Sarah Rose has been upped to president of Channel 5, the Paramount-owned broadcaster confirmed today.
In the role Rose will also be U.K. regional lead, overseeing both Channel 5 and its streamer platform My5 as well as the company’s local pay TV brands.
The news follows last week’s announcement that Maria Kyriacou was stepping down as Paramount Global president after four years.
Rose joined Paramount in 2020 from rival U.K. network Channel 4, where she was chief consumer and strategy officer. At Channel 4 she oversaw the channel’s move into free streaming while at Channel 5 she helped launch the company’s Canadian streaming services. During her twenty-year television career she has worked across all three of the U.K.’s largest commercial PSBs.
Chief content officer Ben Frow will remain in his role, reporting to Rose and George Cheeks while EVP and head of international advertising sales...
In the role Rose will also be U.K. regional lead, overseeing both Channel 5 and its streamer platform My5 as well as the company’s local pay TV brands.
The news follows last week’s announcement that Maria Kyriacou was stepping down as Paramount Global president after four years.
Rose joined Paramount in 2020 from rival U.K. network Channel 4, where she was chief consumer and strategy officer. At Channel 4 she oversaw the channel’s move into free streaming while at Channel 5 she helped launch the company’s Canadian streaming services. During her twenty-year television career she has worked across all three of the U.K.’s largest commercial PSBs.
Chief content officer Ben Frow will remain in his role, reporting to Rose and George Cheeks while EVP and head of international advertising sales...
- 2/6/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Acquisitions
Banijay U.K. have acquired “Becoming Elizabeth” producer The Forge. The terms of the agreement include a first look deal for Banijay Rights.
The Forge was founded by managing director George Faber and the senior creative team is comprised of Faber, EP and head of business affair Mark Pybus, EP Beth Willis and EP George Ormond. Upcoming series from the production company are “The Buccaneers” for Apple TV+ and Peter Kominsky’s drama about the Grenfell fire for BBC One.
The studio is the eleventh scripted label to be acquired by Banjay U.K., joining companies including Tiger Aspect and Kudos.
“I have been a massive admirer of The Forge since its inception,” said Patrick Holland, CEO of Banijay U.K. “George Faber, Mark Pybus, Beth Willis and George Ormond have together grown one of the most ambitious and exciting drama slates in the U.K. We are so...
Banijay U.K. have acquired “Becoming Elizabeth” producer The Forge. The terms of the agreement include a first look deal for Banijay Rights.
The Forge was founded by managing director George Faber and the senior creative team is comprised of Faber, EP and head of business affair Mark Pybus, EP Beth Willis and EP George Ormond. Upcoming series from the production company are “The Buccaneers” for Apple TV+ and Peter Kominsky’s drama about the Grenfell fire for BBC One.
The studio is the eleventh scripted label to be acquired by Banjay U.K., joining companies including Tiger Aspect and Kudos.
“I have been a massive admirer of The Forge since its inception,” said Patrick Holland, CEO of Banijay U.K. “George Faber, Mark Pybus, Beth Willis and George Ormond have together grown one of the most ambitious and exciting drama slates in the U.K. We are so...
- 11/2/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: UK unscripted vet Daniel Pearl is exiting Paramount UK for Lion TV.
The streamer’s VP of unscripted originals in the UK, whose past credits include Leaving Neverland and 72 Films-produced Premier League series Rise of the Billionaires, will become Creative Director at the All3Media-owned production outfit, replacing Tom Watt-Smith but with a wider remit.
Pearl has spent the past six years at Paramount UK, where he has overseen a wealth of factual shows first for Paramount UK network Channel 5 and latterly Paramount+ – leading the charge on the streamer’s UK unscripted push. Credits for Paramount+ include Rise of the Billionaires, serial killer series The Box and reality show Hot Yachts. For Channel 5, he oversaw big factual beasts such as Our Yorkshire Farm.
Pearl is a UK unscripted vet, having spent the six years before Paramount/Channel 5 in various current affairs roles with Channel 4, and the 15 years before that at the BBC.
The streamer’s VP of unscripted originals in the UK, whose past credits include Leaving Neverland and 72 Films-produced Premier League series Rise of the Billionaires, will become Creative Director at the All3Media-owned production outfit, replacing Tom Watt-Smith but with a wider remit.
Pearl has spent the past six years at Paramount UK, where he has overseen a wealth of factual shows first for Paramount UK network Channel 5 and latterly Paramount+ – leading the charge on the streamer’s UK unscripted push. Credits for Paramount+ include Rise of the Billionaires, serial killer series The Box and reality show Hot Yachts. For Channel 5, he oversaw big factual beasts such as Our Yorkshire Farm.
Pearl is a UK unscripted vet, having spent the six years before Paramount/Channel 5 in various current affairs roles with Channel 4, and the 15 years before that at the BBC.
- 9/11/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount’s UK content chief Ben Frow has revealed that he secretly resigned last year as a result of burnout following the pandemic.
In a revelation at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Frow told an audience of UK television executives that he quit last April but later paused his resignation after making a recovery.
The charismatic television executive, who has rejuvenated the fortunes of UK network Channel 5, said that the fallout from Covid hit him “like a brick” in 2022 after working in isolation and shouldering responsibility for his team and producers.
“I felt like I was being pecked alive, eaten alive… so I resigned,” Paramount’s UK chief content officer recalled. Frow said he kept his resignation a secret from his team and continued to work.
The only clue his colleagues had about his mental health issues was that he was “very angry” in the office and would “shake” in...
In a revelation at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Frow told an audience of UK television executives that he quit last April but later paused his resignation after making a recovery.
The charismatic television executive, who has rejuvenated the fortunes of UK network Channel 5, said that the fallout from Covid hit him “like a brick” in 2022 after working in isolation and shouldering responsibility for his team and producers.
“I felt like I was being pecked alive, eaten alive… so I resigned,” Paramount’s UK chief content officer recalled. Frow said he kept his resignation a secret from his team and continued to work.
The only clue his colleagues had about his mental health issues was that he was “very angry” in the office and would “shake” in...
- 8/23/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
2022 was a gangbuster year for the U.K.’s unscripted TV sector. Rates soared as productions struggled to find crew such as editors and producer-directors because of the sheer amount of work available. “You were fighting over staff,” said one producer with almost 20 years experience, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
This year, he says, is the complete opposite. WhatsApp and Facebook groups are awash with freelancers desperately searching for a gig. Some have been out of work for months and, in a few cases, since last year. They are terrified about how to pay their rent or mortgages. Many have applied for government welfare. Others have taken work outside television until things pick up. Those who haven’t left the industry already are considering it.
“For a lot of people, this is a dire situation,” says James Taylor, a series producer in factual entertainment and co-chair of the unscripted branch at Bectu,...
This year, he says, is the complete opposite. WhatsApp and Facebook groups are awash with freelancers desperately searching for a gig. Some have been out of work for months and, in a few cases, since last year. They are terrified about how to pay their rent or mortgages. Many have applied for government welfare. Others have taken work outside television until things pick up. Those who haven’t left the industry already are considering it.
“For a lot of people, this is a dire situation,” says James Taylor, a series producer in factual entertainment and co-chair of the unscripted branch at Bectu,...
- 5/25/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Channel 5 is on the brink of finding a new producer for its next Jane McDonald and Susan Calman shows. This follows owner Paramount Global’s decision to close the Viacom International Studios (Vis) UK unscripted division, revealed by Deadline last month.
Deadline understands that Daisybeck Studios, which makes some of Channel 5’s biggest hits including The Yorkshire Vet and Our Yorkshire Farm, is extremely close to taking on the work with two of the channel’s highest-profile presenters. Based in Leeds, eOne-owned Daisybeck is a trusted Channel 5 supplier that has made hundreds of hours of shows for the channel including many that focus on the outfit’s native Yorkshire.
The move comes as Paramount begins the process of apportioning dozens of hours of Vis’s factual programing to the UK indie sector.
McDonald’s next project is unknown but will likely be within her travelog wheelhouse. She...
Deadline understands that Daisybeck Studios, which makes some of Channel 5’s biggest hits including The Yorkshire Vet and Our Yorkshire Farm, is extremely close to taking on the work with two of the channel’s highest-profile presenters. Based in Leeds, eOne-owned Daisybeck is a trusted Channel 5 supplier that has made hundreds of hours of shows for the channel including many that focus on the outfit’s native Yorkshire.
The move comes as Paramount begins the process of apportioning dozens of hours of Vis’s factual programing to the UK indie sector.
McDonald’s next project is unknown but will likely be within her travelog wheelhouse. She...
- 3/29/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Ross Kemp is returning to his first acting role in 15 years as a corrupt policeman who turns a blind eye to a woman’s possible murder.
“Blindspot,” which is produced by Clapperboard and set to air on U.K. public service broadcaster Channel 5 later this year, tells the story of Hannah, a disabled woman (played by Beth Alsbury) who sees a man and a woman walking to a low visibility area before the man emerges alone. Kemp plays Tony, a policeman in charge of the case who dismisses Hanna’s concerns.
The four-part thriller is just one of a slate of new dramas and documentaries unveiled at Channel 5’s upfronts event this evening by Paramount’s chief content officer for the U.K., Ben Frow.
Other projects due to debut on the network this year include “Tim Peake: Secrets of Our Universe,” with astronaut Tim Peake; “The Inheritance,” a...
“Blindspot,” which is produced by Clapperboard and set to air on U.K. public service broadcaster Channel 5 later this year, tells the story of Hannah, a disabled woman (played by Beth Alsbury) who sees a man and a woman walking to a low visibility area before the man emerges alone. Kemp plays Tony, a policeman in charge of the case who dismisses Hanna’s concerns.
The four-part thriller is just one of a slate of new dramas and documentaries unveiled at Channel 5’s upfronts event this evening by Paramount’s chief content officer for the U.K., Ben Frow.
Other projects due to debut on the network this year include “Tim Peake: Secrets of Our Universe,” with astronaut Tim Peake; “The Inheritance,” a...
- 1/25/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Ross Kemp is returning to acting after 15 years for a Channel 5 police thriller that features on an upfront slate with Tim Peake, Ruby Wax and Jay Blades.
The EastEnders star will lead Clapperboard’s police thriller Blindspot for the Paramount-owned network. Kemp’s Tony Warden will help a disabled woman with a wry sense of humor, Hannah, played by newcomer Beth Alsbury, who believes she has witnessed the prelude to a murder while monitoring the CCTV on a rough estate.
