23 July 2008
COUNTDONE?
Bloody hell. Des O'Connor's quitting Countdown!
THE DOCTOR IS STILL IN
As David Butler and Bob McKenzie used to constantly mention, predictions are a tough business. That's certainly my excuse for my post a month ago where I suggested ITV1's current repeat run of Doc Martin would be inelegantly pulled from the schedules before the end. Four weeks on, not only is it still there, but the ratings are actually going up!
Much of this is probably thanks to viewers getting bored of Bonekickers, but in a desperate attempt to justify my original post, I think it's incredible that one of the week's top performers at 9pm on ITV1 is a repeat. In fact the only other success in that slot appears to be the repeats of A Touch of Frost on Fridays, which is the only weekday when they're continually beating the Beeb at 9pm. You have to go back to before Euro 2008 before you can find ITV winning that slot on any other weeknight.
Probably the biggest flop there recently has been Harley Street which debuted last week with a paltry 3.9 million viewers, being thrashed by cheap BBC1 filler On The Fiddle. That's remarkable given the first episode of Bonekickers on BBC1 the week before garnered 6.8 million viewers. Alright, so the ratings for that are plummeting, but surely a medical drama stuffed with former soap stars you recognise would be an easier thing to sell than a drama about archaeologists starring a cast who, although all fine actors, are hardly household names.
It looks as if people have stopped trusting ITV1 to produce new drama. None of their new series this year have been much of a hit and the only shows guaranteed a big audience are old favourites like Midsomer Murders and, yes, Doc Martin. Where are the equivalents of New Tricks on ITV1 these days? From the channel that brought you Minder and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, that's amazing.
Much of this is probably thanks to viewers getting bored of Bonekickers, but in a desperate attempt to justify my original post, I think it's incredible that one of the week's top performers at 9pm on ITV1 is a repeat. In fact the only other success in that slot appears to be the repeats of A Touch of Frost on Fridays, which is the only weekday when they're continually beating the Beeb at 9pm. You have to go back to before Euro 2008 before you can find ITV winning that slot on any other weeknight.
Probably the biggest flop there recently has been Harley Street which debuted last week with a paltry 3.9 million viewers, being thrashed by cheap BBC1 filler On The Fiddle. That's remarkable given the first episode of Bonekickers on BBC1 the week before garnered 6.8 million viewers. Alright, so the ratings for that are plummeting, but surely a medical drama stuffed with former soap stars you recognise would be an easier thing to sell than a drama about archaeologists starring a cast who, although all fine actors, are hardly household names.
It looks as if people have stopped trusting ITV1 to produce new drama. None of their new series this year have been much of a hit and the only shows guaranteed a big audience are old favourites like Midsomer Murders and, yes, Doc Martin. Where are the equivalents of New Tricks on ITV1 these days? From the channel that brought you Minder and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, that's amazing.
22 July 2008
DRAGONS' EDGE
Think you recognised pop-eyed Barry plugging his "Air Oasis" on last night's Dragons' Den (and, by the way, I was disappointed Peter Jones didn't chip in with "water disaster" or "it's a big H2-no from me")? In 1997, he was one of the three featured on The Cutting Edge documentary, "The Complainers". Remember that one? It begat the subsequent doco, "Rogue Males", of fake-fight-on-the-front-lawn infamy.
10 July 2008
BEYOND THE DAVE
So, last year UKTV G2 became Dave, we were all a bit puzzled, but it paid dividends in terms of viewers. Today, UKTV have announced further rebrands ....
UKTV unveils its new entertainment channel brands – Watch, GOLD and AlibiI guess that's all quite sensible, although I'm not sure I really buy "Go On Laugh Daily". Although I can't think of a wittier acronym ...
UKTV today announces the launch of three distinct channel brands: Watch (previously UKTV Gold +1), GOLD and Alibi (previously UKTV Drama). All three channels will launch on Tuesday 7 October 2008.
Carrying the cream of contemporary programming, Watch promises to deliver simply great TV. Operating as a linear catch-up service for modern classics including Torchwood, Mistresses and Larkrise to Candleford, the bold entertainment channel will sit next to GOLD in the pay section of the EPG. The crown in its enviable schedule will be Watch’s brand new commission, the Richard and Judy primetime show, which will air on weekdays.
