Downton Abbey v. Upstairs Downstairs – UFC, UK style

It’s been a long time since there has been a good television war of words. Far too long. One has to go all the way back to the 1980’s to remember the Dallas vs. Dynasty smackdown,  but that’s all I can think of. Enter 2011 and we have Downton Abbey vs. Upstairs Downstairs. In one corner, […]

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Setting the Downton Abbey record straight

Ever since the brilliant premiere of Downton Abbey in the UK this past Fall, the anticipation for its Sunday, 9 January, premiere on PBS’ Masterpiece series has been at an all-time high. Both critically acclaimed and a hit with audiences, the period drama returned ITV, at least for a bit, to the forefront of UK […]

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Primeval — back from extinction….

May be a bit of a stretch to equate Primeval with the 1982 classic horror film, Poltergeist, but to quote Carol Anne, “…they’re here“. I guess in the case of Primeval, the quote should actually be “…they’re back“. The critically acclaimed series is back from extinction beginning tonight (1 January) in both the UK (ITV1) […]

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David Suchet talks 'Murder on the Orient Express'

Television just doesn’t get any better than this. Broadcast earlier this year as part of PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery series and recently seen as part of ITV’s Christmas Day schedule in the UK, maybe a suggestion for New Year’s Eve viewing if you haven’t seen as of yet? David Suchet has spent a lifetime playing Agatha […]

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The 'unofficial' history of London's television studios

Every so often, you run across a site on ‘the internets’ that you just have to share. This particular site came to our attention recently when we were taping the host segments at TC8 in BBC Television Centre with Moira Brooker (Judy, As Time Goes By) and Philip Bretherton (Alistair, As Time Goes By) for the […]

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Up next for Life on Mars creators…

Word out of the UK has the Life on Mars creators being commissioned to write a series about two angels sent to Earth to become lawyers. Hey, I can’t make this stuff up. The team of Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham will work with Kudos Film and Television (Spooks, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, […]

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A BBC retro-Christmas 2010

To amplify the point that the Christmas/Boxing Day television schedule war between the BBC and ITV is something akin to Wrestlemania XXVI, one has to look no further than this years schedule plans for both outlets. Even though the BBC is more Hulk Hogan to ITV’s Vince McMahon, both continue to throw the kitchen sink […]

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Could the Bishop of Dibley be a possibility?

What was hinted to us on several occasions during our recent interviews with various cast members of the great Vicar of Dibley, received another shot in the arm yesterday when the Vicar herself said anything’s possible when it comes to more Vicar of Dibley episodes in the future. As reported by our friends over at […]

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Downton Abbey – January 2011 on PBS

All I need to do is mention Downton Abbey upfront and fans of British television on both sides of the pond will know of what I speak. Written and created by Julian Fellowes, Oscar-winning writer of Gosford Park and star of Monarch of the Glen, and starring the likes of Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and […]

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Doc Martin makes North Texas house call

While I’ve never heard this “officially” anywhere and I’m guessing there’s a reason for this, I can’t help but watch Doc Martin and not think of Dr. Gregory House, the unconventional and extremely grumpy genius doctor on “another network”. The program has aired for some time on a number of public television stations around the […]

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