Kemp made his name playing Grant Mitchell in BBC soap EastEnders in the 1990s and 2000s but has since moved to helm factual programs, including his cult Ross Kemp on Gangs series.
Blindspot features on a 40 hour slate unveiled by Paramount UK Chief Content Officer Ben Frow in London this evening, with another drama, The Inheritance, also revealed, about siblings who are left reeling following the unexpected death...
The EastEnders star will lead Clapperboard’s police thriller Blindspot for the Paramount-owned network. Kemp’s Tony Warden will help a disabled woman with a wry sense of humor, Hannah, played by newcomer Beth Alsbury, who believes she has witnessed the prelude to a murder while monitoring the CCTV on a rough estate.
Kemp made his name playing Grant Mitchell in BBC soap EastEnders in the 1990s and 2000s but has since moved to helm factual programs, including his cult Ross Kemp on Gangs series.
Blindspot features on a 40 hour slate unveiled by Paramount UK Chief Content Officer Ben Frow in London this evening, with another drama, The Inheritance, also revealed, about siblings who are left reeling following the unexpected death...
- 1/25/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Channel 5 has said the success of drama series including All Creatures Great and Small has boosted its ratings and propelled the Paramount-owned UK broadcaster to record profits.
Channel 5 is looking to double down on its scripted purple patch with another major adaptation from Playground Entertainment, producer of All Creatures. The company is in talks to turn international bestseller Hardacre into a sweeping rags-to-riches series set in Yorkshire, Deadline can reveal.
Channel 5, overseen by Ben Frow, Paramount UK’s chief content officer, said drama series helped boost its audience share for a fourth consecutive year. Ratings were up 1 to an overall share of 4.5 last year, compared with 4.47 in 2021. This was against a backdrop of other broadcasters, including Channel 4, losing audience share.
Channel 5 said the third series of All Creatures was watched by 3.8M. The Teacher, starring BAFTA-winner Sheridan Smith, become the channel’s best-performing original drama with 4.3M viewers.
Channel 5 is looking to double down on its scripted purple patch with another major adaptation from Playground Entertainment, producer of All Creatures. The company is in talks to turn international bestseller Hardacre into a sweeping rags-to-riches series set in Yorkshire, Deadline can reveal.
Channel 5, overseen by Ben Frow, Paramount UK’s chief content officer, said drama series helped boost its audience share for a fourth consecutive year. Ratings were up 1 to an overall share of 4.5 last year, compared with 4.47 in 2021. This was against a backdrop of other broadcasters, including Channel 4, losing audience share.
Channel 5 said the third series of All Creatures was watched by 3.8M. The Teacher, starring BAFTA-winner Sheridan Smith, become the channel’s best-performing original drama with 4.3M viewers.
- 1/10/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Paramount wants to increasingly approach its networks, streamers and other assets with a truly global mindset. The conglomerate is working to structure reporting lines within the organization with that in mind — rather than relying on traditional regional clusters — and executives are now sharing additional details of that strategy.
For example, “piloting” content from international businesses locally, such as in Britain, with an eye on a possible expansion into other markets, including the U.S., is now a regular goal. “I was talking to Ben Frow who runs programming for [U.K. broadcast network] Channel 5,” Paramount CEO Bob Bakish told The Hollywood Reporter. “His thesis is … the real opportunity is about piloting in the U.K. as a step towards a global franchise, not necessarily trying to launch a global franchise out of the gate,” which has often proven difficult.
He pointed to CBS’ season 2 of the BBC remake Ghosts.
Paramount wants to increasingly approach its networks, streamers and other assets with a truly global mindset. The conglomerate is working to structure reporting lines within the organization with that in mind — rather than relying on traditional regional clusters — and executives are now sharing additional details of that strategy.
For example, “piloting” content from international businesses locally, such as in Britain, with an eye on a possible expansion into other markets, including the U.S., is now a regular goal. “I was talking to Ben Frow who runs programming for [U.K. broadcast network] Channel 5,” Paramount CEO Bob Bakish told The Hollywood Reporter. “His thesis is … the real opportunity is about piloting in the U.K. as a step towards a global franchise, not necessarily trying to launch a global franchise out of the gate,” which has often proven difficult.
He pointed to CBS’ season 2 of the BBC remake Ghosts.
- 11/22/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Succession star Brian Cox will front a new documentary about society’s complicated relationship with money.
The Scottish actor, 76, will present the two-part series titled Brian Cox: That’s the Way the Money Goes, an investigation into wealth and poverty.
He will also touch on his own story of growing up in poverty to becoming a Hollywood star, who in Succession plays a billionaire business mogul.
“In this series, I want to find out what money does to you, to me, how it affects all our lives. Whether we have it or we don’t,” Cox says in a teaser clip.
“After my father died, my mother discovered his bank had the sum of £10 in it, we were destitute. For me, money is very much my own personal demon. Something I have avoided confronting until now.”
News of the project comes amid the cost of living crisis in the UK,...
The Scottish actor, 76, will present the two-part series titled Brian Cox: That’s the Way the Money Goes, an investigation into wealth and poverty.
He will also touch on his own story of growing up in poverty to becoming a Hollywood star, who in Succession plays a billionaire business mogul.
“In this series, I want to find out what money does to you, to me, how it affects all our lives. Whether we have it or we don’t,” Cox says in a teaser clip.
“After my father died, my mother discovered his bank had the sum of £10 in it, we were destitute. For me, money is very much my own personal demon. Something I have avoided confronting until now.”
News of the project comes amid the cost of living crisis in the UK,...
- 8/25/2022
- by Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - TV
Exclusive: Britain’s major broadcasters and streamers are taking a stand on “clear and disturbing” access issues impacting the industry’s disabled population and have demanded change from studios and post-production facilities.
Deadline can exclusively reveal that the flagship cross-industry initiative to be launched at this week’s Edinburgh Television Festival will be the TV Access Project (Tap), a blueprint to rid the sector of appalling accessibility problems, spearheaded by BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore.
The BBC, Channel 4, Britbox International, Disney+ UK, ITV, Paramount, Prime Video, Sky and UKTV are all signed up to Tap and the project has backing from influential producer trade body Pact and the Creative Diversity Network (Cdn).
Tap began quietly in April when Moore, one of the most powerful people in British broadcasting, helped convene a pan-industry roundtable between disabled creatives, UK industry bosses and groups such as Pact, the Cdn, Triple C...
Deadline can exclusively reveal that the flagship cross-industry initiative to be launched at this week’s Edinburgh Television Festival will be the TV Access Project (Tap), a blueprint to rid the sector of appalling accessibility problems, spearheaded by BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore.
The BBC, Channel 4, Britbox International, Disney+ UK, ITV, Paramount, Prime Video, Sky and UKTV are all signed up to Tap and the project has backing from influential producer trade body Pact and the Creative Diversity Network (Cdn).
Tap began quietly in April when Moore, one of the most powerful people in British broadcasting, helped convene a pan-industry roundtable between disabled creatives, UK industry bosses and groups such as Pact, the Cdn, Triple C...
- 8/23/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Three million British viewers tuned in to the final episode of Australian soap Neighbours, waving off a TV stalwart after 37 years. The double-episode special drew this peak audience as the show drew to a close, according to overnight figures, with an average audience of 2.5million.
The hour-long finale aired on Friday evening in the UK on Channel 5. Fans took to social media with praise for the last show, which recruited star alumnae Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Margot Robbie made a cameo appearance from Los Angeles, while singers Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Valance filmed a scene from London, where they both live.
Fans’ biggest praise came for Guy Pearce, who reprised his role of Mike Young throughout the hour-long episode and committed wholeheartedly to his narrative arc, which saw him reunited with his school sweetheart Jane, played by Annie Jones.
Channel 5 said the viewing figures on Friday night were...
The hour-long finale aired on Friday evening in the UK on Channel 5. Fans took to social media with praise for the last show, which recruited star alumnae Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Margot Robbie made a cameo appearance from Los Angeles, while singers Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Valance filmed a scene from London, where they both live.
Fans’ biggest praise came for Guy Pearce, who reprised his role of Mike Young throughout the hour-long episode and committed wholeheartedly to his narrative arc, which saw him reunited with his school sweetheart Jane, played by Annie Jones.
Channel 5 said the viewing figures on Friday night were...
- 7/31/2022
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
David Nevins, Paramount Premium Group CEO and Chair, is to deliver the annual Edinburgh TV Festival Worldwide Address, as the festival sets panels on football, Ukraine, public broadcasting and true crime featuring Sara Payne, the mother of murdered child Sarah Payne.
In conversation with former Sky Studios boss Jane Millichip, Nevins, who is also Chief Creative Officer for the streamer’s scripted series, will discuss the current scripted landscape, his experiences in maximizing creative ingenuity, talent relationships and IP. He will touch on whether the industry can sustain the influx of streamers both from a Psb and talent drain perspective.
Through a 30-year career, Nevins has run Image TV and overseen entertainment for Showtime, during which time he greenlit the likes of Homeland and Billions. In his current role, he still has responsibility for the network.
The festival, which is chaired by Afua Hirsch this year and taking place August...
In conversation with former Sky Studios boss Jane Millichip, Nevins, who is also Chief Creative Officer for the streamer’s scripted series, will discuss the current scripted landscape, his experiences in maximizing creative ingenuity, talent relationships and IP. He will touch on whether the industry can sustain the influx of streamers both from a Psb and talent drain perspective.
Through a 30-year career, Nevins has run Image TV and overseen entertainment for Showtime, during which time he greenlit the likes of Homeland and Billions. In his current role, he still has responsibility for the network.
The festival, which is chaired by Afua Hirsch this year and taking place August...
- 7/14/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
David Beckham’s Studio 99 is producing a series on the rise of football’s Premier League billionaires for Paramount+ as the streamer unveils a five-strong UK factual slate that includes shows on luxury yachts, the Loch Ness monster, Simple Minds and strippers in Vegas.
The Premiership: Rise of the Billionaires (working title) is being co-produced by All3Media-backed The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe producer Story Films and will tell the coming-of-age story of one of the world’s most expensive and lucrative sporting leagues, placing its stars center stage. The four-parter will focus on the 2000-2010 era, when the likes of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who was recently forced to sell Chelsea, took the league by storm, transforming its wealth.
Beckham’s Studio 99 is also making Disney+ docuseries Save Our Squad with Twenty Twenty.
The show features on a five-strong Paramount+ UK factual slate the morning after...