GOLD - Go On Laugh Daily - becomes a dedicated comedy channel with a clear mission: to make people laugh. Offering uplifting and infectious comedy from Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers to the Vicar of Dibley, GOLD unashamedly celebrates all Britain’s fantastic comedy and guarantees its viewers a well earned giggle. Launching as part of its new look will be two brand new commissions – Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga and Blackadder’s Most Cunning Moments.
UKTV Drama will be transformed into Alibi, the World’s Number 1 Detective Agency. Dedicated exclusively to the best crime shows, Alibi promises to bring together the greatest investigative minds from Sherlock Holmes to DCI Taggart to Waking the Dead’s CID team.
Matthew Littleford, UKTV Controller explains, “The fact we’ve taken the bold decision to re-brand our entire entertainment portfolio in one swoop demonstrates the magnitude of our ambition and our commitment to Pay TV. Watch, GOLD and Alibi are dynamic channel brands that are clearly identifiable, full of personality and I believe will future-proof our business as we head towards 2012.”
Christian Drobnyk, Director of Entertainment, who is leading the editorial strategy adds, “With its innovative marketing and strong schedule, Dave became, almost overnight, a top ten channel in multi channel homes; a success that cannot be attributed solely to Freeview as Dave grew by 56% in Pay TV. This success can be replicated across the network with Watch, GOLD and Alibi and enables us to exploit the potential of our real estate.”
Tom Lucas, Director of Marketing and Communications who is leading the re-brand explains, “We’ve undertaken an incredibly ambitious brand overhaul with rigorous analysis of audience needs informing all our changes. Watch addresses the problem of media fragmentation by putting our viewers in the picture and enabling them to catch up on modern TV classics.” He continues, “Meanwhile GOLD is a perfectly timed antidote to credit crunch Britain. As we face bleak news story after bleak news story, Go On Laugh Daily gives us all permission to seek escape in great comedy and enjoy a belly laugh or two.”
The new channel idents and positioning were developed by UKTV’s marketing team in conjunction with Red Bee Media.
09 July 2008
DO THE HUSTLE!
The next series of Hustle is now filming. And cast confirmed?
Well, here's the press release.
Well, here's the press release.
Adrian Lester returns to the role of Mickey ‘Bricks’ Stone for the fifth series of the hit con drama, Hustle, from Kudos Film and Television in association with Red Planet Pictures for transmission on BBC One next year. Robert Glenister and Robert Vaughn also return as Mickey’s fellow con artists, Ash ‘Three Socks’ Morgan and Albert Stroller.Wot, no mention of Ashley Walters?
Following his stint in Australia selling the Sydney Opera House to an unsuspecting punter, Mickey has returned to a new London. The credit crunch has hit Britain and while the majority of the nation are tightening their belts, there are still a scurrilous and greedy few who are getting ever richer from others losses – the perfect marks for the best grifter in the business - and Mickey is keen to put new and inventive plans into action to extract their cash!
However, it’s not just the financial state of the nation that has seen a change; Mickey’s crew is looking somewhat depleted too. Ash is back to short cons whilst Danny and Stacey are grifting their way across America. Even Mickey’s old friend and mentor, Albert, seems to have disappeared but Mickey soon finds that he has finally been busted and is currently detained at her majesty’s pleasure.
However, far from desperate to get out of prison, Albert is living the life of Riley; catching up on his reading, playing cards with the guards and watching his favourite TV shows! But the art of the long con is in his blood and naturally has a few marks up his sleeve, ready and waiting to be relieved of their cash.
Mickey is determined that he and Ash get a new crew together but with Albert’s tip off for a potential mark ready for the taking they have more pressing matters at hand, starting with an obnoxious young woman who’s made a killing in dubious property developments…
Adrian Lester says: “It’s great to finally get back into Mickey’s shoes after a very busy couple of years both here and in the US. Tony [Jordan] and I have been discussing all sorts of stories and ideas for the next series and he has written some brilliant scripts with some classic twists – I’m already practicing my pick pocketing!”
Hustle creator, writer and, for this new series, executive producer, Tony Jordan says: “After a year’s break it’s so exciting to come up with new cons for Mickey and the gang to pull on a myriad of greedy scumbags.
“Whilst Mickey has been away working the ultimate long con in Oz, his crew have all gone their separate ways. So, now he’s back in blighty, Mickey’s intent on getting back to business because as long as there is someone who wants something for nothing, Mickey will be there, happy to take a great deal of money off their hands for nothing in return.”
