The Night Manager returns
It has been annoucned that Matthew Orton will be writing the sequel to the Night Manager, the extremely successful adaptation of John le Care's tale of the murky world of arms dealing. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Oliva Colman and a BAFTA winning Tom Hollander, the series gained massive ratings and many awards. The new series will not based on a le Care so therefore will tread it's own path.
Thursday, 30 November 2017
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
The Hatton Garden mystery
ITV have just postponed a new drama about the infamous Hatton Garden robbery of 2015 in which £200 million pounds worth jewellery was stolen. The drama starring Timothy Spall and Kenneth Cranham as members of the gang was due to shown over 4 consecutive days from 11th December and was even trailed quite heavily. Then suddenly ITV pulled the drama from the schedule and replaced it with the fictional crime drama Bancroft starring Sarah Parish. ITV say the Hatton Garden drams should be seen next year.
ITV have just postponed a new drama about the infamous Hatton Garden robbery of 2015 in which £200 million pounds worth jewellery was stolen. The drama starring Timothy Spall and Kenneth Cranham as members of the gang was due to shown over 4 consecutive days from 11th December and was even trailed quite heavily. Then suddenly ITV pulled the drama from the schedule and replaced it with the fictional crime drama Bancroft starring Sarah Parish. ITV say the Hatton Garden drams should be seen next year.
Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Monday, 27 November 2017
Where have the Suits gone?
The announcement of the engagement between Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle has of course made the headlines. One interesting aspect is that Suits the legal drama Markle starred in until this year was dropped by British TV channel Dave and was snapped by streaming giants Netflix. One has to wonder how the bosses at Dave are feeling just now.
The announcement of the engagement between Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle has of course made the headlines. One interesting aspect is that Suits the legal drama Markle starred in until this year was dropped by British TV channel Dave and was snapped by streaming giants Netflix. One has to wonder how the bosses at Dave are feeling just now.
Saturday, 25 November 2017
The return of Toast
Matt Berry has announced that an new series of Toast of London is being made. Berry who stars as the luckless actor Steven Toast as well as co-writing with Arthur Matthews. Episodes have seen Steven star in a film called Prince Philip: Scoundrel Dog, buried alive and fleeing from Michael Ball who is trying to collect a gambling debt he owes to Andrew Lloyd-Webber. The show has seen guest appearances from many famous actors either in Character (Brian Blessed, Timothy West, Amanda Donohoe) or as themselves (Ball, Peter Davison, John Nettles). Fans are waiting to see what misadventures Steven gets up to this time around.
Matt Berry has announced that an new series of Toast of London is being made. Berry who stars as the luckless actor Steven Toast as well as co-writing with Arthur Matthews. Episodes have seen Steven star in a film called Prince Philip: Scoundrel Dog, buried alive and fleeing from Michael Ball who is trying to collect a gambling debt he owes to Andrew Lloyd-Webber. The show has seen guest appearances from many famous actors either in Character (Brian Blessed, Timothy West, Amanda Donohoe) or as themselves (Ball, Peter Davison, John Nettles). Fans are waiting to see what misadventures Steven gets up to this time around.
Friday, 24 November 2017
Comic Review: The Doomsday Clock #1
Writer - Geoff Johns, Artist - Gary Frank
The first issue of the 12 issue mini series that brings the DC universe with the world of the most acclaimed comic book series has just been published and the question is worth it? Well you can not judgements on just one issue but you can gain a feeling for what may follow. Johns just like Alan Moore did with Watchmen is transposing current political events on the story. The first issue deals with the fall out of Watchmen with an International manhunt on for Adrian Veidt after his deadly attack on Manhatten in order to defuse a geo-political crisis is exposed. Johns does some ground work in laying out the plot and introducing new characters with the final pages depicting how Superman could become embroiled. Gary Frank proves up to the task of following in the footsteps of Dave Gibbons in providing atmosphere, character design and a well choreographed fight scene in a prison cell. What the remaining 11 issues have in stored should be good given the set up this first issue has given us.
Writer - Geoff Johns, Artist - Gary Frank
The first issue of the 12 issue mini series that brings the DC universe with the world of the most acclaimed comic book series has just been published and the question is worth it? Well you can not judgements on just one issue but you can gain a feeling for what may follow. Johns just like Alan Moore did with Watchmen is transposing current political events on the story. The first issue deals with the fall out of Watchmen with an International manhunt on for Adrian Veidt after his deadly attack on Manhatten in order to defuse a geo-political crisis is exposed. Johns does some ground work in laying out the plot and introducing new characters with the final pages depicting how Superman could become embroiled. Gary Frank proves up to the task of following in the footsteps of Dave Gibbons in providing atmosphere, character design and a well choreographed fight scene in a prison cell. What the remaining 11 issues have in stored should be good given the set up this first issue has given us.
