Leaving the world with a lifetime of laughter to enjoy forever, legendary comedy producer/director, Sydney Lotterby, dies at 93

While we never had the good fortune to speak with Sydney for our any of our PBS specials that featured not only the stars of some of the all-time great British comedy series but also focused on the writers and creators of some of the classics of British comedy, it was through the words of John Cleese, Dame Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Jenny Funnell, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton, Richard Briers, Michael Crawford, Roy Clarke, David Jason, Karl Howman, Bob Larbey and Frank Thornton that we were immediately schooled on the greatness that was Sydney Lotterby.

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Johnny Depp and Dame Judi Dench to board Kenneth Branagh’s Orient Express

As most P1’s of Tellyspotting are well aware, I’m not a huge fan of remakes. I’m good with prequels, remakes, not so much. That said, the forthcoming Kenneth Branagh ‘remake’ of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express may go a long way to alter my future close-mindedness. Sir Kenneth will not only co-produce and direct the newest adaptation […]

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Portwenn surgery to re-open Monday, 7 September on ITV

When we last left Portwenn and the daily ups and downs of Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) and Louisa (Caroline Catz), the couple had married but, as we are all so painfully aware, their marital harmony was short lived. After a life-threatening incident, Louisa decided to take their son James Henry to stay with her mother in […]

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How about a few ‘Vicious’ bloopers to get you ready for series 2!

Unlike American television where broadcast networks have made a living for years producing full-length programs that have centered around bloopers filmed during the actual episode recording, program bloopers for a majority of British telly, be it comedy or drama, have always been few and far between. Having had the great good fortune over the years […]

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Happy 80th – Dame Maggie Smith!

Fresh on the heels of one of the all-time greats of the acting world (Dame Judi Dench) turning 80 earlier this month on December 9, we now have the brilliant opportunity to celebrate another ‘Dame’ as she turns 80 today – Dame Maggie Smith. Although she has achieved worldwide recognition from her portrayal of Professor Minerva […]

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Start the New Year off right with Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot on BBC One

The UK Christmas Day to New Year’s Day tradition of great telly just gets better and better with every passing year. Besides the usual obligatory specials from Eastenders, Coronation Street and Doctor Who to look forward to, in recent years those lucky ones to receive the BBC and ITV signal have been treated to specials from Call the Midwife, […]

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