Karen Wilson, executive producer for Kudos says: “It’s a great privilege to have Adrian back in the Hustle fold alongside audience favourites Robert Glenister and Robert Vaughn. Mickey and Ash have their work cut out conning a new set of ‘victims’ when their legendary roper is in the clink but if anyone can do it Mickey Bricks can! ”
Polly Hill, Commissioning Editor of Independent Drama, say: “We are delighted that Adrian Lester returns to Hustle as Mickey Bricks.
“Tony Jordan's wonderful scripts see him return to a different London but using the same delicious scams. This series promises to offer everything that we love about Hustle but with an exciting new twist.”
The new series of Hustle will start filming in and around London this summer for transmission on BBC One in 2009.
08 July 2008
WOGAN FOR THE NOEL SLOT? DEAL!
This just in: Terry Wogan's Total Recall!
Looks like El Tel's going daytime a la Noel with a new C4 quizzer from RDF. They're looking for applicants right now, who have great general knowledge and can recall an answer if they've heard it already. Mail: TotalRecall@RDFtelevision.com or call: 0207 751 7362.
UPDATE: Actually, according to Media Guardian, Sir Terry is actually down for the Richard & Judy slot.
Looks like El Tel's going daytime a la Noel with a new C4 quizzer from RDF. They're looking for applicants right now, who have great general knowledge and can recall an answer if they've heard it already. Mail: TotalRecall@RDFtelevision.com or call: 0207 751 7362.
UPDATE: Actually, according to Media Guardian, Sir Terry is actually down for the Richard & Judy slot.
HOTELS, YOU COULD SAY, ARE HER FORTE
Two years ago, I was extolling the virtues of Five's The Hotel Inspector. And I'm about to do just that again The series returns this Thursday at 8pm - but with a significant change. Original inspector Ruth Watson has checked out - she's off to C4 for a series about failing country homes. Thus we usher in Alex Polizzi, daughter of hotelier Olga Polizzi, and granddaughter of Lord Forte, of the legendary Trust House hotel chain.
And all of that is good, but is Alex fit to take over from Ruth? Having watched a preview disc of this week's opener - in which she visits what's purportedly the oldest hotel in Wales - I'm happy to say she is. Less shrill than Ruth, and at times more empathetic (rolling up her sleeves and helping an over-worked hotelier clear down after breakfast), she's perhaps even more sure of herself than her predecessor. And - here comes that cliche - she doesn't mince her words. "I like you as people," she informs this week's struggling owners, "but I have to tell you, you offend every hoteling instinct that I have. I'm horrified at your arrogance in thinking that you can do this with so little knowledge. Because if this was my hotel, I promise you, I would have a fucking nervous breakdown."
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a chat with Alex.
"I'm very straightforward,' she said, "And a bit more hands on than Ruth. I like rolling up my sleeves and mucking in."
She continued: "I try and bear in mind that however crap I think some of the hoteliers in the show are, this is their livelihood they've got on the line. So I do try to be sympathetic - but I have had to deal with some complete loons! I tell them that openly to their faces, so it's not like I'm saying anything behind their backs."
And she sums up her role in the programme quite succinctly. "Sometimes I do feel like I'm quite a big hammer, brought in to straighten a pathetic nail." Nail it, she does.
And all of that is good, but is Alex fit to take over from Ruth? Having watched a preview disc of this week's opener - in which she visits what's purportedly the oldest hotel in Wales - I'm happy to say she is. Less shrill than Ruth, and at times more empathetic (rolling up her sleeves and helping an over-worked hotelier clear down after breakfast), she's perhaps even more sure of herself than her predecessor. And - here comes that cliche - she doesn't mince her words. "I like you as people," she informs this week's struggling owners, "but I have to tell you, you offend every hoteling instinct that I have. I'm horrified at your arrogance in thinking that you can do this with so little knowledge. Because if this was my hotel, I promise you, I would have a fucking nervous breakdown."
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a chat with Alex.
"I'm very straightforward,' she said, "And a bit more hands on than Ruth. I like rolling up my sleeves and mucking in."
She continued: "I try and bear in mind that however crap I think some of the hoteliers in the show are, this is their livelihood they've got on the line. So I do try to be sympathetic - but I have had to deal with some complete loons! I tell them that openly to their faces, so it's not like I'm saying anything behind their backs."
And she sums up her role in the programme quite succinctly. "Sometimes I do feel like I'm quite a big hammer, brought in to straighten a pathetic nail." Nail it, she does.