In The Flesh 2: The Power of Drama

Dominic Mitchell and Luke Newberry at today's launch. — Dominic Mitchell and Luke Newberry (Kieren) at today’s launch.

IN The Flesh creator and writer Dominic Mitchell told a story today about the power of drama.

He spoke at this morning’s London press launch for the second series of the BBC3 show.

Shortly before BBC director-general Tony Hall confirmed that BBC3 will be moving online in autumn 2015 to save £50m a year.

BBC3 controller Zai Bennett had been expected to introduce the screening, as he did for the first series launch 13 months ago.

But, unsurprisingly, he had more pressing business back at the BBC’s New Broadcasting House just a short walk along the road.

Continue reading →

Line Of Duty 2

“IT’S the most full on thing I’ve ever done.”

Keeley Hawes speaking tonight about being “waterboarded” in the second series of Line Of Duty.

Not quite the infamous torture technique.

But struggling to breathe after having her hair grabbed and being violently flushed face down several times into a police HQ toilet.

“You just do it and then have a big glass of wine,” she smiled.

Continue reading →

The Great Train Robbery: First Look

“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.

Continue reading →

Atlantis: Q&A

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.

Continue reading →

Burton and Taylor: Love Is The Drug

“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).

Continue reading →

Frankie: Eve Myles

“THE world is my patient.”

Meet Frankie, played by Eve Myles.

District nurse, small town heroine and Ken Bruce addict.

Who loves to boogie at any time of the day or night.

The tracks of her years begin on BBC1 at 9pm tomorrow (Tuesday May 14) in a new six-part drama series written by Lucy Gannon.

Continue reading →

The Fall

“THEY don’t know him. But he knows them.”

The Fall is one of the most compelling drama series I’ve seen in recent years.

A top class script matched by superb cast performances, direction by Jakob Verbruggen, editing, soundtrack and anything else you’d care to pick from the end credits.

Continue reading →

The Politician’s Husband

AN invite to the premiere press screening of The Politician’s Husband last Friday night.

Followed by a Q&A with acclaimed writer Paula Milne, whose many credits include White Heat, The Night Watch and The Politician’s Wife.

We were shown the first two episodes, of three in total.

Including terrific performances from David Tennant and Emily Watson.

The series begins on BBC2 at 9pm tonight (Thursday April 25) and comes recommended.

Below is the story I wrote the next morning, which subsequently appeared here this week.

Followed by my transcript of that Q&A with Paula, hosted by BBC Drama boss Ben Stephenson.

Continue reading →

The Village: BAFTA Q&A

“MY name is Bert Middleton. I’m the second oldest man in Britain.

“This is the last thing I’ll do so you better listen carefully…”

Old Bert (David Ryall) talks to a modern day TV documentary crew in the opening moments of new BBC1 drama serial The Village.

Before we go back to the summer of 1914.

“The summer the bus came.”

Continue reading →

Our Girl: Lacey Turner

FALL in you horrible lot…

Our Girl is a 90-minute drama on BBC1 at 9pm this Sunday.

Written by Tony Grounds and starring Lacey Turner, I highly recommend it.

A story of one young person’s struggle and hope for the future.

You can learn more in my story below, published the day after the London press launch earlier this month.

Followed by my transcript of the Q&A with Lacey, Tony and producer Ken Horn.

Continue reading →