The Premiership: Rise of the Billionaires (working title) is being co-produced by All3Media-backed The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe producer Story Films and will tell the coming-of-age story of one of the world’s most expensive and lucrative sporting leagues, placing its stars center stage. The four-parter will focus on the 2000-2010 era, when the likes of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who was recently forced to sell Chelsea, took the league by storm, transforming its wealth.
Beckham’s Studio 99 is also making Disney+ docuseries Save Our Squad with Twenty Twenty.
The show features on a five-strong Paramount+ UK factual slate the morning after...
- 6/21/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount+ has unveiled its U.K.-commissioned factual slate ahead of the streaming platform’s U.K. and Ireland launch on June 22.
“Our mission is to make Paramount+ the leading destination for unmissable television in collaboration with the U.K.’s storytelling talent,” said Ben Frow, Paramount’s chief content officer for the U.K. “These new commissions will join an abundance of original content on the service, as well as the pick of Paramount’s vast catalogue to create a compelling offering for viewers in the U.K. and Ireland.”
The new titles include:
“Hot Yachts” from Curve Media
A six-episode series set in South Florida taking viewers into the world of luxury yachts as a team of attractive and hard-partying yacht brokers seek to outdo each other. “Get ready for big characters, insane parties, huge deals and the ultimate Instagram lifestyle in this brand-new reality series,” reads the logline.
“Our mission is to make Paramount+ the leading destination for unmissable television in collaboration with the U.K.’s storytelling talent,” said Ben Frow, Paramount’s chief content officer for the U.K. “These new commissions will join an abundance of original content on the service, as well as the pick of Paramount’s vast catalogue to create a compelling offering for viewers in the U.K. and Ireland.”
The new titles include:
“Hot Yachts” from Curve Media
A six-episode series set in South Florida taking viewers into the world of luxury yachts as a team of attractive and hard-partying yacht brokers seek to outdo each other. “Get ready for big characters, insane parties, huge deals and the ultimate Instagram lifestyle in this brand-new reality series,” reads the logline.
- 6/21/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
U.K. broadcasters ITV, Sky, BBC, Channel 4, and Channel 5 are financially backing the Creative U.K. and U.K. Time’s Up-led proposal for the creation of an Independent Standards Authority (Isa) to tackle bullying and harassment.
The proposals for the Isa are designed to ensure that anyone who has suffered abuse, harassment and bullying can receive confidential advice, mediation and investigation into complaints. The Isa is already supported by the BFI, BAFTA, Bectu, the Pma and the Casting Director’s Guild. In May, top stars Keira Knightley and Naomie Harris voiced their support for the Isa.
Following a consultation period, the next stage, which will be funded by the creative industries, is to design the remit, structure and funding arrangements for the Isa.
Heather Rabbatts, chair, Time’s Up U.K., said: “It is well known that concerns are often not raised until after film and TV productions...
The proposals for the Isa are designed to ensure that anyone who has suffered abuse, harassment and bullying can receive confidential advice, mediation and investigation into complaints. The Isa is already supported by the BFI, BAFTA, Bectu, the Pma and the Casting Director’s Guild. In May, top stars Keira Knightley and Naomie Harris voiced their support for the Isa.
Following a consultation period, the next stage, which will be funded by the creative industries, is to design the remit, structure and funding arrangements for the Isa.
Heather Rabbatts, chair, Time’s Up U.K., said: “It is well known that concerns are often not raised until after film and TV productions...
- 6/16/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Frow, the man who has spent the past decade turning around the fortunes of Paramount-owned Channel 5, has labelled some shows on BBC One, BBC Two, ITV and Channel 4 “lazy,” “second-rate” and “mediocre.”
In a typically candid Royal Television Society Q&a session with Apple Europe Video boss Jay Hunt, who has run programing for BBC One, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the past, Frow urged the UK’s Public Service Broadcasters to “ensure we do our very best to keep our viewers watching us” in the face of mega competition and rising budgets.
Including his own channel in this analysis, Frow said he “sometimes looks across the schedules and thinks ‘Is this the best we can really be?’.”
He went on to call some competitors’ shows “lazy,” “second-rate” and “mediocre” and said “99 out of 100 times I can tell when they won’t work.”
“Viewers aren’t stupid...
In a typically candid Royal Television Society Q&a session with Apple Europe Video boss Jay Hunt, who has run programing for BBC One, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the past, Frow urged the UK’s Public Service Broadcasters to “ensure we do our very best to keep our viewers watching us” in the face of mega competition and rising budgets.
Including his own channel in this analysis, Frow said he “sometimes looks across the schedules and thinks ‘Is this the best we can really be?’.”
He went on to call some competitors’ shows “lazy,” “second-rate” and “mediocre” and said “99 out of 100 times I can tell when they won’t work.”
“Viewers aren’t stupid...
- 6/8/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
British TV executive Jay Hunt was once a formidable voice in the chorus of the U.K. TV industry. But since departing as Channel 4’s chief creative officer in 2017 to join Apple TV+ as its European originals chief, her voice, at least publicly, is seldom — if ever — heard.
It’s this sad reality, that one of the U.K.’s most brilliant thought leaders should be locked away under strict Apple media protocols, that was put in sharp relief on Tuesday evening during a rare public appearance by Hunt, who interviewed another mad genius, Channel 5 boss Ben Frow, as part of a Royal Television Society event in London.
Hunt, who once eviscerated then Vice Media boss Shane Smith during their 2016 interview at the Edinburgh TV Festival, seemed to recognize the unique nature of her circumstance, telling the audience of around 80 people at Fitzrovia’s Cavendish Convention Centre that...
It’s this sad reality, that one of the U.K.’s most brilliant thought leaders should be locked away under strict Apple media protocols, that was put in sharp relief on Tuesday evening during a rare public appearance by Hunt, who interviewed another mad genius, Channel 5 boss Ben Frow, as part of a Royal Television Society event in London.
Hunt, who once eviscerated then Vice Media boss Shane Smith during their 2016 interview at the Edinburgh TV Festival, seemed to recognize the unique nature of her circumstance, telling the audience of around 80 people at Fitzrovia’s Cavendish Convention Centre that...
- 6/7/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
A dearth of production management skills in the British TV industry is finally being addressed by U.K.’s top broadcasters.
The BBC, Channel 4, Paramount (which owns Channel 5) and UKTV are joining forces to tackle the skills gap by each creating a Production Management Skills Fund that will be used “to boost the volume of production management skills and capacity in the sector.” The fund — for which the broadcasters are, collectively, committing £1 million over the next year — will ease the short-term strain in production management and build a long-term talent pool.
Notably, commercial broadcasters ITV and Sky aren’t currently participating in the fund. Variety has reached out for comment.
Line producers, production managers and production coordinators are regularly cited as one of the most difficult roles for independent production companies to recruit. The issue has been put in sharp relief as the demand rises for U.K.
The BBC, Channel 4, Paramount (which owns Channel 5) and UKTV are joining forces to tackle the skills gap by each creating a Production Management Skills Fund that will be used “to boost the volume of production management skills and capacity in the sector.” The fund — for which the broadcasters are, collectively, committing £1 million over the next year — will ease the short-term strain in production management and build a long-term talent pool.
Notably, commercial broadcasters ITV and Sky aren’t currently participating in the fund. Variety has reached out for comment.
Line producers, production managers and production coordinators are regularly cited as one of the most difficult roles for independent production companies to recruit. The issue has been put in sharp relief as the demand rises for U.K.
- 4/29/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Ahead of its summer launch in the U.K., streamer Paramount Plus has unveiled a raft of U.K. original unscripted commissions.
“Haunted” details the most terrifying paranormal cases in Britain and America, combining personal testimony with archive and dramatic reconstruction. It is produced by Story Films in association with All3Media International. Executive producers for Story Films are Peter Beard and Adam Hopkins, and the series producer is Laura Matthews.
“Rise of the Tech Titans” will chart the events that led to a group of founders being able to take their vision to stratospheric levels and reveal how their decisions would go onto shape how we live. It is produced by 72 Films, in association with All3Media International and Night Train Media. Executive producers for 72 Films are Mark Raphael, John Douglas and Annabel Hobley. Katie Hindley and Gagan Rehill are series producers, and will also direct. The series was also ordered by Pearl,...
“Haunted” details the most terrifying paranormal cases in Britain and America, combining personal testimony with archive and dramatic reconstruction. It is produced by Story Films in association with All3Media International. Executive producers for Story Films are Peter Beard and Adam Hopkins, and the series producer is Laura Matthews.
“Rise of the Tech Titans” will chart the events that led to a group of founders being able to take their vision to stratospheric levels and reveal how their decisions would go onto shape how we live. It is produced by 72 Films, in association with All3Media International and Night Train Media. Executive producers for 72 Films are Mark Raphael, John Douglas and Annabel Hobley. Katie Hindley and Gagan Rehill are series producers, and will also direct. The series was also ordered by Pearl,...
- 3/15/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Paramount+ has unveiled the first five shows from its UK unscripted slate, including feature docs on paranormal hauntings in the UK and U.S., rise of big tech and the lost MH370 flight.
Leading the slate is Haunted (working title) from The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe producer Story Films in association with All3Media International, which will explore and unpack cases that have captured the public imagination for many years of hauntings, poltergeists and exorcisms.
Rise of the Tech Titans (working title) will see the extraordinary rise of big tech told through a handful of young upstarts who created the modern world, while Vice Studios’ MH370: The Lost Flight (working title), which is being co-produced for Australia’s Sbs, will uncover groundbreaking evidence surrounding the disappearance of the Malaysian plane in 2014.
The quintet is rounded off by Top Hat Productions’ The Box (working title), following a British detective...
Leading the slate is Haunted (working title) from The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe producer Story Films in association with All3Media International, which will explore and unpack cases that have captured the public imagination for many years of hauntings, poltergeists and exorcisms.
Rise of the Tech Titans (working title) will see the extraordinary rise of big tech told through a handful of young upstarts who created the modern world, while Vice Studios’ MH370: The Lost Flight (working title), which is being co-produced for Australia’s Sbs, will uncover groundbreaking evidence surrounding the disappearance of the Malaysian plane in 2014.
The quintet is rounded off by Top Hat Productions’ The Box (working title), following a British detective...
- 3/15/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
British broadcasting heavyweight Michael Grade has predicted another UK channel will pick up Neighbours, which Channel 5 said it will stop funding over the weekend.
The much-loved 37-year-old Australian soap will stop airing in six months if producer Fremantle fails to find another UK co-commissioner. Australia’s Network Ten part funds the show for its 10 Peach channel but will not pay the full amount.
Grade, a former BBC One Controller, ITV Executive Chair and Channel 4 CEO, who has been linked with buying Channel 4 if it were to be privatized, predicted Fremantle will comfortably find a buyer.
