BBC Showcase – program highlights

As day one of the 2011 BBC Syndication Showcase in New Orleans has come and gone, I can honestly say to everyone that, as viewers of your local PBS station, you are in for a treat given what we saw today. This is the third annual showcase whereby BBC Worldwide Americas gathers PBS station programmers […]

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Blackadder – should the series with the perfect ending return?

Rumors circulated across the internet in recent weeks concerning a possible return of the greatness of Blackadder for another season. Seems as though when Rowan Atkinson recently announced that Mr. Bean (and Teddy) had officially retired, he quietly hinted that he’d love to see ‘the band get back together’ for another Blackadder series. Of course, […]

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David Croft discusses the complexity of 'Allo 'Allo

With the passing of David Croft on Sunday, 27 September, at age 89, more from our 1999 interview for the public television program, Salute to British Comedy on American Public Television. When host Penelope Keith introduces the ‘Allo ‘Allo segment, we come to realize that the series was not only complex for the audience, but […]

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British comedy legend, Dad's Army, AYBS co-creator, David Croft dies at 89

British comedy legend, writer/producer David Croft, has died at age 89. Responsible for such classic sitcoms as Dad’s Army, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi, ‘Allo ‘Allo and Are You Being Served?, Croft began his career in show business with an early childhood advertisement appearance and then a small part in the 1939 film, Goodbye […]

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On the New Tricks good news/bad news front….

For fans of the BBC series, New Tricks, it was welcome news recently that the series had been commissioned for an additional two seasons to be broadcast in 2012 and 2013. For those unfamiliar with the series, New Tricks stars an unconventional bunch of old school ex-coppers brought out of retirement to work on unsolved […]

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Ashes to Ashes, Spooks, Downton Abbey and more….

Need an Audi Quattro? Going once, going twice…. Ok, maybe not THE Audi Quattro, but some of the set pieces from the brilliant BBC series, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes starring Philip Glenister will go on the auction block this coming Friday, 23 September at the Merlin Theatre in Somerset. DCI Hunt, himself, […]

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Spooks: What we've learned in 10 years

To the lucky ones on the planet in the UK sitting down in front of the telly tonight at 9:00pm with the enviable viewing choice of either the new seaon of ITV’s Downton Abbey or the final season of Spooks on BBC One. The Guardian put it best by saying that, “…in Downton Abbey, you […]

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Doc Martin resumes Portwenn house calls Sept 12 on ITV1

With the new series of the hit comedy drama, Doc Martin, set to return tomorrow (Monday, 12 September) on ITV1 in the UK, it’s time to set up yet another support group in the U.S. Unfortunately, as we have recently reported, series 5 will not premiere in the States until April 2012 on public television […]

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Making a Portwenn ‘house call’ to the set of Doc Martin

Patients of Dr. Martin Ellingham finally received word this week that the new season of Doc Martin will begin on Monday, 12 September, in the UK (ITV). In the States, on public television, we can now, with virtual certainty, announce that Dr. Martin Ellingham will resume making house calls in Portwenn beginning in April 2012. […]

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Spooks S10 – Early report from the grid

Unfortunately, no news as to an official transmission date in the UK for the final season of brilliant BBC series, Spooks, with initial reports still saying ‘Fall’, and all that implies. Still on tap for an April 2012 broadcast in the U.S. on public television so, that much, we know. As most know, filming is […]

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