Coventry Telegraph - Pass the Remote

Get Fresh With New Teen Comedy

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:54:31 +0000

FRESH was a success online on BBC Switch last year and now the comedy set in the world of university freshers has been commissioned for a seven-part series.

It will air on BBC Switch, BBC Two and BBC Three in September.

Set on a fictional UK university campus, Fresh (working title) explores the lives of a mis-matched group of fresh-faced students as they embark on university life and their first taste of independence, with all the mishaps and misadventures that entails.

The show features a cast of both new and established actors, including Jonathan Bailey as Danny, Danny Morgan (Tonightly) as Shane, Joanna Cassidy as Scarlet and James Buckley (The Inbetweeners) as Fred.

They are joined by an ensemble of supporting roles that includes Felicity Montagu (Nighty Night, Bridget Jones's Diary) and rising comedy stars Georgia King and Jonny Sweet.

Sophie Dahl Gets Cooking For New TV Show

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:40:15 +0000

AUTHOR and food writer Sophie Dahl is coming to BBC Two with a brand new series for 2010.

Made by Jamie Oliver's Fresh One Productions, the series will feature Sophie cooking up recipes and reminiscing on her own personal food memories.

Initially known for an international modelling career, Sophie turned her focus to writing and is now a best-selling novelist and columnist who has written widely about her passion for food and cooking.

She now brings her talents to TV.

She says: "For me, food is more than just fuel; it's a joy and an adventure.

"Cooking often serves as an emotional barometer, and with this show we will run the gamut - from a solo dinner that suits melancholy to a homecoming feast for 20, it's cooking with an anecdotal thread, irreverent, unpredictable and not without flaw.

"I am delighted to be working with both Fresh One and the BBC."

Stephen Fry Admits Downloading Hugh Laurie Show Illegally

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:39:10 +0000

TECHNOLOGY geek Stephen Fry has admitted illegally downloading a hit US show starring his former comedy partner Hugh Laurie.

The broadcaster and wit told an audience in London that he had used BitTorrent file-sharing to get a copy of Laurie's show House.

Speaking at the iTunes Festival in London's Roundhouse, Fry said: "The last thing I illegally downloaded. Was it a gay sex romp? ... It was the season finale of House."

BBC Just Doesn't Want To Upset Anyone, Complains Chris Moyles

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:54:40 +0000

CHRIS Moyles has hit out at BBC red tape and the lengths that the corporation goes to not to cause upset.

The loud-mouthed BBC Radio 1 breakfast DJ said that radio is "so dull, so boring and so formulaic" that anything different stands out and it is impossible to always keep everyone happy.

The BBC strengthened its compliance systems in the wake of the scandal sparked by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand making prank calls to Andrew Sachs, which were broadcast on Brand's BBC Radio 2 show.

Gavin & Stacey Back As Part Of New TV Season

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:10:49 +0000

THE eagerly-awaited return of Gavin & Stacey is part of the new autumn season of goodies from the BBC.

In the new shows, viewers will see Gavin try to adapt to Barry Island, while his parents, Pam and Mick, learn to cope with an empty nest.

There is a new comedy role for Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, who heads the cast in Big Top, a series set in and around a travelling circus. The cast includes John Thomson, Time Team and Blackadder star Tony Robinson and former Hi De Hi actress Ruth Madoc.

Food writer Nigel Slater fronts a new series, Simple Suppers, in which he will concentrate on easy-to-prepare, home-grown food.

Jimmy's Farm host Jimmy Doherty will investigate the contents of our shopping trolleys in a new series which looks at the science behind mass-produced food.

BBC1 controller Jay Hunt said: "I am passionate about ensuring BBC1 reaches the widest possible audience. By taking creative risks that surprise and entertain, I believe this autumn's line-up of shows will do just that."

All-Change For Corrie And Emmerdale

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:43:19 +0000

CORONATION Street is to move from Wednesday nights, in a break with almost 50 years of broadcasting tradition.

Episodes will be shifted from 7.30pm on that day to a new time slot of 8.30pm on Thursdays, as part of ITV1's popular drama overhaul.

Corrie has been broadcast on Wednesdays since the soap's launch in 1960.

Scheduling changes will also see Emmerdale screening two half-hour episodes instead of one on Thursdays and cutting its hour-long episode on Tuesdays in half to 30 minutes.

The volume of soaps will remain the same and the changes will not clash with EastEnders, which airs at 7.30pm on Thursdays.

David Hasselhoff's A High Society Dude

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:57:13 +0000

DAVID Hasselhoff introduced his daughters to English high society at London's Somerset House.

The Baywatch star attended the wedding reception-themed party to launch LIVING's summer TV schedule with Taylor Ann, aged 19, and Hayley Amber, aged 16, on either arm.

The Hoff, aged 56, is set to return to the channel for a set of all-new specials, in September showing him and his daughters experiencing English country life, trying everything from Morris dancing and rowing, to polo.

Nicola McClean was also at the party to promote new series Four Weddings, which begins on July 6 and sees brides assessing each other's nuptials in a bid to win a luxury honeymoon.