“It’s got a readymade audience,” he added, speaking to this morning’s Today program on BBC Radio 4.
“It may not have the audience size that Channel 5 needs to keep the advertisers happy but someone will pick it up. It’s a big brand and will get a lot of publicity.”
Fremantle...
The much-loved 37-year-old Australian soap will stop airing in six months if producer Fremantle fails to find another UK co-commissioner. Australia’s Network Ten part funds the show for its 10 Peach channel but will not pay the full amount.
Grade, a former BBC One Controller, ITV Executive Chair and Channel 4 CEO, who has been linked with buying Channel 4 if it were to be privatized, predicted Fremantle will comfortably find a buyer.
“It’s got a readymade audience,” he added, speaking to this morning’s Today program on BBC Radio 4.
“It may not have the audience size that Channel 5 needs to keep the advertisers happy but someone will pick it up. It’s a big brand and will get a lot of publicity.”
Fremantle...
- 2/7/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: BBC3 controller Fiona Campbell has been tipped to permanently take on Patrick Holland’s Director of Factual, Arts and Classical Music role, with several internal candidates also thought to be in the running.
Campbell is overseeing Holland’s vast brief temporarily until he moves to Banijay in April and several BBC insiders and UK indie sector sources predicted she will be made permanent at that point and her current controller role closed in line with BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4. No firm decision has been made and the official search for Holland’s successor begins shortly.
Holland revealed he is to replace Peter Salmon as Banijay UK Executive Chair this week and a note to staff from Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore indicated Campbell will fill his shoes immediately for several months while he focuses on “special projects.” At the same time, a BBC3 Channel Editor to help with the...
Campbell is overseeing Holland’s vast brief temporarily until he moves to Banijay in April and several BBC insiders and UK indie sector sources predicted she will be made permanent at that point and her current controller role closed in line with BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4. No firm decision has been made and the official search for Holland’s successor begins shortly.
Holland revealed he is to replace Peter Salmon as Banijay UK Executive Chair this week and a note to staff from Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore indicated Campbell will fill his shoes immediately for several months while he focuses on “special projects.” At the same time, a BBC3 Channel Editor to help with the...
- 12/20/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Campaign
The U.K. Film and TV Charity launched a year-long campaign on Wednesday to tackle the mental health challenges facing the industry. The “Let’s Reset” campaign is designed to tackle the stigma still associated with mental health by challenging common preconceptions, improving attitudes and behaviors across the industry, and by demonstrating the benefits of healthier, more supported, and inclusive working environments, including greater creativity, diversity, and retention of talent.
New research from the second Looking Glass Survey due at the end of the month indicates almost four out of five workers in film and TV believe intensity of work is having a negative impact on their mental health.
The campaign calls on those in positions of power to act, to effect change, and commit to better ways of working. It will move from awareness-raising in the initial launch phase to showcasing and amplifying tools and initiatives to improve the support available,...
The U.K. Film and TV Charity launched a year-long campaign on Wednesday to tackle the mental health challenges facing the industry. The “Let’s Reset” campaign is designed to tackle the stigma still associated with mental health by challenging common preconceptions, improving attitudes and behaviors across the industry, and by demonstrating the benefits of healthier, more supported, and inclusive working environments, including greater creativity, diversity, and retention of talent.
New research from the second Looking Glass Survey due at the end of the month indicates almost four out of five workers in film and TV believe intensity of work is having a negative impact on their mental health.
The campaign calls on those in positions of power to act, to effect change, and commit to better ways of working. It will move from awareness-raising in the initial launch phase to showcasing and amplifying tools and initiatives to improve the support available,...
- 10/6/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The leading UK Film & TV Charity has launched a 12-month campaign to tackle mental health challenges facing the industry, almost two years after a shock survey found nine-in-10 screen sector workers had experienced mental health issues.
The Let’s Reset campaign has been backed by the biggest names in the UK sector such as Banijay UK CEO Lucinda Hicks, BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall and ViacomCBS UK programming chief Ben Frow.
The campaign aims to show individuals working in TV and film that the commitment to improving the industry’s woeful mental health and wellbeing record comes from the top down, directly addressing the underlying causes of mental health, encouraging discussion and challenging people’s preconceptions.
It calls on those in positions of power to act, effect change and commit to better ways of working and will clearly signpost mental health support, with the work of the likes of BAFTA,...
The Let’s Reset campaign has been backed by the biggest names in the UK sector such as Banijay UK CEO Lucinda Hicks, BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall and ViacomCBS UK programming chief Ben Frow.
The campaign aims to show individuals working in TV and film that the commitment to improving the industry’s woeful mental health and wellbeing record comes from the top down, directly addressing the underlying causes of mental health, encouraging discussion and challenging people’s preconceptions.
It calls on those in positions of power to act, effect change and commit to better ways of working and will clearly signpost mental health support, with the work of the likes of BAFTA,...
- 10/6/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The International Icon Interview with Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner Whoopi Goldberg will be one of the highlights of the 2021 Edinburgh TV Festival.
Goldberg, a recent Variety cover star, is expected to talk candidly about her life on and off screen and her experiences as a multi-award winning artist, producer, author, entrepreneur and humanitarian, and the future of the entertainment industry.
Led by 2021 advisory chair, Amazon Studios director of European originals, Georgia Brown, this year’s festival theme is “Accelerating Change.”
The 2020 edition took place online and the 2021 event will be hybrid, with several of the digital elements being refreshed, organizers said.
The festival’s controller sessions are evolving to a series of spotlights where a galaxy of U.K. TV and streaming industry heavyweights will speak. Confirmed speakers include Brown and Dan Grabiner, head of unscripted at Amazon. From the BBC, speakers include Charlotte Moore, chief content officer; Kate Phillips,...
Goldberg, a recent Variety cover star, is expected to talk candidly about her life on and off screen and her experiences as a multi-award winning artist, producer, author, entrepreneur and humanitarian, and the future of the entertainment industry.
Led by 2021 advisory chair, Amazon Studios director of European originals, Georgia Brown, this year’s festival theme is “Accelerating Change.”
The 2020 edition took place online and the 2021 event will be hybrid, with several of the digital elements being refreshed, organizers said.
The festival’s controller sessions are evolving to a series of spotlights where a galaxy of U.K. TV and streaming industry heavyweights will speak. Confirmed speakers include Brown and Dan Grabiner, head of unscripted at Amazon. From the BBC, speakers include Charlotte Moore, chief content officer; Kate Phillips,...
- 5/27/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Their relationship may have been, um, cut short, but Jodie Turner-Smith’s Anne Boleyn and Mark Stanley’s Henry VIII look pretty cosy in the first image of the pair from the upcoming Channel 5 drama.
In Variety’s exclusive first look, Turner-Smith’s Tudor queen is nestled against the formidable Henry VIII, played by “White House Farm” actor Stanley, when times were, presumably, better.
Boleyn is the most notorious of Henry VIII’s six wives, best known for her untimely demise by execution. The three-part psychological thriller “Anne Boleyn” for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5 will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, as she struggles to secure a future for her daughter and challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.
The series will depict the key moments that cause Anne to topple, reflecting her strength, fatal vulnerabilities and determination to be an equal among men.
In Variety’s exclusive first look, Turner-Smith’s Tudor queen is nestled against the formidable Henry VIII, played by “White House Farm” actor Stanley, when times were, presumably, better.
Boleyn is the most notorious of Henry VIII’s six wives, best known for her untimely demise by execution. The three-part psychological thriller “Anne Boleyn” for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5 will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, as she struggles to secure a future for her daughter and challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.
The series will depict the key moments that cause Anne to topple, reflecting her strength, fatal vulnerabilities and determination to be an equal among men.
- 4/8/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Ben Frow continues to grow his ViacomCBS UK empire after taking on editorial responsibility for streamer My5 for the first time, while his job title has changed from director of programs to chief content officer to reflect his beefed-up duties.
Frow is tasked with supercharging the Channel 5 streaming service’s content offering, working alongside chief operating and commercial officer Sarah Rose, who oversees My5’s growth, partnerships, and product areas. Rose joined ViacomCBS UK from Channel 4 last December.
The change coincides with the departure of Oli Thomas, the vice president and digital lead at ViacomCBS Networks International, who previously had oversight of My5. Thomas is leaving the company this week after more than seven years.
Frow told Deadline that he has a “new toy box to play with” as ViacomCBS increasingly pivots to streaming. “My new obsession is My5 and what it’s going to look like,...
Frow is tasked with supercharging the Channel 5 streaming service’s content offering, working alongside chief operating and commercial officer Sarah Rose, who oversees My5’s growth, partnerships, and product areas. Rose joined ViacomCBS UK from Channel 4 last December.
The change coincides with the departure of Oli Thomas, the vice president and digital lead at ViacomCBS Networks International, who previously had oversight of My5. Thomas is leaving the company this week after more than seven years.
Frow told Deadline that he has a “new toy box to play with” as ViacomCBS increasingly pivots to streaming. “My new obsession is My5 and what it’s going to look like,...
- 4/1/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
This time last year, Ben Frow didn’t know how to use a laptop, had never worked from home for a single day of his career, and was terrified that his local supermarket was going to run out of food. “I was more worried about the shelves being empty than the Channel 5 shelf being empty,” says the mischievous and sometimes off-message ViacomCBS UK chief content officer. Flash forward 12 months, Frow is conversing over Microsoft Teams on his laptop, he’s speaking to me from a tastefully appointed front room, his fridge is (presumably) well-stocked, and he has steered Channel 5 through the biggest peacetime crisis in the history of British television.
Frow was one of five of the UK’s most powerful television executives who joined me to reflect on a truly wild year for our industry. Together, we traced the events of the past 12 months, from the shock of...
Frow was one of five of the UK’s most powerful television executives who joined me to reflect on a truly wild year for our industry. Together, we traced the events of the past 12 months, from the shock of...
- 4/1/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Channel 5, Fable Pictures, and Sony Pictures Television have released a first-look image of Queen & Slim actress Jodie Turner-Smith as Anne Boleyn in their convention-busting series on the Tudor monarch.
The three-part series, first revealed by Deadline, will examine the downfall of Boleyn through the prism of a psychological thriller rather than a stuffy period drama retreading the demise of King Henry VIII’s second wife.
Penned by newcomer Eve Hedderwick Turner, Anne Boleyn shines a feminist light on the final months of Boleyn’s life, re-imagining her struggle with Tudor England’s patriarchal society, her desire to secure a future for her daughter, Elizabeth, and the brutal reality of her failure to provide Henry with a male heir.
