even say that we imagine Mark is the guy Will from the Inbetweeners would grow up to be… we suppose that would make Jeremy Jay?
We don’t want to ruin the ext series too much, even though many of you would have seen the first episode thanks to Channel 4 putting it “On-Demand”, much to David’s chagrin, but we really hope the pair’s relationship remains as funny as it after the “Sophie gives birth” scenario.
The End. Finished. Over. Last night, the 86th and final episode of The Sopranos had its premiere on UK television and now we Brits can finally appreciate the controversy that surrounded the show’s last scene when broadcast in the US. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at how creator David Chase decided to spend our final minutes with Tony Soprano.
Waking at the safe house he had fled to, Tony and his crew adapted to life without green vegetables and with a new recruit in the form of a stray cat. Tony met with Agent Harris, informing him of the bank used by the two Arabs he was interested in, hoping that the FBI worker would reciprocate with news of Phil Leotardo’s location. Harris didn’t oblige on this occasion, but this odd relationship was clearly a source of optimism for a beleaguered Tony.
I love the idea that those nearest and dearest to television stars devoutly follow their loved one’s onscreen antics. Such is the case in the Sutherland household, as screen legend Donald is a big fan of son Kiefer’s action drama 24. It is reported that he never misses an episode (not even season 6? C’mon, even a loving daddy has to admit that series was woeful), and he let rip at his son once when he accidentally divulged plot spoilers. Over to Kiefer to explain: “I remember last year we were having dinner and I made the mistake of saying I had to go home soon because we’re shooting x, y and z. And he got cross with me, because I had told him what I was shooting, just not thinking about it, and obviously gave away a piece of the plot.”
Donald first fell for the charms of Jack Bauer and CTU when in France filming. “My old man started to watch 24 in France when he was on location – it didn’t have any commercials over there” explains Kiefer. “Then he came to the States and he hated the commercials. Then he went back to France and he missed the commercials, because it gave him time to breathe. I always found that funny.” Yeah – you Sutherlands are a real hoot.
I don’t know that television bosses understand environmental activists when they encourage people to recycle – as I’m not sure that TV shows count. What am I talking about? Hot on the heels of the US remake of The Bionic Woman, itself made by the man that remade Battlestar Galactica, comes news of a another beloved classic getting the 21st Century treatment: Knight Rider. NBC are reportedly interested in commissioning a new series to be produced by film director Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity) though there is no word on whether it will feature original star David Hasselhoff.
A two-hour pilot is already being prepared with this new commitment to super-car K.I.T.T. a result of the box office success of fellow 80s favourite Transformers. Much like the robots in disguise the plot will “explore the idea of evil cars to offset the heroic talking K.I.T.T. car.” Rumours are circulating that the show could even air in the US as early as next spring. Great idea or doomed mistake?
Prison Break isn’t the only popular programme returning to our screens on Monday night for its third outing, with Cornish comic drama Doc Martin back on ITV1 at 9pm. Martin Clunes as GP Martin Ellingham, Britain’s version of Gregory House, is still as grouchy, dismissive and impatient as always, as he deals with the quirky West-country natives. I’m surprised this show isn’t screened on a Sunday night, as its leisurely pacing, pretty landscapes and gentle humour are very much in that elderly folk friendly vein.
In Monday’s episode the doc is asked by school dinner-lady Alison to treat her wayward daughter Delph, who she believes has a medical condition to explain her bad behaviour. Of course, the doc disagrees and thinks that a spot of proper parenting is called for, but he is dramatically made to re-think his diagnosis after an incident at the village shop. Elsewhere, his romance with schoolteacher Louisa remains at a snail’s pace while his receptionist Pauline is frustrated with the limitations of her desk duties. Such rambling innocence.
Why do all words that imply something to be risqué make me laugh? Racy, raunchy, saucy – they all sound so embarrassed and self-conscious, so horribly British, like something my gran would say to describe a bit of kissing. Well these toe-curlingly repressed descriptions have been wheeled out for David Duchovny’s new series Californication. The show sees the former Fox Mulder as Hank Moody, a struggling writer with a predilection for the ladies and has been upsetting folk down under.
Australian sponsors have pulled their commercials from being sandwiched between scenes of full frontal nudity and underage sex, and now religious groups are encouraging more advertisers to follow suit. The show has received great reviews in the States since it premiered last month, though is broadcast on the cable channel Showtime there which includes other more adult-oriented programmes such as Weeds, Brotherhood and Dexter. A shame that some people are not satisfied to just reach for their off button, but want to see the show off the air.
Hidden away in the murky depths of Living TV’s programming schedule is the return of the lesbian drama The L Word. Back for its fourth season, The L Word often suffers from that most ingratiating of labels: ‘a cult.’ For industry bods that means a marginal audience that can be neglected (it doesn’t start til 12am!) but should mean a committed viewership that shouldn’t have to suffer late nights to enjoy their favourite programme. What else are Living TV showing that they can’t shift in their planning – repeats of Most Haunted or Jerry Springer?
This teaser trailer for the fourth outing comes courtesy of American network Showtime and reminds us of our old favourites and introduces interesting new faces (is that Cybill Shepherd in there?) With Shane back in L.A., Helena minus her mum’s money and Kit hitting hard times – the girl’s don’t skimp on the action, even if they do on the clothes sometimes.
I know that in the wrong hands top-ten lists can be cheesy, tired and clichéd. They can overly simplify matters and reduce a broad and complex subject into convenient, restricted numbers. Fear not, TV Scoopers – these are not the wrong hands, and so I give you the Top 10 best British actors on American TV.
With the Emmy nominations out, everyone in Britain looks to see who we have nominated from Blighty. Some of these stars receive the acclaim and attention they are deserving of, while the impressive acting and convincing accents of others are neglected in little seen programmes. By limiting this list down to actors rather than all imports, I am omitting presenters (Cat Deeley, Craig Ferguson), reality show stars (The Osbournes), reality show judges (Simon Cowell, Nigel Lythgoe) and any other such folk who have achieved success Stateside (Gordon Ramsay, Darren Brown.) I am ignoring those whose British programmes have fared well (Ricky Gervais, Helen Mirren), those that have maintained their accent (Joan Collins, Alex Kingston) and those who were born in the UK but grew up elsewhere (Mischa Barton, Nicollette Sheridan). I am looking only to those who have managed to break through with nothing but a working passport and a fake New York twang. This list is for those whose performance skills are such that Americans can’t tell that they’re actually British. Impressive stuff indeed.
I really can’t keep up with all the cast changes at the top US shows – it’s like musical chairs with fat cheque books and lots of people watching. I am however, always interested when one such TV newbie is British. Enter Saffron Burrows (the posh one in Deep Blue Sea, the posh one in Circle of Friends, the posh one in Troy – you get the picture), who will be joining Boston Legal as a series regular for season 4 of the legal drama.
Saffron will play Lorraine Weller, described as “sexy and sophisticated” (and undoubtedly posh), she is a litigator who once dated James Spader’s character. I’m sure there will be plenty of unresolved sexual chemistry between the pair. The show is enjoying a high after receiving 6 Emmy nominations, despite ratings for the show having suffered a disappointing slump.
From:Set The Video: NASA: Triumph and Tragedy, BBC Two, Wednesday, 24 June, 9pm