Bill Young | Tellyspotting

Posted May 8, 2020 - No Comment

As you ‘work from home’, BBC Archive opens the vault to dress up your daily video calls

Like me, if you’ve been ‘working from home’ for the last couple of months spending a good portion of your workday on what seems like endless Microsoft Teams or Zoom conference calls, you’re probably getting a bit weary trying to find a different room in the house to give your workmates something interesting to look at from a background standpoint. To the rescue comes the BBC Archive as they open the vault to give everyone access to their favorite British comedy or science fiction set to use as a backdrop for your next video conference call.

Posted May 7, 2020 - No Comment

Daniel Radcliffe kicks off the ‘Harry Potter At Home’ initiative

Whether it’s ‘live’ concerts on social media or theaters around the world opening up their archives allowing everyone to experience classic theater performances, it’s clear that creativity (not necessity) is the mother of invention. Just this past week, the National Theatre in London opened up their archive to stream the 2011 production of Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. Now, comes the ultimate gift to fans of Harry Potter as Daniel Radcliffe narrates “The Boy Who Lived”, the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, to kick off a stellar online read-through of the book.

Posted May 5, 2020 - No Comment

At 85, Dame Judi Dench becomes British Vogue’s oldest cover star in history!

At 85 years old, Dame Judi Dench is the oldest woman ever to be featured on the cover of British Vogue in its 104-year history. Previously, Jane Fonda held the title for her cover shoot in 2019 at 81 years of age. The actress appears on the cover of the June issue of the fashion magazine for […]

Posted May 3, 2020 - No Comment

PBS Masterpiece, BBC team up to commission ‘World on Fire’ for a second series!

With 3 episodes remaining in the first series of World on Fire (Tonight, May 10 and 17 on PBS Masterpiece), welcome news comes from PBS and the BBC that the Helen Hunt-led British World War II drama has been commissioned for a second series. Although the news of the commissioning was both welcome and somewhat expected given both the audience and critical acclaim, it’s does come as a bit of a surprise given the fact that a previously popular series that was also designed as a multi-year drama, Sanditon, was inexplicably cancelled after the first series.

Posted May 2, 2020 - No Comment

After 30 years, ‘Good Omens: Lockdown’ has a message for you.

On May 1, 1990, a classic novel was born. From the brilliant mind palaces of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch tells the story birth of the son of Satan and the coming of the End Times. The Apocalypse is near, and Final Judgement will soon descend upon the human species. Now, on the 30th Anniversary of the original publication of Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, who better to hear from during this uncertain time of ‘sheltering at home’ than Aziraphale and Crowley themselves.

Posted May 1, 2020 - No Comment

‘Miss Scarlet and The Duke’ heads to PBS’ Drama Sundays this Fall!

Set in the dark underbelly of Victorian London, Miss Scarlet and the Duke is the newest addition to Drama Sundays on PBS. Starring Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders, The Downton Abbey Movie, Wolf Hall and The Crown) as Eliza Scarlet, and Stuart Martin (Jamestown, Babylon, Medici) as The Duke, Miss Scarlet and the Duke comes to Masterpiece this Fall on PBS.

Posted April 28, 2020 - No Comment

National Theatre At Home: ‘Frankenstein’ with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller premieres TODAY!

If you look up ‘must-see’ in any dictionary anywhere, you’ll be presented with a description of the 2011 National Theatre production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Days) and starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Doctor Strange) and Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Elementary), the stage adaptation by Nick Dear (Jane Austen’s Persuasion) is headed to the National Theatre’s YouTube channel for a free screening beginning this Thursday.

Posted April 27, 2020 - No Comment

With ‘Line of Duty’ on lockdown, AC-12 shouts out to NHS workers

Line of Duty‘s Vicky McClure confirmed recently on BBC Breakfast that series 6 fell victim to COVID-19 because of the government mandated lockdown as filming was shut down six weeks into a 16-week production schedule. That said, she had time to get together with series co-star Martin Compston for a brilliant #StayAtHome message of support […]

Posted April 25, 2020 - No Comment

Comedy Gold from Thursday’s ‘The Big Night In’ on BBC1

Thursday’s The Big Night In is yet another reason I would live in London at the drop of a hat…as if I needed another one! The 3-hour program brought together Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need for an unprecedented night of comedy on BBC1. Presented by Lenny Henry, Matt Baker, Zoe Ball, Davina McCall and Paddy McGuinness, the one-night […]

Posted April 23, 2020 - No Comment

‘Van der Valk’ set to make the streets of Amsterdam safe this Summer on PBS

Street-smart, cynical and unapologetic detective Simon Van der Valk is an everyman of sorts, investigating high profile cases and gritty murders that immerse him and his team in contemporary Amsterdam’s fast-paced worlds of art, politics, addiction, mysticism, and fashion. If you’re a fan of Luther, Van der Valk is fasten your drama seat belt at its finest.