Vogue, which was first with the stills of Turner-Smith in character, spoke to her about taking on the iconic role. She said: “There’s so much about her story that feels modern.
The three-part series, first revealed by Deadline, will examine the downfall of Boleyn through the prism of a psychological thriller rather than a stuffy period drama retreading the demise of King Henry VIII’s second wife.
Penned by newcomer Eve Hedderwick Turner, Anne Boleyn shines a feminist light on the final months of Boleyn’s life, re-imagining her struggle with Tudor England’s patriarchal society, her desire to secure a future for her daughter, Elizabeth, and the brutal reality of her failure to provide Henry with a male heir.
Vogue, which was first with the stills of Turner-Smith in character, spoke to her about taking on the iconic role. She said: “There’s so much about her story that feels modern.
- 2/11/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s a new queen in town.
Variety can reveal the first look of “Queen & Slim” actor Jodie Turner-Smith as Tudor queen Anne Boleyn — the most notorious of Henry VIII’s wives, best known for her untimely demise by execution — in three-part psychological thriller “Anne Boleyn” for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5. The show wrapped production on location in Yorkshire in December, and is set to air later this year.
Produced by Fable Pictures and Sony Pictures Television, “Anne Boleyn” garnered headlines last year for Turner-Smith’s casting, which marks one of a handful of times a Black actor has portrayed a major royal figure on a British terrestrial broadcaster. More recently, Sophie Okonedo played Queen of England Margaret, who was married to Henry VI, in the BBC’s “The Hollow Crown.” She starred opposite Benedict Cumberbatch.
“Anne Boleyn” — which is gearing up to be Channel 5’s...
Variety can reveal the first look of “Queen & Slim” actor Jodie Turner-Smith as Tudor queen Anne Boleyn — the most notorious of Henry VIII’s wives, best known for her untimely demise by execution — in three-part psychological thriller “Anne Boleyn” for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5. The show wrapped production on location in Yorkshire in December, and is set to air later this year.
Produced by Fable Pictures and Sony Pictures Television, “Anne Boleyn” garnered headlines last year for Turner-Smith’s casting, which marks one of a handful of times a Black actor has portrayed a major royal figure on a British terrestrial broadcaster. More recently, Sophie Okonedo played Queen of England Margaret, who was married to Henry VI, in the BBC’s “The Hollow Crown.” She starred opposite Benedict Cumberbatch.
“Anne Boleyn” — which is gearing up to be Channel 5’s...
- 2/11/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, Amazon begins filling 1,000 apprenticeships coming to the U.K. in 2021, ViacomCBS Networks International appoints Anna Priest as senior VP and chief marketing officer in the U.K., Nl Film fills out its leadership teams and Viddsee begins streaming spoof series “AI Love K-Drama” in Singapore.
Apprenticeship
Amazon has launched a recruitment drive to fill 1,000 new full-time apprenticeship positions across the U.K. over the coming year. Paid apprenticeships will be available in 25 fields including engineering, broadcast production, creative design, It, heal, safety and the environment. Two new broadcast production assistants will be recruited as part of the apprentices scheme and will join the Amazon Prime Video U.K. Originals team, working with Dan Grabiner on unscripted and Johnny Lewsley and Lydia Hampson on scripted.
Of the 1,000 positions, 100 are degree-level with 500 more going to current Amazon employees to both retrain in their current position and teach...
Apprenticeship
Amazon has launched a recruitment drive to fill 1,000 new full-time apprenticeship positions across the U.K. over the coming year. Paid apprenticeships will be available in 25 fields including engineering, broadcast production, creative design, It, heal, safety and the environment. Two new broadcast production assistants will be recruited as part of the apprentices scheme and will join the Amazon Prime Video U.K. Originals team, working with Dan Grabiner on unscripted and Johnny Lewsley and Lydia Hampson on scripted.
Of the 1,000 positions, 100 are degree-level with 500 more going to current Amazon employees to both retrain in their current position and teach...
- 2/5/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Disney Plus has hired Channel 4 executive Sean Doyle as part of its unscripted entertainment team, Variety has confirmed.
Doyle will serve as director of original production for unscripted general entertainment, leading on development and production of original unscripted entertainment for the Media Networks at Disney in Europe and Africa, focusing on Disney Plus and the general entertainment service.
Doyle — who is currently based between Belfast and Glasgow — will report into former BBC Studios scripted executive Liam Keelan, who serves as VP of original productions for Europe and joined the Mouse House last year.
Doyle has been a rising star in the unscripted arena for many years, making a significant mark at ViacomCBS-backed broadcaster Channel 5 before moving to Channel 4 in 2018. At Channel 5, Doyle was one of programming chief Ben Frow’s go-to commissioners, and responsible for a successful “Blind Date” reboot as well as “In Solitary: The Anti-Social Experiment” and “Celebrity In Solitary.
Doyle will serve as director of original production for unscripted general entertainment, leading on development and production of original unscripted entertainment for the Media Networks at Disney in Europe and Africa, focusing on Disney Plus and the general entertainment service.
Doyle — who is currently based between Belfast and Glasgow — will report into former BBC Studios scripted executive Liam Keelan, who serves as VP of original productions for Europe and joined the Mouse House last year.
Doyle has been a rising star in the unscripted arena for many years, making a significant mark at ViacomCBS-backed broadcaster Channel 5 before moving to Channel 4 in 2018. At Channel 5, Doyle was one of programming chief Ben Frow’s go-to commissioners, and responsible for a successful “Blind Date” reboot as well as “In Solitary: The Anti-Social Experiment” and “Celebrity In Solitary.
- 1/11/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
If 2020 has been a year to forget for producers, it’s been a year of opportunity for some writers. In the darkest depths of lockdown, when cameras had stopped rolling and an industry had largely downed tools, there was a rush of activity at the keyboard. With time to think and create, development has been a lifeline. A number of our picks for this year’s Rising TV Scribes list are testament to this, having secured options or commissions in the rubble of coronavirus.
This Deadline feature, now in its second year, seeks to spotlight this work by celebrating some of the buzziest new British writers in the business. This talented bunch has its hands in everything from iconic brands, such as The Crown, to some of the freshest new shows that will land on TV next year. They traverse genres including epic fantasy, horror and history, while many are...
This Deadline feature, now in its second year, seeks to spotlight this work by celebrating some of the buzziest new British writers in the business. This talented bunch has its hands in everything from iconic brands, such as The Crown, to some of the freshest new shows that will land on TV next year. They traverse genres including epic fantasy, horror and history, while many are...
- 12/31/2020
- by Jake Kanter and Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
ViacomCBS’s UK broadcaster Channel 5 and PBS Masterpiece have confirmed that period veterinary drama All Creatures Great And Small will return for a second six-part season.
Deadline reported last month that the renewal was all-but done, with Playground Entertainment ready to begin shooting Season 2 in the Yorkshire Dales early next year. It follows the first season premiere becoming Channel 5’s highest-rated show since February 2016 with 5M viewers.
Starring Nicholas Ralph and Samuel West, All Creatures Great And Small is a new take on best-selling author James Herriot’s humorous adventures of a young country vet. The books were previously adapted into a group of films and TV series in the 1970s.
Ben Frow, ViacomCBS’s director of programs in the UK, first teased the recommission last year when he said that he wanted a second season after watching just one episode of the first. PBS Masterpiece has come on...
Deadline reported last month that the renewal was all-but done, with Playground Entertainment ready to begin shooting Season 2 in the Yorkshire Dales early next year. It follows the first season premiere becoming Channel 5’s highest-rated show since February 2016 with 5M viewers.
Starring Nicholas Ralph and Samuel West, All Creatures Great And Small is a new take on best-selling author James Herriot’s humorous adventures of a young country vet. The books were previously adapted into a group of films and TV series in the 1970s.
Ben Frow, ViacomCBS’s director of programs in the UK, first teased the recommission last year when he said that he wanted a second season after watching just one episode of the first. PBS Masterpiece has come on...
- 11/30/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
A new drama about Tudor queen Anne Boleyn, starring Jodie Turner-Smith, has found its Henry VIII.
British actor Mark Stanley has been cast as the iconic monarch. Best known for playing Grenn in the HBO series “Game of Thrones,” Stanley has also had starring roles in “Kajaki,” “Our Kind of Traitor” and “Dickensian.”
Boleyn was the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII. Their tempestuous marriage, and her execution for treason, made her one of the most colorful figures in English history. The Fable Pictures drama for U.K. broadcaster Channel 5 will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, and will follow her as she struggles to survive, to secure a future for her daughter, and to challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.
The hotly anticipated series — which is shaping up to be one of the most...
British actor Mark Stanley has been cast as the iconic monarch. Best known for playing Grenn in the HBO series “Game of Thrones,” Stanley has also had starring roles in “Kajaki,” “Our Kind of Traitor” and “Dickensian.”
Boleyn was the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII. Their tempestuous marriage, and her execution for treason, made her one of the most colorful figures in English history. The Fable Pictures drama for U.K. broadcaster Channel 5 will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, and will follow her as she struggles to survive, to secure a future for her daughter, and to challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.
The hotly anticipated series — which is shaping up to be one of the most...
- 11/13/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
“Queen & Slim” star Jodie Turner-Smith will star as the Tudor-era queen, Anne Boleyn, in a three-part psychological drama for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5.
Boleyn was the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII. Their tempestuous marriage, and her execution for treason, made her one of the most colorful figures in English history. The drama will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, and will follow her as she struggles to survive, to secure a future for her daughter, and to challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.
The series is being produced by Sony Pictures Television-backed production outfit Fable Pictures. Eve Hedderwick Turner has written the mini-series, which will be directed by Lynsey Miller (“Deadwater Fell”).
The cast also includes Amanda Burton (“White House Farm”), Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”), Thalissa Teixeira (“Trigonometry...
Boleyn was the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII. Their tempestuous marriage, and her execution for treason, made her one of the most colorful figures in English history. The drama will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, and will follow her as she struggles to survive, to secure a future for her daughter, and to challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.
The series is being produced by Sony Pictures Television-backed production outfit Fable Pictures. Eve Hedderwick Turner has written the mini-series, which will be directed by Lynsey Miller (“Deadwater Fell”).
The cast also includes Amanda Burton (“White House Farm”), Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”), Thalissa Teixeira (“Trigonometry...
- 10/30/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Here’s a hot one: British model and Queen & Slim actress Jodie Turner-Smith is to play Anne Boleyn in a convention-defying Channel 5 drama made by the Sony-backed Stan & Ollie producer Fable Pictures.
