Bernard Hepton (1925-2018)
The death has been announced of the actor Bernard Hepton. Throughout his career notched up an impressive number of credits. Appearing in the highly acclaimed custome dramas Elizabeth R and I. Claudius. Going from playing a German prison camp commandant in Colditiz to a Belgian cafe owner involved in the resistance in Secert Army. Guest appearance in the 2 John Nettles Cop shows Bergerac and Midsomer Murders. Film roles included Barry Lyndon, Ghadi and Get Carter. Perhaps the interesting TV role was that of Hungarian born spy Toby Esterhase in the John le Care adaptations Tinker, Tailor, Soldier. Spy and Smiley's People, in the former the character affected an English accent yet in the sequel Toby had gone back to his native accent. Bernard Hepton leaves behind a list of credits in some major productions.
Bernard Hepton R. I. P.
Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Monday, 30 July 2018
Sunday, 29 July 2018
TV ratings 29-07-2018
WOS Wreslesting the first mainstream TV outing for British professional wrestling since the days of World of Sport (hence the WOS) was watched by just under a million viewers. ITV were hoping for a combo of those raised on the likes of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks et al and those who watch the American WWE but given the figures. It remains to be seen if the series completes it's run.
WOS Wreslesting the first mainstream TV outing for British professional wrestling since the days of World of Sport (hence the WOS) was watched by just under a million viewers. ITV were hoping for a combo of those raised on the likes of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks et al and those who watch the American WWE but given the figures. It remains to be seen if the series completes it's run.
Friday, 27 July 2018
The legacy of a failed compass
With production on the TV version of Philip Pullman's His Dark Material book series it is worth remembering the last attempt it to the screen. In 2007 the film of The Golden Compass was released to a somewhat less than desirable reception. Religious organisation attacked the film because the book's attack on the Roman Catholic church while secularist ones complained the film's theme had been watered down to appease certain quarters. At the box office the film tanked in the US yet in the rest of the world was a hit this led to Warner Bros to take full distribution of New Line Picture who had outside North America sold the film outside distributors. Despite winning an Oscar for Visual Effects His Dark Materials as a blockbuster film series was dead on arrival whether the forthcoming TV series avoids remains to be seen.
With production on the TV version of Philip Pullman's His Dark Material book series it is worth remembering the last attempt it to the screen. In 2007 the film of The Golden Compass was released to a somewhat less than desirable reception. Religious organisation attacked the film because the book's attack on the Roman Catholic church while secularist ones complained the film's theme had been watered down to appease certain quarters. At the box office the film tanked in the US yet in the rest of the world was a hit this led to Warner Bros to take full distribution of New Line Picture who had outside North America sold the film outside distributors. Despite winning an Oscar for Visual Effects His Dark Materials as a blockbuster film series was dead on arrival whether the forthcoming TV series avoids remains to be seen.
Thursday, 26 July 2018
Off the flix
News has come out that ITV will no longer be selling their programmes to Netflix. One suggestion is that ITV will be joining forces with the BBC and Channel 4 their own joint digital platform. This has been rumoured for some time and this could be the most defintive sign of this coming to pass.
News has come out that ITV will no longer be selling their programmes to Netflix. One suggestion is that ITV will be joining forces with the BBC and Channel 4 their own joint digital platform. This has been rumoured for some time and this could be the most defintive sign of this coming to pass.
Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Beanz don't mean shake
Heniz have been rapped by the Advertising Standards Agency over an advert that compared their famous to protein shakes. The advert suggested the beans had just as much fibre as that of the standard protein shake. However after an number of complaints the beans were found to have less nurtional value than shakes. The offending will no longer be shown.
Heniz have been rapped by the Advertising Standards Agency over an advert that compared their famous to protein shakes. The advert suggested the beans had just as much fibre as that of the standard protein shake. However after an number of complaints the beans were found to have less nurtional value than shakes. The offending will no longer be shown.
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Countryfile at 30
30 years ago on this date the first edition of a programme that started off as a lunch time fare but world over time would a prime time hit. Countryfile replaced a programme called Farming which as the title suggests focused solely on that subject. Dealing with a much wider brief than it's predecessors such as animal and plant preservation, countryside leisure activates and continuing it's predecessor's agenda farming. Launched at a time when concerns about the environment were becoming more mainstream and 21 years later it was given a prime early evening Sunday slot. Countryfile hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when one time reporter Miriam O'Rielly sued the BBC after being axed from the programme on what she claimed was her age, she would win her case. Nearly a year later after Countryfile started John Craven stared presenting the show. best known for his work on kids TV shows Saturday Swapshow and Newsround Craven has been the one constant in the programmes rise in profile. We will probably never see something like what Countryfile has achieved going from niche afternoon viewing to mass appeal viewing.
30 years ago on this date the first edition of a programme that started off as a lunch time fare but world over time would a prime time hit. Countryfile replaced a programme called Farming which as the title suggests focused solely on that subject. Dealing with a much wider brief than it's predecessors such as animal and plant preservation, countryside leisure activates and continuing it's predecessor's agenda farming. Launched at a time when concerns about the environment were becoming more mainstream and 21 years later it was given a prime early evening Sunday slot. Countryfile hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when one time reporter Miriam O'Rielly sued the BBC after being axed from the programme on what she claimed was her age, she would win her case. Nearly a year later after Countryfile started John Craven stared presenting the show. best known for his work on kids TV shows Saturday Swapshow and Newsround Craven has been the one constant in the programmes rise in profile. We will probably never see something like what Countryfile has achieved going from niche afternoon viewing to mass appeal viewing.
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