Hilary Duff's About To Become A Gossip Girl

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:51:34 +0000

HILARY Duff is reportedly joining the cast of Gossip Girl.

The former Lizzie McGuire star will feature in the New York drama for several episodes as Olivia Burke, a movie star seeking to experience normal college life, EW.com reports.

Hilary's character will enrol at New York University, where Blair (LEIGHTON MEESTER), Dan (PENN BADGLEY) and Vanessa (JESSICA SZOHR) were also accepted, and Olivia will turn out to be Vanessa's roommate.

The 21-year-old actress and singer's first appearance in the show will air in the US on October 5.

Chris Tarrant Goes Back To Children's TV

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:55:54 +0000

FORMER Tiswas host Chris Tarrant is making a return to children's entertainment with a new TV show.

The eight-part series called Tarrant Lets The Kids Loose will probably feature less gunk and goo than Tiswas did 30 years ago.

The new show, commissioned by Watch, will give three to six-year-olds a go at fulfilling their ambitions in the adult world, whether it is running a photographic studio, a radio station or an ice-cream van.

The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host said of the new series: "They say never work with kids or animals.

"But you know what? They're wrong! Kids are funny, magical and always surprising.

"What parent hasn't told an anecdote about the funny things their children say?

"This show totally captures the spirit and the inherent comedy of children - it's the kind of family entertainment I love."

Tarrant Lets The Kids Loose begins filming this month and will hit screens in October.

Andy Murray Proves Ratings Winner For Beeb

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:16:49 +0000

ANDY Murray's nailbiting win at Wimbledon last night was seen by more than 12 million viewers.

BBC1 cleared its schedule to show the match uninterrupted, and extended coverage meant the Ten O'Clock News was put back more than 40 minutes.

The match drew well over twice the usual audience who would be expected to tune in to the news at that time, which is normally around 5 million.

Alexander Armstrong To Play Sir Clive Sinclair In New TV Comedy Drama

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:52:13 +0000

ALEXANDER Armstrong is to play maverick Sir Clive Sinclair in a one-off comedy drama about the 1980s battle for home computer supremacy.

Martin Freeman will play his former colleague Chris Curry in the BBC4 drama called Syntax Era.

The 90-minute show will document the lengthy rivalry between the pair, using archive footage to help illustrate the buzz around their inventions.

Classic clips from programmes including John Craven's Newsround will showcase the likes of Sinclair's ZX Spectrum, the Sinclair C5, and Curry's BBC Micro computer.

Richard Klein, controller of BBC4, said: "Those of us that lived through the 80s will remember the sense of excitement when gadgets and technology started to appear in our homes, but not many of us will know the fascinating stories behind their arrival."

The show is currently being filmed.

Sopranos Star To Become A Desperate Housewife?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:06:36 +0000

DREA De Matteo is reportedly joining the cast of Desperate Housewives.

The Sopranos actress will be the new neighbour of Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher and Co in the sixth season of the hit US TV show, reports E! Online.

It seems Drea's character will be similar to Nicollette Sheridan's Wisteria Lane alter ego Edie Britt, who was killed off in the last series.

E! reports that the 37-year-old Drea - who won an Emmy for her portrayal of Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos - will play a married Italian in the show.

Jonathan Ross Chat Show Nominated For Award

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:52:53 +0000

JONATHAN Ross's chat show was nominated for an award celebrating the best of the small screen today.

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is in the Best Entertainment Show category shortlist for the TVQuick and TVChoice Awards 2009.

The show was rapped in November last year, when the BBC Trust found that an interview for Ross's show in which he made comments about the actress Gwyneth Paltrow included unacceptable offensive material.

Meanwhile, Lauren Crace, whose EastEnders character Danielle Jones was killed off just as she was about to be reunited with her natural mother, Ronnie Mitchell, is up for Best Soap Newcomer.

Danielle and Ronnie's story has also been nominated for Best Soap Storyline.

Winners will be voted for by the public.

Viewers have until Friday, July 10 to cast their votes at www.tvquick.co.uk or www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk.

The awards will take place in London on Monday, September 7.

Strictly Arlene

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:21:32 +0000

STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips said she "can't imagine someone else sitting in my chair" on the show's panel.

Speaking to Kirsty Young on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs she said: "I see it as my chair, but the show belongs to the BBC and they can and will do whatever they wish with the show."

In an interview recorded before reports that Phillips will be replaced when the show returns to our screens in the autumn, she acknowledged she would be replaced eventually.

Beeb Accused Over Glastonbury "Junket"

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:11:33 +0000

THE BBC was accused today of sending more than 400 staff on a "junket" to the Glastonbury music festival.

The number included presenters, technicians, contractors and senior executives, the BBC said.

But a spokesman for the corporation defended the staffing levels at the festival.

"Glastonbury is a major British cultural event and the BBC has extensive coverage across TV, radio and online," he said.

"The BBC is the UK's largest musical patron and has a particular role in broadcasting musical performances, often live, and commissioning new music and showcasing new performers.

"Glastonbury is widely regarded as the UK's most significant popular music event."