Deadline can reveal that the ViacomCBS-owned broadcaster has commissioned a three-part series that will examine the downfall of Boleyn through the prism of a psychological thriller rather than a stuffy period drama retreading the demise of King Henry VIII’s second wife.
Penned by newcomer Eve Hedderwick Turner, the drama shines a feminist light on the final months of Boleyn’s life, re-imagining her struggle with Tudor England’s patriarchal society, her desire to secure a future for her daughter, Elizabeth, and the brutal reality of her failure to provide Henry with a male heir.
Fable has assembled an eye-catching cast to star alongside Turner-Smith, who teamed with Daniel Kaluuya on racially-charged film...
Deadline can reveal that the ViacomCBS-owned broadcaster has commissioned a three-part series that will examine the downfall of Boleyn through the prism of a psychological thriller rather than a stuffy period drama retreading the demise of King Henry VIII’s second wife.
Penned by newcomer Eve Hedderwick Turner, the drama shines a feminist light on the final months of Boleyn’s life, re-imagining her struggle with Tudor England’s patriarchal society, her desire to secure a future for her daughter, Elizabeth, and the brutal reality of her failure to provide Henry with a male heir.
Fable has assembled an eye-catching cast to star alongside Turner-Smith, who teamed with Daniel Kaluuya on racially-charged film...
- 10/30/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, The Apartment and Castlefield team on “Death at SeaWorld” series adaptation, Series Mania opens the call for series and projects, MTV U.K. commissions “Celebs on the Farm,” Love Nature announces streaming plans for “Nature of the Beast,” and ViacomCBS Networks Intl. promotes long-time exec Wincie Knight.
Series
Fremantle companies The Apartment (“The Young Pope”) and recently launched Castlefield have scooped the rights to David Kirby’s popular book “Death at SeaWorld,” and will produce a 10-part series headed by showrunner Simon Allen.
The Apartment’s Lorenzo Mieli will produce along with Hilary Martin and Simon Judd for Castlefield, with shooting planned for late 2021. The book and series draw on investigations done ahead of the 2013 BAFTA-nominated documentary “Blackfish,” and the real-life story of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by a captive killer whale during a performance.
“‘Death at SeaWorld’ will not only be...
Series
Fremantle companies The Apartment (“The Young Pope”) and recently launched Castlefield have scooped the rights to David Kirby’s popular book “Death at SeaWorld,” and will produce a 10-part series headed by showrunner Simon Allen.
The Apartment’s Lorenzo Mieli will produce along with Hilary Martin and Simon Judd for Castlefield, with shooting planned for late 2021. The book and series draw on investigations done ahead of the 2013 BAFTA-nominated documentary “Blackfish,” and the real-life story of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by a captive killer whale during a performance.
“‘Death at SeaWorld’ will not only be...
- 10/19/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Channel 5’s profit has dropped more than 30% after ViacomCBS’s restructure of its UK channel brands resulted in a £19.8M ($25.6M) programming write-down.
The British broadcaster’s operating profit fell to £27.4M in the 15 months to the end of December last year, compared with £39.9M in 2018, according to its annual earnings report. ViacomCBS extended Channel 5’s financial year after the CBS merger last year.
Channel 5 said the drop in earnings could largely be blamed on the content write-down, which followed Ben Frow reviewing ViacomCBS’s UK slate after he took control of the company’s channel brands, including Channel 5, Comedy Central, and MTV. The impact of the restructure was marked given that Channel 5’s write-down costs were only £2.1M in 2018.
Channel 5’s revenue rose 20% £452M last year — though this was a result of its accounting period being extended by three months. Like-for-like, Channel 5’s revenue was down 6.8% to £350.7M,...
The British broadcaster’s operating profit fell to £27.4M in the 15 months to the end of December last year, compared with £39.9M in 2018, according to its annual earnings report. ViacomCBS extended Channel 5’s financial year after the CBS merger last year.
Channel 5 said the drop in earnings could largely be blamed on the content write-down, which followed Ben Frow reviewing ViacomCBS’s UK slate after he took control of the company’s channel brands, including Channel 5, Comedy Central, and MTV. The impact of the restructure was marked given that Channel 5’s write-down costs were only £2.1M in 2018.
Channel 5’s revenue rose 20% £452M last year — though this was a result of its accounting period being extended by three months. Like-for-like, Channel 5’s revenue was down 6.8% to £350.7M,...
- 10/5/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
You made it, it’s Friday. Thanks for reading International Insider. Tom Grater here with your weekly dose of major international headlines.
Edinburgh: TV’s New Diversity Dawn
Diversity urgency: The Edinburgh TV Festival’s advisory chair Patrick Holland told us last week that diversity would be written through this year’s event like a stick of rock. He was not wrong. Nearly every session featured impassioned and impatient calls for change following the Black Lives Matter movement, and my colleague Jake Kanter reports that there was a sense of urgency he has not seen in a decade of watching Edinburgh sessions.
A blistering MacTaggart: Setting the tone for the whole virtual event was British historian, producer and presenter David Olusoga, who delivered the centerpiece MacTaggart Lecture. It was a deeply personal address, in which Olusoga shared experiences of racism, talked about a “lost generation” of Black program makers, and a concluded with a plea that a non-diverse industry shares power. Here’s our write-up. You can also watch the speech here, or read it here.
A powerful citation: Olusoga captured a deep mistrust of diversity initiatives following decades of false dawns. His message was clear, change must come now or never. He said: “30 years of failed initiatives and ineffective training schemes, and the constant hemorrhaging of Bame, talent has left another legacy. A lack of trust so deep that the announcements and initiatives of 2020 have been met, by many black and brown people in the industry, not with enthusiasm and excitement but with skepticism born of repeated disappointment. Proving that this time such skepticism is not warranted is among the biggest challenges.”
People emboldened: Olusoga was far from alone in channeling his dissatisfaction into purposeful prose on the Edinburgh platform. Noel Clarke revealed how he made the crew on his latest show more diverse by telling producers: “Just fix it.” Jameela Jamil was her typically articulate self as The Good Place star reflected being “denied the chance to fully spread my wings” until she moved from the UK to the U.S.
Programming pledges: There were also big commitments to Black programming made by a number of broadcasters. Channel 4 said it would host a Black takeover day next year to mark 12 months since the death of George Floyd. Among the lineup will be a reboot of The Big Breakfast, hosted by BAFTA-winning Mo Gilligan. ITV, meanwhile, announced a Black History Month, with shows presented by the likes of This Morning favorite Alison Hammond.
Best Of The Fest
Elba steps back in the ring: Among the more eye-catching commissions was a BBC Two series with Idris Elba. The Luther star will provide seven disadvantaged young people with lessons in discipline, focus, and determination by putting them through an experimental boxing school. Produced by Workerbee and Green Door, it’s titled Idris Elba’s Fight School. Story here.
Tony Hall’s valedictory speech: The outgoing BBC director general talked about the broadcaster’s role amid a “pandemic of misinformation.” The BBC’s “responsibility as the UK’s most trusted news provider has never been clearer and more important” in this environment, he said. Go deeper.
And finally: Edinburgh didn’t hold its usual awards this year, so Deadline has decided to hand out a few gongs for some the festival’s lighter moments.
The award for Inevitable Zoom Moment goes to: ITV content chief Kevin Lygo, who had to interrupt his controller session to let his dog out of the room. The Modesty Prize is awarded to: ViacomCBS UK’s programming boss Ben Frow, who told his industry peers: “I am the most creative channel controller in this country.” The Roast Of The Week gong goes to: BBC comedy controller Shane Allen. In a vintage bit of Allen tomfoolery, as he turned on his camera to join the festival, he pretended to be on the phone and joked: “Sorry, it was Channel 4, they want to buy another old format. Ian Katz, he’s taking more treasures than the British Museum.” Tenet Time
It’s finally here: It has become the cinematic talking point of the summer – will Tenet be the savior of the big screen experience? – and Christopher Nolan’s time-bending epic is finally here.
Positive indicators: The film began its international-led roll-out this week, and early signs were promising, with the film taking $2M in Korean previews. The pic also opened in the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Italy and Spain on Wednesday (August 26) but Warner Bros is being tight-lipped about box office numbers and has asked exhibitors not to spill the beans as it looks to control the narrative in this tricky, unprecedented situation. Our sources are predicting a $25M opening for its first five days, and some are saying $30M+. One analytics company also told us the film’s pre-sales were significantly outstripping previous Nolan pics.
Choppy waters: However, no one is taking the smoothness of the release for granted, as this pandemic continues to move the goalposts on an almost daily basis. Korea, so far one of the lockdown good news stories in terms of its rapid and effective response to the virus, is experiencing a significant second wave and is implementing stricter preventative measures, which could disrupt cinema takings. Several key European territories, notably France and Spain, are also facing increased lockdown measures.
Exhibitor’s view: Nancy Tartaglione spoke to Cineworld boss Mooky Greidinger to get his take on the current situation. The exec spoke about reopening its Regal cinemas in the U.S., and what he thinks the prospects for Tenet are. Read the interview here.
Roll Out The Red Carpet
The new reality: Venice Film Festival kicks off next Wednesday, and chatter among the international community is zoned in on how a major festival can operate in the pandemic era. Safe to say, with reduced screening capacity, distancing, and various other safety measures, it isn’t going to look like any other festival we’ve seen before.
Unearthing gems: It’s not the most eye-catching line-up of films in Venice’s history, but there’s always gold to be found. Cineastes could be in line for a treat with Hopper/Welles, a documentary capturing a meeting between the two famed film figures with never-before-seen footage. You can see a clip from the movie here. This week, Deadline also brought you first trailers for Majid Majidi’s Sun Children and Out Of Competition drama Mosquito State.
Show of support: The fest revealed today that eight artistic directors from major film festivals around the world will fly into Venice to take part in the opening night event, each taking to the stage to deliver a statement talking up the importance of such events in the cinema ecosystem. Read more.
Life on the Lido: Deadline will be boots on the ground in Venice, so check in regularly with us for insight into how a pandemic era festival looks and feels.
On the horizon: It might be six months away, but the Berlinale is already unveiling plans for its 2021 edition, including making its acting awards gender neutral.
Recovery Plan
Long-lasting impact: The world is going to be dealing with the impact of the coronavirus for many years to come, and governments are game-planning for ways to stimulate their economies and save embattled businesses. One of many hard-hit sectors is culture, which has been financially devastated by months of closures and cancellations.