Thursday, 23 November 2017
Hanging Plot thread No 3
By the fourth season of 24 the character of John Keeler as played by Geoff Pierson had succeeded Dennis Haysbert's David Palmer as US President. However his term would see a massive terror campaign being waged on the USA with members of his cabinet being kidnapped and nearly being executed on the internet, train bombings and the safety codes for nuclear reactors being overridden. However for Keeler he himself would end being a target when flying on Air Force One. A terrorist stole a Stealth Fighter and shot down AFO though this turn out to be an attempt to steal the Football device which carried the codes to the US's nuclear arsenal. The last heard of Keeler was that he was taken to hospital. Only on 24 could the fate of the US President could be (sorry about the forthcoming pun) left up in the air.
By the fourth season of 24 the character of John Keeler as played by Geoff Pierson had succeeded Dennis Haysbert's David Palmer as US President. However his term would see a massive terror campaign being waged on the USA with members of his cabinet being kidnapped and nearly being executed on the internet, train bombings and the safety codes for nuclear reactors being overridden. However for Keeler he himself would end being a target when flying on Air Force One. A terrorist stole a Stealth Fighter and shot down AFO though this turn out to be an attempt to steal the Football device which carried the codes to the US's nuclear arsenal. The last heard of Keeler was that he was taken to hospital. Only on 24 could the fate of the US President could be (sorry about the forthcoming pun) left up in the air.
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Great British comic writers
Below is a list of 5 writers who have left their marks on comic books
Alan Moore
With just Watchmen alone Moore has left an impression on the art form bringing in a more adult tone. Moore brought contemporary politics into stories that would be consider fantastical like Watchmen.
Grant Morrison
Morrison has shown himself to be comfortable writing the adventures of the likes of Batman, Superman etc with more unusual material like The Invisbles which was said by some to be a influence on The Matrix
Garth Ennis
The writer of comics featuring hard as nail characters such as The Punisher saw his series Preacher turned into a TV show
Mark Millar
Having reshaped various Marvel character like Nick Fury. Millar wrote a string of titles turned films. Wanted, Kick-Ass and The Secert Service which was filmed as Kingsman
Warren Ellis
The one hand Ellis could comics like The Authority that feature action scenes that would not be out of place of a Hollywood movie and the other small scale titles like Hellblazer.
Below is a list of 5 writers who have left their marks on comic books
Alan Moore
With just Watchmen alone Moore has left an impression on the art form bringing in a more adult tone. Moore brought contemporary politics into stories that would be consider fantastical like Watchmen.
Grant Morrison
Morrison has shown himself to be comfortable writing the adventures of the likes of Batman, Superman etc with more unusual material like The Invisbles which was said by some to be a influence on The Matrix
Garth Ennis
The writer of comics featuring hard as nail characters such as The Punisher saw his series Preacher turned into a TV show
Mark Millar
Having reshaped various Marvel character like Nick Fury. Millar wrote a string of titles turned films. Wanted, Kick-Ass and The Secert Service which was filmed as Kingsman
Warren Ellis
The one hand Ellis could comics like The Authority that feature action scenes that would not be out of place of a Hollywood movie and the other small scale titles like Hellblazer.
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Awful quiz show answer of the day 21-11-2017
On an edition of Tipping Point a contestant was asked who was Ronald Reagan's Democratic opponent in the 1980 US Presidential election. The contestant exercised his option to pass the question to his rival who gave the answer George Bush Senior. Bush was of course Reagan's running mate while the opponent was Jimmy Carter. However the pass would prove to be in vain as the rival won.
On an edition of Tipping Point a contestant was asked who was Ronald Reagan's Democratic opponent in the 1980 US Presidential election. The contestant exercised his option to pass the question to his rival who gave the answer George Bush Senior. Bush was of course Reagan's running mate while the opponent was Jimmy Carter. However the pass would prove to be in vain as the rival won.
Monday, 20 November 2017
Ratings report 20-11-2017
Last night saw the importance of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Outta Here to ITV being underlined as the first show of this year's edition posted viewer figures of over 10 million. For the rest of the night ITV suffered badly under the double punch Strictly Come Dancing and Blue Planet II posted impressive figures for BBC1.
Last night saw the importance of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Outta Here to ITV being underlined as the first show of this year's edition posted viewer figures of over 10 million. For the rest of the night ITV suffered badly under the double punch Strictly Come Dancing and Blue Planet II posted impressive figures for BBC1.
