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).

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The Killing III: BFI Q&A Transcript

The last case for Sarah Lund.

There were a few gasps of surprise from the audience at the British Film Institute in London last Friday (Nov 9) night when “the third and final series of The Killing” was introduced.

Which just goes to show not everyone keeps up with the news.

We have, of course, known for a long time now that Denmark’s compelling television export would be no more after the end of series three.

It was confirmed when Sofie Grabol appeared at BAFTA in London this time last year.

Click here to read my transcript of that November 2011 Q&A.

But it’s still hard to come to terms with the fact that there are just 10 more episodes of this BAFTA award-winning production left.

My full transcript of Friday’s fascinating BFI Q&A is below.

Chaired by Ben Preston, the editor of Radio Times, it featured Sofie Grabol, who plays Sarah Lund, creator, writer and showrunner Soren Sveistrup and producer Piv Bernth, who is now also Head of Drama at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.

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The Killing 2: Sofie Grabol at BAFTA

“I don’t think he did it.”

Sarah Lund (Sofie Grabol) is back in a second series of The Killing, which begins on BBC4 at 9pm on Saturday Nov 19, with the second episode at 10pm.

The first season of this Danish crime drama was a phenomenon when it was screened in the UK with English sub-titles earlier this year.

I missed it first time around, so bought the DVD box set.

And ended up watching all 20 episodes in the space of four days.

Created by writer Soren Sveistrup, it’s one of the most compelling dramas I have ever seen.

Last night I was invited to a London preview screening of The Killing II episode one.

Hosted by BAFTA together with the Embassy of Denmark in London.

Followed by a Q&A with Sofie and senior producer Piv Bernth.

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Enid: Helena Bonham Carter Extras

ONE of the TV highlights of the year arrives on BBC4 next Monday.

Enid won’t win massive ratings.

But I’d urge you to forget celebs in the jungle or Life as BBC1 knows it.

And treat yourself to this superb 90-minute film.

It stars Helena Bonham Carter as Noddy and Famous Five author Enid Blyton.

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