France’s €2Bn package: In France, the government outlined its €2Bn plan to save the cultural sector. It’s part of an overall €100Bn stimulus package for the country’s economy, which will be unveiled in full on September 3. The country is looking to get business back on track and to kick-start the economy. During the announcement, French Pm Jean Castex urged people to get back to the big screen: “I say to the French: Go to the cinema, go to the theater, you risk nothing.”
Best Of The Rest
The master: From Hero to Shanghai Knights and the IP Man series, Donnie Yen has firmly established himself as one of the biggest Chinese movie stars on the planet. He’s also crossed over into westerns films with roles in the likes of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the upcoming Mulan. But how did he get there? Deadline caught up with Yen this week in the latest entry in our The Film That Lit My Fuse video series to find out. Watch the video.
Biohackers is back: After a successful global launch on August 20, Netflix has moved quickly to renew its original series Biohackers. The show is the streamer’s latest buzzy commission out of Germany, which has served up hits including Dark and How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) in recent years. Here’s our scoop.
After Parasite: Following an act such as Parasite and its Oscar glory was never going to be easy for anyone involved. Star actor Song Kang-ho is going to give it a go with Broker, which he will lead for Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, making his Korean cinema debut. Read our story.
BritBox original: Chernobyl star Jared Harris is leading the cast of The Beast Must Die, one of the first original productions from new streamer BritBox. Filming starts next week. Here’s our scoop.
Tequila time: Omar Chaparro is one of Mexico’s biggest stars, having led the mega-grossing local series No Manches Frida. We had the scoop this week on his latest lead role in Sony’s comedy Tequila Re-Pasado.
And finally…
Sad news this week that Colin Levanthal, a key player in UK film’s famously successful period in the 1990s, had passed away at the age of 73. Deadline spoke to several of those close to the well-liked and highly respected executive to gather remembrances. Read our obituary.
Edinburgh: TV’s New Diversity Dawn
Diversity urgency: The Edinburgh TV Festival’s advisory chair Patrick Holland told us last week that diversity would be written through this year’s event like a stick of rock. He was not wrong. Nearly every session featured impassioned and impatient calls for change following the Black Lives Matter movement, and my colleague Jake Kanter reports that there was a sense of urgency he has not seen in a decade of watching Edinburgh sessions.
A blistering MacTaggart: Setting the tone for the whole virtual event was British historian, producer and presenter David Olusoga, who delivered the centerpiece MacTaggart Lecture. It was a deeply personal address, in which Olusoga shared experiences of racism, talked about a “lost generation” of Black program makers, and a concluded with a plea that a non-diverse industry shares power. Here’s our write-up. You can also watch the speech here, or read it here.
A powerful citation: Olusoga captured a deep mistrust of diversity initiatives following decades of false dawns. His message was clear, change must come now or never. He said: “30 years of failed initiatives and ineffective training schemes, and the constant hemorrhaging of Bame, talent has left another legacy. A lack of trust so deep that the announcements and initiatives of 2020 have been met, by many black and brown people in the industry, not with enthusiasm and excitement but with skepticism born of repeated disappointment. Proving that this time such skepticism is not warranted is among the biggest challenges.”
People emboldened: Olusoga was far from alone in channeling his dissatisfaction into purposeful prose on the Edinburgh platform. Noel Clarke revealed how he made the crew on his latest show more diverse by telling producers: “Just fix it.” Jameela Jamil was her typically articulate self as The Good Place star reflected being “denied the chance to fully spread my wings” until she moved from the UK to the U.S.
Programming pledges: There were also big commitments to Black programming made by a number of broadcasters. Channel 4 said it would host a Black takeover day next year to mark 12 months since the death of George Floyd. Among the lineup will be a reboot of The Big Breakfast, hosted by BAFTA-winning Mo Gilligan. ITV, meanwhile, announced a Black History Month, with shows presented by the likes of This Morning favorite Alison Hammond.
Best Of The Fest
Elba steps back in the ring: Among the more eye-catching commissions was a BBC Two series with Idris Elba. The Luther star will provide seven disadvantaged young people with lessons in discipline, focus, and determination by putting them through an experimental boxing school. Produced by Workerbee and Green Door, it’s titled Idris Elba’s Fight School. Story here.
Tony Hall’s valedictory speech: The outgoing BBC director general talked about the broadcaster’s role amid a “pandemic of misinformation.” The BBC’s “responsibility as the UK’s most trusted news provider has never been clearer and more important” in this environment, he said. Go deeper.
And finally: Edinburgh didn’t hold its usual awards this year, so Deadline has decided to hand out a few gongs for some the festival’s lighter moments.
The award for Inevitable Zoom Moment goes to: ITV content chief Kevin Lygo, who had to interrupt his controller session to let his dog out of the room. The Modesty Prize is awarded to: ViacomCBS UK’s programming boss Ben Frow, who told his industry peers: “I am the most creative channel controller in this country.” The Roast Of The Week gong goes to: BBC comedy controller Shane Allen. In a vintage bit of Allen tomfoolery, as he turned on his camera to join the festival, he pretended to be on the phone and joked: “Sorry, it was Channel 4, they want to buy another old format. Ian Katz, he’s taking more treasures than the British Museum.” Tenet Time
It’s finally here: It has become the cinematic talking point of the summer – will Tenet be the savior of the big screen experience? – and Christopher Nolan’s time-bending epic is finally here.
Positive indicators: The film began its international-led roll-out this week, and early signs were promising, with the film taking $2M in Korean previews. The pic also opened in the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Italy and Spain on Wednesday (August 26) but Warner Bros is being tight-lipped about box office numbers and has asked exhibitors not to spill the beans as it looks to control the narrative in this tricky, unprecedented situation. Our sources are predicting a $25M opening for its first five days, and some are saying $30M+. One analytics company also told us the film’s pre-sales were significantly outstripping previous Nolan pics.
Choppy waters: However, no one is taking the smoothness of the release for granted, as this pandemic continues to move the goalposts on an almost daily basis. Korea, so far one of the lockdown good news stories in terms of its rapid and effective response to the virus, is experiencing a significant second wave and is implementing stricter preventative measures, which could disrupt cinema takings. Several key European territories, notably France and Spain, are also facing increased lockdown measures.
Exhibitor’s view: Nancy Tartaglione spoke to Cineworld boss Mooky Greidinger to get his take on the current situation. The exec spoke about reopening its Regal cinemas in the U.S., and what he thinks the prospects for Tenet are. Read the interview here.
Roll Out The Red Carpet
The new reality: Venice Film Festival kicks off next Wednesday, and chatter among the international community is zoned in on how a major festival can operate in the pandemic era. Safe to say, with reduced screening capacity, distancing, and various other safety measures, it isn’t going to look like any other festival we’ve seen before.
Unearthing gems: It’s not the most eye-catching line-up of films in Venice’s history, but there’s always gold to be found. Cineastes could be in line for a treat with Hopper/Welles, a documentary capturing a meeting between the two famed film figures with never-before-seen footage. You can see a clip from the movie here. This week, Deadline also brought you first trailers for Majid Majidi’s Sun Children and Out Of Competition drama Mosquito State.
Show of support: The fest revealed today that eight artistic directors from major film festivals around the world will fly into Venice to take part in the opening night event, each taking to the stage to deliver a statement talking up the importance of such events in the cinema ecosystem. Read more.
Life on the Lido: Deadline will be boots on the ground in Venice, so check in regularly with us for insight into how a pandemic era festival looks and feels.
On the horizon: It might be six months away, but the Berlinale is already unveiling plans for its 2021 edition, including making its acting awards gender neutral.
Recovery Plan
Long-lasting impact: The world is going to be dealing with the impact of the coronavirus for many years to come, and governments are game-planning for ways to stimulate their economies and save embattled businesses. One of many hard-hit sectors is culture, which has been financially devastated by months of closures and cancellations.
France’s €2Bn package: In France, the government outlined its €2Bn plan to save the cultural sector. It’s part of an overall €100Bn stimulus package for the country’s economy, which will be unveiled in full on September 3. The country is looking to get business back on track and to kick-start the economy. During the announcement, French Pm Jean Castex urged people to get back to the big screen: “I say to the French: Go to the cinema, go to the theater, you risk nothing.”
Best Of The Rest
The master: From Hero to Shanghai Knights and the IP Man series, Donnie Yen has firmly established himself as one of the biggest Chinese movie stars on the planet. He’s also crossed over into westerns films with roles in the likes of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the upcoming Mulan. But how did he get there? Deadline caught up with Yen this week in the latest entry in our The Film That Lit My Fuse video series to find out. Watch the video.
Biohackers is back: After a successful global launch on August 20, Netflix has moved quickly to renew its original series Biohackers. The show is the streamer’s latest buzzy commission out of Germany, which has served up hits including Dark and How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) in recent years. Here’s our scoop.
After Parasite: Following an act such as Parasite and its Oscar glory was never going to be easy for anyone involved. Star actor Song Kang-ho is going to give it a go with Broker, which he will lead for Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, making his Korean cinema debut. Read our story.
BritBox original: Chernobyl star Jared Harris is leading the cast of The Beast Must Die, one of the first original productions from new streamer BritBox. Filming starts next week. Here’s our scoop.
Tequila time: Omar Chaparro is one of Mexico’s biggest stars, having led the mega-grossing local series No Manches Frida. We had the scoop this week on his latest lead role in Sony’s comedy Tequila Re-Pasado.
And finally…
Sad news this week that Colin Levanthal, a key player in UK film’s famously successful period in the 1990s, had passed away at the age of 73. Deadline spoke to several of those close to the well-liked and highly respected executive to gather remembrances. Read our obituary.
- 8/28/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
MTV Launches BLM Shorts
MTV International is today launching a short-form series to support the Black Lives Matter movement, featuring the likes of Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Pinnock and other names, including Munroe Bergdorf, Ray Blk, Nathan Henry, Duckie Thot, Serious Klein, will explore issues impacting Black youth and speak about their own experiences and what it takes to create positive change. Ten-part MTV Generation Change: Black Lives Matter will roll out on MTV International’s social platforms, as well as Channel 5 and BET International. The series was led by senior producer Amie Parker-Williams, including Samiat Pedro, Tyrell Charles and Shamar Bean. It was also supported by digital content producer Emily Hooley and executive producers Jonathan Pascoe and Tanya Malcolm-Revell.
Australian Debut Gets Backing
Screen Australia and Film Victoria have backed Sara Kern’s Australia-Slovenia Pic Vesna, which will shoot in Melbourne before the end of 2020. The project...