Sunday, 19 November 2017
Saturday, 18 November 2017
The end of Murray and Who?
Reports are circulating that Murray Gold who has composed the music for every episode of Doctor Who since it's return in 2005 may be stepping away from the position of composer after this year's Xmas special. If true Gold will going of his own accord unlike Dudley Simpson who providing the music between 1964 and 1980, Simpson went to a lunch with the then new producer John Nathan-Turner telling him he was looking forward to working with him only for Nathan-Turner to sack there and then. Nathan-Turner later admitted for future sackings he did take the persons concerned to lunch to do it.
Reports are circulating that Murray Gold who has composed the music for every episode of Doctor Who since it's return in 2005 may be stepping away from the position of composer after this year's Xmas special. If true Gold will going of his own accord unlike Dudley Simpson who providing the music between 1964 and 1980, Simpson went to a lunch with the then new producer John Nathan-Turner telling him he was looking forward to working with him only for Nathan-Turner to sack there and then. Nathan-Turner later admitted for future sackings he did take the persons concerned to lunch to do it.
Thursday, 16 November 2017
Awful quiz show answer of the day 16-11-2017
On today's edition of Tenable a team of 5 contestants were asked to name the last 10 Conservative party leaders. One of them offered Kriss Akabusi. Everybody laughed in the studio as soon as it was given. Akabusi has claims to fames, one as a world class athlete and the other having the most famous laugh in the UK.
On today's edition of Tenable a team of 5 contestants were asked to name the last 10 Conservative party leaders. One of them offered Kriss Akabusi. Everybody laughed in the studio as soon as it was given. Akabusi has claims to fames, one as a world class athlete and the other having the most famous laugh in the UK.
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Keith Barron 1934 -2017
The death has been announced today of Keith Barron. As an actor he starred in a wide range of production covering many genres. His big break came in the 1960's in 2 politically minded plays written by Dennis Potter Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton. Barron's most high profile role came in the sit-com Duty Free which ran from 1984-86, the show saw Barron's character having an affair while on holiday in Spain. He made guest appearances in many hit shows like Doctor Who, Minder and Dalziel & Pascoe name just 3. Barron appeared in the first ever episode of The Professionals playing a mad man threatening to poison water supplies unless his demands are met. Keith Barron leaves behind a varied body of work.
The death has been announced today of Keith Barron. As an actor he starred in a wide range of production covering many genres. His big break came in the 1960's in 2 politically minded plays written by Dennis Potter Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton. Barron's most high profile role came in the sit-com Duty Free which ran from 1984-86, the show saw Barron's character having an affair while on holiday in Spain. He made guest appearances in many hit shows like Doctor Who, Minder and Dalziel & Pascoe name just 3. Barron appeared in the first ever episode of The Professionals playing a mad man threatening to poison water supplies unless his demands are met. Keith Barron leaves behind a varied body of work.
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
Football's end times
The world of Football has been shocked by the news that one of the game's powerhouses have not qualified for next year's World Cup. Italy who are in the top 3 countries with the most wins in the tournament lost a play off with Sweden 1-0 on aggarete. The reaction in Italy has been one of trauma, with some comparing it to the Acoiypse. When you think that Iceland one time whipping boys of International Football qualified at the first time of asking it just goes to show how the pecking order of the sport has changed a great deal in recent years.
The world of Football has been shocked by the news that one of the game's powerhouses have not qualified for next year's World Cup. Italy who are in the top 3 countries with the most wins in the tournament lost a play off with Sweden 1-0 on aggarete. The reaction in Italy has been one of trauma, with some comparing it to the Acoiypse. When you think that Iceland one time whipping boys of International Football qualified at the first time of asking it just goes to show how the pecking order of the sport has changed a great deal in recent years.
Monday, 13 November 2017
Toons sell out
In a review for The New Statesman of Paddington 2 critic Ryan Gibley bemoans the fact that the famous bear from Peru currently appears in an advert for Marks & Spencer, he also cites the example of the characters of the Oscar winning Inside Out selling Sky Television packages. Perhaps Gibley just overlooks the fact that cartoon characters are used by the companies that for maxium commercial results.
In a review for The New Statesman of Paddington 2 critic Ryan Gibley bemoans the fact that the famous bear from Peru currently appears in an advert for Marks & Spencer, he also cites the example of the characters of the Oscar winning Inside Out selling Sky Television packages. Perhaps Gibley just overlooks the fact that cartoon characters are used by the companies that for maxium commercial results.
Sunday, 12 November 2017
The age of Howard
A new production of the E M Forrester novel Howard's End. There was of course the Oscar winning film version of 1992. I thought to make a comparsion of the ages of the actors playing the 2 main characters.
