“IT’S just wonderful.”
Oxford Street, London, 1909. Then one year before.
Mr Selfridge opens its doors for business on ITV1 at 9pm on Sunday (January 6).
The beginning of a 10-part series with plenty of drama, romance and sheer fun in store.
American actor Jeremy Piven plays the lead role of Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant Chicago visionary who invented modern shopping.
“LIFE is strange, isn’t it?”
Downton Abbey series three, episode nine.
Otherwise known as the 2012 Christmas Special, just broadcast by ITV1 tonight – December 25 – in the UK.
If you have yet to watch it, do NOT read any further.
Come back later once you have viewed.
That obviously also goes for our American cousins waiting for series three to begin on PBS on Jan 6.
As well as other Downton fans across the globe who are not yet up to the UK series pace.
There are major spoilers below.
So unless you want to read them, stop now.
“THIS town – it’s all secrets. Everyone knows something you don’t.”
Sherlock star Andrew Scott leads the cast of three-part ITV1 drama The Town.
A contemporary story also featuring Martin Clunes, Charlotte Riley, Julia McKenzie, Gerard Kearns, Kelly Adams and remarkable teenage newcomer Avigail Tlalim.
It’s Olivier-award winning writer Mike Bartlett’s first TV drama and begins on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday December 5.
Unlocking a mystery over three hours of a fresh and intriguing drama.
I had the pleasure of interviewing seven cast members for ITV1’s production notes / press pack.
ONE of my earliest encounters with Brenda Blethyn was when she played Miriam Dervish in Outside Edge.
She gave full interview value then and has done so ever since.
While retaining that mischievous twinkle in her eye and ability to giggle.
We met up again earlier this year to talk all things Vera – ahead of the drama’s return to ITV1 at 9pm this Sunday night.
“I just felt like writing another one.”
Award-winning Peter Morgan talking about The Jury, which begins on ITV1 at 9pm tonight.
“A trial brings people together in a way that really intrigued me.”
Peter wrote the first series of The Jury, screened in 2002.
WHAT will your verdict be?
Back in January 2002 I attended the launch of a new ITV1 drama series called The Jury.
Written by Peter Morgan, whose subsequent credits include The Last King Of Scotland, The Queen, Longford, The Other Boleyn Girl, Frost/Nixon, The Damned United and The Special Relationship.
Last week I attended the launch of a new ITV1 drama series also called The Jury.
Or what in the big screen world would be called The Jury 2.
Peter’s follow up to his original series.
He was there along with leading lady Julie Walters, who plays defence barrister Emma Watts.
“THIS is a true story. What follows is based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts.
“Some scenes have been created for the purpose of dramatisation.”
So begins Appropriate Adult, ITV1’s two-part Fred West drama.
Or rather the story of how trainee social worker Janet Leach was plunged into the nightmare world of serial killers Fred and Rose West.
I watched both 90 minute instalments of the two-part production in one sitting earlier this month and was hugely impressed by the way it had been handled.
DOWNTON Abbey returns for a second series in the UK next month.
My report and photos from last Friday’s Press Launch at Highclere Castle are here.
Among those I spoke to was new Downton recruit Amy Nuttall.
An early taste of the interview – with mild spoilers – was published in Tuesday’s Manchester Evening News, but has yet to go online.
So let’s put that right below, shall we?
AND so we say farewell to The Royal.
ITV1’s long-running 1960s’ drama ended on Sunday evening with a cliffhanger worthy of the Scarborough rocks by the real life location for Elsinby’s St Aidan’s Royal Free Hospital.
Stabbed Dr Gordon Ormerod (Robert Daws) lay at death’s door on the operating table as Mr Rose (Denis Lill) battled to save his life.
Gordon’s tearful wife Dr Jill Weatherill (Amy Robbins) watching through a window, supported by ever marvellous Matron (Wendy Craig).
BACK from an amazing week in Hungary, on the Budapest set of ITV1 drama Titanic.
Written by Julian Fellowes, it is due to be screened both in the UK and around the globe in 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic.
Having been bought by a large number of broadcasters, including ABC Network in America.
I was the first journalist on the incredible Stern Studios sets on Monday and the last to leave at the end of the week.
Completing, to date, a total of 22 one-to-one interviews, including 16 principal cast plus Julian and key members of the production team.
Life of Wylie 