R.I.P. Alan Rickman (1946-2016)

When I read the news about Alan Rickman’s passing yesterday, my initial reaction was to channel Howard Beale, open the window and shout, “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it any more!” First David Bowie and now Alan Rickman. In just a few short days, Planet Earth lost two incredibly talented and […]

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From sweet ladies maid to Victorian serial killer just all in a day’s work for Downton’s Joanne Froggatt

Putting the last six years of playing sweet and innocent Anna Bates in her rear view mirror, Downton Abbey‘s Joanne Froggatt has already begun filming on her next project, Dark Angel, for ITV. The ‘did-she-or-didn’t-she-kill-Mr-Green’ downstairs ladies maid has stepped back in time to play real-life Victorian serial murderer, bigamist and adulteress Mary Ann Cotton. […]

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'Downton Abbey' heads to Hogwarts for S5

Platform 9 & 3/4, magically concealed behind the barrier between Muggle Platform Nine and Platform Ten, at King’s Cross Station in London will be a bit crowded this week as cast and crew of Downton Abbey headed to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. Filming at Alnwick Castle, which doubled as Hogwarts School of Witchery and Wizardry […]

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BBC, PBS' Masterpiece have Great Expectations

With 2012 marking the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth (be easier if someone would just say 200th  anniversary), the BBC and PBS’ Masterpiece series have teamed up and commissioned a new adaptation of Dickens’ classic, Great Expectations. According to the BBC, filming will begin in July in London with Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) starring as […]

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Bye, Bye, Brighton….Hello, Behind the Britcoms on PBS

With 100’s of hours of screening of the best of the best on television anywhere, bar none, we say farewell to Brighton and the 2011 BBC Showcase with pages and pages of notes on what, hopefully, will be coming your way in the United States in the not too distant future. As you may remember […]

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Peter Jackson's Hobbit a go! C'mon 2012.

We’re talking 2012 and 2013, so who knows what movie distribution will look like, but this will be a movie-going event not to be missed. 3D in the theatres, Netflix download, Apple TV download, who knows. Whatever the outlet, put it on your calendars as of this moment. Fraught with delays in such minor details […]

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Robin Hood vs. Robin Hood

Ok, yes, one was directed by Ridley Scott, stars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett and William Hurt and probably had a budget well beyond 10 times the other one. The other, the BBC series from Tiger Aspect, stars Richard Armitage (MI5, Vicar of Dibley) as Sir Guy of Gisborne and Irish-born Jonas Armstrong as Robin of […]

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Screenings and Sherlock in the 21st Century

Day two – more screening, more wind, rain and cold weather, then more screening. Another 10 hours of screening yesterday which means another opportunity to see some of the best television being produced today. Some highlights from the day: Hustle – from the producers of MI5 (Spooks) and Life on Mars, comes a really great […]

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Cupid returns to Dibley, targets the Vicar

From her first day in Dibley, Geraldine was almost rejected by the Parish Council, rejected Owen (thankfully) and David Horton (ultimately), been dumped by David’s brother Simon, linked with Rachel Hunter, always consulted, simultaneously, her pictures of Jesus and Mel Gibson in troubled times and had an affair with a chocolate fountain. Self-described as a […]

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