Henry Wilcox
1992 - Anthony Hopkins - age at time of production - 55
2017 - Matthew MacFadyen - age at time of production - 44
Margerat Schengal
1992 - Emma Thompson - age at time of production - 33
2017 - Haley Atwell - age at time of production -35
As you can see the age gap between Hopkins and Thompson was 22 years yet the one between MacFadyen and Atwell is only 9. Does this reflect a growing unease about the large age gaps of screen couples. we may never know the answer.
A new production of the E M Forrester novel Howard's End. There was of course the Oscar winning film version of 1992. I thought to make a comparsion of the ages of the actors playing the 2 main characters.
Henry Wilcox
1992 - Anthony Hopkins - age at time of production - 55
2017 - Matthew MacFadyen - age at time of production - 44
Margerat Schengal
1992 - Emma Thompson - age at time of production - 33
2017 - Haley Atwell - age at time of production -35
As you can see the age gap between Hopkins and Thompson was 22 years yet the one between MacFadyen and Atwell is only 9. Does this reflect a growing unease about the large age gaps of screen couples. we may never know the answer.
Friday, 10 November 2017
The Encore is over.
ITV Encore is to close down as a standard TV channel. The channel that showed many ITV dramas of the past such as Brideshead Revisted, Poirot and Upstairs,Downstairs plus new productions such as the Frankenstein Chronicles will now become an premium box set service via services like Virgin. If this is to herald a change with ITV's other digital stations remains to be seen.
ITV Encore is to close down as a standard TV channel. The channel that showed many ITV dramas of the past such as Brideshead Revisted, Poirot and Upstairs,Downstairs plus new productions such as the Frankenstein Chronicles will now become an premium box set service via services like Virgin. If this is to herald a change with ITV's other digital stations remains to be seen.
Thursday, 9 November 2017
Leaving the Street
In the last month ITV have started to show a second episode of Coronation Street on Wednesday night. Last night the first edition at 7:30pm got nearly 7 million viewers. Yet the second edition on at 8:30 lost a million and a half viewers. ITV bosses will be concerned the high number of viewers not tuning for the night's second instalment.
In the last month ITV have started to show a second episode of Coronation Street on Wednesday night. Last night the first edition at 7:30pm got nearly 7 million viewers. Yet the second edition on at 8:30 lost a million and a half viewers. ITV bosses will be concerned the high number of viewers not tuning for the night's second instalment.
Wednesday, 8 November 2017
Tuesday, 7 November 2017
No marriage of the Fox and the Mouse
The sale of 20th Century Fox to the Walt Disney will not be going ahead. If it had gone ahead it would have seen the merger of 2 biggest film libraries in Hollywood. One group of people who will be disappointed will be Star Wars fans considered that a Star Wars film is not Star Wars film unless it has the Fox fanfare, it has been missing since Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The sale of 20th Century Fox to the Walt Disney will not be going ahead. If it had gone ahead it would have seen the merger of 2 biggest film libraries in Hollywood. One group of people who will be disappointed will be Star Wars fans considered that a Star Wars film is not Star Wars film unless it has the Fox fanfare, it has been missing since Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Monday, 6 November 2017
Panorama and how the BBC views it.
The long running BBC news strand Panorama has hit the headlines again due it's investigation into tax havens and how many high profile individual and groups use them. Yet at times the BBC has treated the programme in a very curious manner. Since it's inception in 1953 has every now and again made headlines, in a hoax it transmitted a report about spaghetti being grown on tress. Of course as a hard news programme it has hit the headlines itself most famously in 1995 an interview with Princess Diana had her remarking of her marriage to the Prince of Wales ' there were three of us in that marriage' referring of course to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Yet at times it is seen as non-attractive viewers, in the 1970s when told his sit-com Bless This House was to go out on a Monday night the actor Sid James was delighted as he known it would go against Panorama and draw a large audience. However things changed when Michael Grade became controller of BBC1 and moved Panorama to 9:30 pm after the 9'0 clock news. It stayed there until 1997 despite the grumbling of Grade' successors in the role at having 70 minutes of unbroken news when the then acting controller Mark Thompson moved it to 10 pm. in 2000 due to schedule changes iniatied by then Director-General Greg Dyke, Panorama (which had always been on a Monday) was moved to a late night Sunday slot and less editions were made. However in 2007 Panorama returned to Monday nights due to an edict from the BBC Board of Governors, although it was put an slot opposite the second Monday night episode of Coronation Street. However the one thing that can be said of Panorama is that it has stood the test of time while other programmes of it's ilk like World in Action and This Week have fallen by the way side.
