With the 16 February shuttering of what ‘we call’ BBC3, the powers that be have unveiled a new logo that all-too closely resembles a redesign of the BBC logo created in the BBC parody comedy series, W1A, where a ‘new 21st century look’ was pitched to the Corporation by Jessica Hynes’ nightmarish Head of Brand Siobhan Sharpe. The […]
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Ok, so I might be in the midst of a mild case of ‘good old days’ syndrome when it comes to British comedy but there are days that I look at the current comedy output from the UK and long for the days when a new season of As Time Goes By, Keeping Up Appearances, […]
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When we last saw Andrew Scott, his character of Moriarty had ‘left the building’ at the end of series two of Sherlock. He returned a year later and uttered those now unforgettable words “Miss me?” as his final phrase in the last episode of series three of Sherlock. While it’s impossible to go inside the […]
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Over the years, it has almost become a guaranteed conversation starter on both sides of the pond to weigh the relative merits of and/or discuss the many differences between British and American television. Be it comedy or drama, a majority of individuals who reside in the UK think that American television is better while their Americans counterparts will […]
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You’d think, given the recent headline grabbing events surrounding the filming of Top Gear, there would be a memo circulating with instructions around BBC Broadcasting House that Jeremy Clarkson’s name mustn’t be mentioned at the BBC. When that happens, life and art will officially blur as evidenced in the case of the new series of the […]
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Ian Fletcher, the Beeb’s Head of Values and chair of its Way Ahead Task Force, will roam the halls of the BBC for a bit longer as a second series of W1A has been commissioned but the BBC. “I am very happy to have the cameras back,” said the fictional Fletcher (played by Downton Abbey‘s […]
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While the world carefully watches the historic “Yes Scotland” vs. “Better Together” vote this coming Thursday that will determine if Scotland is to remain part of the United Kingdom or become an independent country, there is another extraordinarily critical issue on the table that is just around the corner and, most likely, going virtually unnoticed. The 2016 BBC Charter Renewal is inching ever so close with the ultimate outcome quite possibly in the hands of Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), the BBC’s Head of Values.
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As has been the case since day one of Downton Abbey, the cast does their best to live up to the label of ‘hardest working group in show business’. Let’s just say they don’t idly sit by waiting for filming of the next series to begin. Many head to the West End for a little […]
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Like more everyone on the planet, the world awaits he arrival of Downton Abby. While a number of the inhabitants of Downton, both upstairs and downstairs have found other work in-between series filming, Hugh Bonneville, known on this planet to everyone with a TV as Lord Grantham, recreates his role as Ian Fletcher, the Head […]
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One of the greatest things about British television AND one of the most maddening for viewers is the fact that the number of episodes in a series is limited. Unlike their American television counterparts, most British drama and/or comedy series are anywhere between 6-10 episodes max. In some cases like Sherlock or DCI Banks there are only three episodes each season. Three brilliant films but still only three. On the upside, this allows viewers to see their favorite actors in other roles, many times crossing over from drama to comedy or vice versa.
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