MTV International is today launching a short-form series to support the Black Lives Matter movement, featuring the likes of Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Pinnock and other names, including Munroe Bergdorf, Ray Blk, Nathan Henry, Duckie Thot, Serious Klein, will explore issues impacting Black youth and speak about their own experiences and what it takes to create positive change. Ten-part MTV Generation Change: Black Lives Matter will roll out on MTV International’s social platforms, as well as Channel 5 and BET International. The series was led by senior producer Amie Parker-Williams, including Samiat Pedro, Tyrell Charles and Shamar Bean. It was also supported by digital content producer Emily Hooley and executive producers Jonathan Pascoe and Tanya Malcolm-Revell.
Australian Debut Gets Backing
Screen Australia and Film Victoria have backed Sara Kern’s Australia-Slovenia Pic Vesna, which will shoot in Melbourne before the end of 2020. The project...
- 8/26/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
ViacomCBS Networks UK’s director of programs Ben Frow has said the British TV industry is “inherently snobbish” and should care less about what people’s backgrounds are and more about their talent.
Frow admitted that he has “got a big chip on my shoulder” about a lack of inclusivity in the business, revealing at the Edinburgh TV Festival today that he was “floored” by a snobbish remark made by a rival a few years ago about his education.
“I was at Edinburgh a few years ago and a competitor of mine said to me, as I was about to walk out on stage for a debate: ‘You know for someone who hasn’t got a degree you’ve done very well to be up on this stage with us.’
“It actually floored me. I could get a bit tearful about it. I can’t believe you’d make a...
Frow admitted that he has “got a big chip on my shoulder” about a lack of inclusivity in the business, revealing at the Edinburgh TV Festival today that he was “floored” by a snobbish remark made by a rival a few years ago about his education.
“I was at Edinburgh a few years ago and a competitor of mine said to me, as I was about to walk out on stage for a debate: ‘You know for someone who hasn’t got a degree you’ve done very well to be up on this stage with us.’
“It actually floored me. I could get a bit tearful about it. I can’t believe you’d make a...
- 8/25/2020
- by Tara Conlan
- Deadline Film + TV
AMC’s British programming-focused streamer Acorn TV has commissioned eight-part procedural “Cannes Confidential.”
The series is a co-production between Dramacorp, the Stockholm-based production company founded by Patrick Nebout, part of Jan Mojto’s Beta Film, and Acorn Media Enterprises, Acorn TV’s commissioning and co-producing arm. Lead writer is prolific U.K. scribe Chris Murray, whose credits include “Casualty,” “Holby City,” “Van der Valk” and “Midsomer Murders.”
The series is set on the Cote d’Azur and will enjoy unprecedented access to film across the city of Cannes when production begins in early 2021. The series will exclusively premiere on Acorn TV in North America, New Zealand, Australia and the U.K. in late 2021.
Appointment
ViacomCBS Networks U.K. has announced the appointment of Sarah Rose as chief operating officer. She will report into Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks U.K. and Australia.
Rose is an industry veteran, beginning her...
The series is a co-production between Dramacorp, the Stockholm-based production company founded by Patrick Nebout, part of Jan Mojto’s Beta Film, and Acorn Media Enterprises, Acorn TV’s commissioning and co-producing arm. Lead writer is prolific U.K. scribe Chris Murray, whose credits include “Casualty,” “Holby City,” “Van der Valk” and “Midsomer Murders.”
The series is set on the Cote d’Azur and will enjoy unprecedented access to film across the city of Cannes when production begins in early 2021. The series will exclusively premiere on Acorn TV in North America, New Zealand, Australia and the U.K. in late 2021.
Appointment
ViacomCBS Networks U.K. has announced the appointment of Sarah Rose as chief operating officer. She will report into Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks U.K. and Australia.
Rose is an industry veteran, beginning her...
- 7/30/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
British drama All Creatures Great and Small is on the verge of a second season after exec producer Colin Callender revealed that he was in talks with UK network Channel 5 and PBS.
This comes after Ben Frow, who runs content at the ViacomCBS-owned UK broadcaster said last year that he wanted to commission a second season even before the first aired.
Callender was speaking at PBS’ virtual TCA press tour. He shared that the team behind the James Herriot-inspired series have been discussing a sophomore season.
“We are in discussions with Channel 5 in England and Masterpiece,” said Callender. “We are developing season two right now. So there’s every intention and hope that this will be a returning series and hopefully everyone will fall in love with the characters and want to run and run. Certainly that was our ambition from the outset.”
The series, which begins...
This comes after Ben Frow, who runs content at the ViacomCBS-owned UK broadcaster said last year that he wanted to commission a second season even before the first aired.
Callender was speaking at PBS’ virtual TCA press tour. He shared that the team behind the James Herriot-inspired series have been discussing a sophomore season.
“We are in discussions with Channel 5 in England and Masterpiece,” said Callender. “We are developing season two right now. So there’s every intention and hope that this will be a returning series and hopefully everyone will fall in love with the characters and want to run and run. Certainly that was our ambition from the outset.”
The series, which begins...
- 7/29/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Paul Dunthorne, a Channel 5 veteran who joined as part of billionaire Richard Desmond’s takeover a decade ago, is leaving the UK network’s parent company ViacomCBS.
Dunthorne ran Desmond’s Portland TV and took Channel 5 under his wing after the business mogul acquired the broadcaster in 2010. He was promoted to Channel 5 chief operating officer in 2012 and then remained with the broadcaster after it was acquired by ViacomCBS in 2014.
Dunthorne continued to progress within ViacomCBS, becoming the company’s COO in the UK and Australia. More recently, Dunthorne helped act up for James Currell, executive vice president and MD for the UK and Northern and Eastern Europe, after he left last year.
Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks UK and Australia, said: “Paul has been integral to Channel 5’s successful reinvention in recent years and to the expansion and diversification of ViacomCBS’s operations in the UK and many other European territories.
Dunthorne ran Desmond’s Portland TV and took Channel 5 under his wing after the business mogul acquired the broadcaster in 2010. He was promoted to Channel 5 chief operating officer in 2012 and then remained with the broadcaster after it was acquired by ViacomCBS in 2014.
Dunthorne continued to progress within ViacomCBS, becoming the company’s COO in the UK and Australia. More recently, Dunthorne helped act up for James Currell, executive vice president and MD for the UK and Northern and Eastern Europe, after he left last year.
Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks UK and Australia, said: “Paul has been integral to Channel 5’s successful reinvention in recent years and to the expansion and diversification of ViacomCBS’s operations in the UK and many other European territories.
- 7/14/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK version of NBC show Game Night is moving from Channel 5 to Comedy Central as ViacomCBS UK’s director of programs Ben Frow begins to make his mark in his expanded role.
NBCUniversal International Studios-backed Monkey Kingdom will make 10-part series Comedy Game Night for Comedy Central after Season 1 was previously titled Celebrity Game Night on Channel 5. Repeats will air on Channel 5.
Liza Tarbuck will continue to host the show, but team captains Danny Baker and Susan Calman will be replaced by Sue Perkins and Guz Khan. They will go head-to-head in a series of games, which will test their pop culture knowledge, acting skills, and nerves.
Monkey creative director Will Macdonald said: “The health and safety of everyone working on our productions, including both talent and crew, remains our top priority. Thanks to the amazing work of the production team and all departments, who have made...
NBCUniversal International Studios-backed Monkey Kingdom will make 10-part series Comedy Game Night for Comedy Central after Season 1 was previously titled Celebrity Game Night on Channel 5. Repeats will air on Channel 5.
Liza Tarbuck will continue to host the show, but team captains Danny Baker and Susan Calman will be replaced by Sue Perkins and Guz Khan. They will go head-to-head in a series of games, which will test their pop culture knowledge, acting skills, and nerves.
Monkey creative director Will Macdonald said: “The health and safety of everyone working on our productions, including both talent and crew, remains our top priority. Thanks to the amazing work of the production team and all departments, who have made...
- 7/10/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Scotland’s Stv are joining forces to broadcast a short film that attempts to burnish the credentials of British free-to-air television at a time when U.S. media giants such as Netflix and Apple are becoming increasingly influential.
The five broadcasters are clearing their schedules at 8.58 Pm Wednesday to show the two-minute film Our Stories, which was created by Uncommon Creative Studio and directed by Sam Walker through Pulse Films. It is the first time they have collaborated on such an endeavor.
Emboldened by the role they have played during the coronavirus pandemic and increasingly keen to underline their value when viewers are turning to streamers, the broadcasters hope that the campaign demonstrates the power of TV and its ability to bring people together. They said it also represents a statement on their contribution to the UK creative economy.
Our Stories takes...
The five broadcasters are clearing their schedules at 8.58 Pm Wednesday to show the two-minute film Our Stories, which was created by Uncommon Creative Studio and directed by Sam Walker through Pulse Films. It is the first time they have collaborated on such an endeavor.
Emboldened by the role they have played during the coronavirus pandemic and increasingly keen to underline their value when viewers are turning to streamers, the broadcasters hope that the campaign demonstrates the power of TV and its ability to bring people together. They said it also represents a statement on their contribution to the UK creative economy.
Our Stories takes...
- 7/7/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Demands for change and representation across the U.K.’s film and TV industry are being heard loud and clear, and opening doors and dialogue with the BBC, Netflix, Amazon, Working Title and Film 4.
As revealed by Variety, a recent open letter signed by more than 5,000 members of the U.K. industry called on gatekeepers to make “strategic commitments” to reshape the landscape and improve representation. It appears some of these gatekeepers have begun listening.
Nisha Parti, producer of “The Boy with the Topknot” and one of the organizers of the letter, tells Variety that the initiative garnered an “overwhelmingly positive response” across the industry, and calls have so far been arranged with the likes of BBC director of content Charlotte Moore and drama boss Piers Wenger, Film 4, Netflix, Working Title, and more.
“I feel really optimistic that the industry wants to help and that they are talking to me,...
As revealed by Variety, a recent open letter signed by more than 5,000 members of the U.K. industry called on gatekeepers to make “strategic commitments” to reshape the landscape and improve representation. It appears some of these gatekeepers have begun listening.
Nisha Parti, producer of “The Boy with the Topknot” and one of the organizers of the letter, tells Variety that the initiative garnered an “overwhelmingly positive response” across the industry, and calls have so far been arranged with the likes of BBC director of content Charlotte Moore and drama boss Piers Wenger, Film 4, Netflix, Working Title, and more.
“I feel really optimistic that the industry wants to help and that they are talking to me,...
- 7/3/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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