The long running BBC news strand Panorama has hit the headlines again due it's investigation into tax havens and how many high profile individual and groups use them. Yet at times the BBC has treated the programme in a very curious manner. Since it's inception in 1953 has every now and again made headlines, in a hoax it transmitted a report about spaghetti being grown on tress. Of course as a hard news programme it has hit the headlines itself most famously in 1995 an interview with Princess Diana had her remarking of her marriage to the Prince of Wales ' there were three of us in that marriage' referring of course to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Yet at times it is seen as non-attractive viewers, in the 1970s when told his sit-com Bless This House was to go out on a Monday night the actor Sid James was delighted as he known it would go against Panorama and draw a large audience. However things changed when Michael Grade became controller of BBC1 and moved Panorama to 9:30 pm after the 9'0 clock news. It stayed there until 1997 despite the grumbling of Grade' successors in the role at having 70 minutes of unbroken news when the then acting controller Mark Thompson moved it to 10 pm. in 2000 due to schedule changes iniatied by then Director-General Greg Dyke, Panorama (which had always been on a Monday) was moved to a late night Sunday slot and less editions were made. However in 2007 Panorama returned to Monday nights due to an edict from the BBC Board of Governors, although it was put an slot opposite the second Monday night episode of Coronation Street. However the one thing that can be said of Panorama is that it has stood the test of time while other programmes of it's ilk like World in Action and This Week have fallen by the way side.
Sunday, 5 November 2017
Friday, 3 November 2017
The missing years of The Bill
UK TV channel Drama had recently started showing repeats of long running cop drama The Bill from it's start in 1984. However the channel has announced that it will be skipping a 10 year period of episodes from 1988 to 1998, this covers a period when the show was a twice weekly half hour show. It's fans will argue that this was when the show at it's most popular. Drama have put forward 2 reasons, the first being cost of paying repeat fees to cast and crew and the other being low ratings. The one thing is clear, fans of The Bill are not happy.
UK TV channel Drama had recently started showing repeats of long running cop drama The Bill from it's start in 1984. However the channel has announced that it will be skipping a 10 year period of episodes from 1988 to 1998, this covers a period when the show was a twice weekly half hour show. It's fans will argue that this was when the show at it's most popular. Drama have put forward 2 reasons, the first being cost of paying repeat fees to cast and crew and the other being low ratings. The one thing is clear, fans of The Bill are not happy.
Thursday, 2 November 2017
A Solo effort or not?
The recent Star Wars films have all had their production problems but the clear winner is the trouble that has hit the spin off film focused on a young Han Solo. The film went into production under the directing duo of Chris Lord and Phil Miller who were more well known for comedies like 21 Jump Street. However just before the film was to cease production the pair were fired, the reason given was that producers were unhappy with their working methods. To replace them Oscar winning director Ron Howard was brought in. Howard rang many changes including changing a CGI character into a live action one. This has lead to speculation that Howard will get sole directing credit however a recent statement by actress Thandie Newton who 90% of her role was filmed with Lord and Miller. We will have to wait a year for the answer.
The recent Star Wars films have all had their production problems but the clear winner is the trouble that has hit the spin off film focused on a young Han Solo. The film went into production under the directing duo of Chris Lord and Phil Miller who were more well known for comedies like 21 Jump Street. However just before the film was to cease production the pair were fired, the reason given was that producers were unhappy with their working methods. To replace them Oscar winning director Ron Howard was brought in. Howard rang many changes including changing a CGI character into a live action one. This has lead to speculation that Howard will get sole directing credit however a recent statement by actress Thandie Newton who 90% of her role was filmed with Lord and Miller. We will have to wait a year for the answer.
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
The return of Jenny
In a recent blog about hanging plot threads, one I wrote about was the character of Jenny in Doctor Who. In the show she was created with the DNA of the Doctor, in the original draft Jenny was killed off however incoming show runner Steven Moffat. But the character did appear in the 7 years of his tenure in charge. Now news has broken that the character will be the main character in an new audio play. Jenny will again played by Georgina Moffett though she now uses her married surname of Tennant, her husband of course being David Tennant the actor who was playing The Doctor in the episode she appeared in.
In a recent blog about hanging plot threads, one I wrote about was the character of Jenny in Doctor Who. In the show she was created with the DNA of the Doctor, in the original draft Jenny was killed off however incoming show runner Steven Moffat. But the character did appear in the 7 years of his tenure in charge. Now news has broken that the character will be the main character in an new audio play. Jenny will again played by Georgina Moffett though she now uses her married surname of Tennant, her husband of course being David Tennant the actor who was playing The Doctor in the episode she appeared in.
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