“THERE are an awful lot of things that are plausible and just a few things that are probable.”
Rory Kinnear talking to me about new two-part ITV drama Lucan, which tells a story most will not know.
He plays the Lord who created a headline-grabbing mystery after murdering his children’s nanny Sandra Rivett (Leanne Best).
Having mistaken her in a darkened basement kitchen for his wife Lady Lucan (Catherine McCormack).
And then vanishing – never to be seen again.
IT was quite a day at the reveal of the new Coronation Street set at Trafford Wharf.
The exterior lot has been upscaled and the Street itself is now wide enough for two cars to pass.
But otherwise it looks exactly the same as the current set at Quay Street in Manchester.
Where the final scene will be filmed just before Christmas.
With cast, crew and production team starting work at Trafford Wharf / Media City UK early in January 2014.
“THIS is not just a robbery. This is an attack on the very cornerstone of England.”
The Great Train Robbery is a new two-part BBC1 drama which tells the story of the crime of the century from both sides.
Feature length A Robber’s Tale and A Copper’s Tale star Luke Evans as robbery mastermind Bruce Reynolds and Jim Broadbent as the detective who caught him.
Writer Chris Chibnall details for the first time on screen the minute by minute drama of the 1963 robbery, along with the story of how it was planned – and what went wrong.
Then turning his attention to the specially assembled squad of Scotland Yard detectives and the investigation that tracked down the gang and brought them to justice.
It’s a story of one man taking on the Establishment….and losing.
Along with a gripping tale of two teams of men both intent on achieving their goals on different sides of the law.
Perfect lives built on lies.
Breathless is a six-part ITV drama starting at 9pm this Thursday (October 10).
Set in 1961, it is stylish, compelling and one of the best new drama series you will see this year.
The cast – led by Jack Davenport – doing full justice to top class writing, directing and photography.
Not forgetting the production team behind some memorable costumes, sets, locations and all round attention to period detail and feel.
Or the Anne Dudley soundtrack and a collection of inspired episode music choices.
Drawing you into a pre-swinging sixties’ world where everything may not be as it first seems.
I was asked to write the interviews for ITV’s press pack / production notes.
The first surprise about new BBC1 fantasy adventure drama Atlantis is that it begins in the modern day.
Our young hero Jason (Jack Donnelly) is about to dive in a one man submarine to find the wreckage of his father’s long lost sub.
Later finding himself naked on a beach with only the sand between his toes for company.
The 13-part Saturday night series continues to surprise as we venture into the mythical city of Atlantis and meet some legendary names.
Including brilliant but innocent Greek maths genius Pythagoras (Robert Emms) – “the triangle guy”.
And a different take on strong man Hercules, played by Mark Addy, who explains: “I’m not fat. I’m big boned.”
Atlantis is the BBC’s replacement for Merlin and comes, in part, from the team behind that show.
THE big house is in pitch black gloomy darkness.
Aside from one solitary light in a top floor window.
Downton Abbey series four, episode one.
It is 1922 and six months on from the death of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens).
His baby son George is crying in the nursery.
Somewhere else in the house Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) lies awake in bed.
Night turns to day and an early morning mist cloaks the trees on the Downton estate.
As a specially composed variation of Downton Abbey’s opening titles music heralds the new 2013 series.
Or the 2014 season – from January 5 – if you’re watching in America.
“WE’RE addicts Elizabeth, you and I.”
It begins in the New York of early 1983.
And then flashes back to London seven months before.
Richard Burton walks into Elizabeth Taylor’s 50th birthday party wearing a mink coat…
The next year they are rehearsing together for her American stage production of Noel Coward’s Private Lives.
The world’s most famous couple – married to each other twice and divorced twice – yet again at the centre of a media circus.
Burton and Taylor is a film worthy of both screen legends, generally agreed to be two of the finest actors ever.
With Taylor regarded as the world’s most beautiful woman and Burton the gloriously-voiced hellraiser every female wanted to tame.
This diamond of a 90-minute drama is broadcast on BBC4 at 9pm next Monday (July 22).
JOURNALIST and broadcasting legend Alan Whicker has died at the age of 87.
In his later years he lived quietly on the beautiful island of Jersey and often entertained journalists seeking to interview him.
All were plied with his charm…and champagne.
None left sober.
IT starts on ITV at 9pm tonight (Wed June 5).
And comes recommended.
Presuming you have already read the background at:
…here, as promised, is my transcript of the second Q&A at the London press launch.
With all the remaining main cast members, aside from Ashley Jensen (Sarah) who did not attend.
“DO not go gentle into that good night.”
There’s no drifting away in new TV drama series Love And Marriage.
The six part serial follows three generations of the Paradise family and has every chance of becoming another drama hit for ITV.
Written by Stewart Harcourt and directed by Debbie Isitt and Roger Goldby, it begins with Pauline Paradise (Alison Steadman) retiring from her job as a school lollipop lady.
She’s married to ‘Silent Ken’ (Duncan Preston) – a man of few words and, it appears, even fewer to say to his wife after 41 years of marriage.
As Alison Steadman explained at the press launch: “They forget to look and see the other person.”
Life of Wylie 