ITV Encore: Interviews

YOU might have guessed by now that I’m a big fan of TV drama.

So I was delighted to be asked to write the interviews for the launch of ITV Encore.

A new top quality drama channel launching on Sky Channel 123 at 7pm tonight (Monday June 9).

I spoke at length to ITV Director of Television Peter Fincham.

And to Broadchurch producer Richard Stokes who had some interesting revelations.

Including details of a series one scene that never made the screen during the original run.

Plus other details about the series you might not know.

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Mrs Biggs: Daniel Mays Interview

The second of my ITV Drama Press Pack interviews:

“If there was ever a story that typified that crime doesn’t pay, this would be it,” says Daniel Mays.

“It’s a controversial story. Ronnie Biggs divides opinion, even to this day. To some he represents a folk hero. But others said, ‘Lock him up and throw away the key.’

“My biggest challenge is to test people’s pre-conceived ideas of who he is. It’s such an incredible story and it merits being told.”

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Mrs Biggs: Sheridan Smith Interview

I’ve been lucky enough this summer to write the interviews for four ITV Drama press packs – otherwise known as production notes.

One of the projects was Mrs Biggs, a superb five-part series which begins on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday September 5 with a 90 minute opening episode.

Back in February I interviewed the real Mrs Biggs – Charmian – who acted as a consultant on the drama.

And followed that with later interviews involving Sheridan Smith, who plays her on screen, Daniel Mays (Ronnie Biggs) plus writer and executive producer Jeff Pope.

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Mrs Biggs: Sheridan Smith

CHARMIAN Brent is a remarkable woman with quite a story to tell.

She’s known to the world as Charmian Biggs, the wife of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.

The couple divorced in 1976 and she has continued to live in Australia.

But to many their lives remain entwined.

Now ITV are to tell the story in detail from Charmian’s perspective for the first time.

Today it was officially confirmed that Sheridan Smith will play the title role in five-part drama Mrs Biggs.

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