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Channel 4 Orders Jade Goody Documentary Series
Channel 4 has handed out a series order to an as-yet untitled documentary that will explore the life and cultural significance of Jade Goody, who shot to fame as a contestant on Big Brother and died of cancer in 2010. The series is eyed for a 2019 premiere. The series, which will consist of three hour-long films, will explore the Jade Goody phenomenon to tell a bigger story of social and cultural change in Britain, at a time when reality TV became the biggest and most polarising form of entertainment in the country. Vicki Pepperdine & Joanna Scanlan’s Indie George & George Enter Into Joint Venture With Baby Cow Productions; Agree BBC Studios First Look Deal
George & George - the indie that was set up by Vicki Pepperdine and Joanna Scanlan to champion women’s voices in TV and film - has entered into a joint venture with Steve Coogan and Christine Langan’s Baby Cow Productions. Alongside that, the company has also inked a first look deal with BBC Studios. Channel 5 Orders ‘Drug Wars’ Documentary From Vice Studios
Fresh off of winning Channel of the Year at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Channel 5 has ordered a new four-part documentary series, titled Drug Wars, from Vice Studios. "Vice Studios has a unique storytelling voice which appeals to younger audiences", said Channel 5's Factual Commissioning Editor Guy Davies. "With cutting edge journalism and unrivalled access we are really pleased to be working with them once again.” ITV Orders Three-Part Bullying Drama ‘The Man’, Ken Nwosu To Star
ITV is getting back into business with Mike Bartlett. The commercial broadcaster has given the green-light to a The Man, a new three-part drama exploring the corrosive effects of bullying from the writer behind such shows as Trauma and Doctor Foster. Ken Nwosu (Christopher Robin, Killing Eve) is attached to star. The Man is set in a business park in Reading and follows the personal and professional life of Thomas Benson; a hard-working father and husband. Reliant on bonuses and winning pitches, Benson often finds himself leading the team when trying to win new business. When he freezes during a pitch the fall out is monumental. Determined to win back the client Thomas goes to increasingly desperate lengths to remain successful. But as he does, he begins to feel undermined, under attack and out of control. Has he lost his confidence and just feeling paranoid or is his own team, and maybe the wider world, now out to get him? BBC Four Acquires ‘The Plague’, Orders New Mark Gatiss Ghost Story ‘The Dead Room’ & More
BBC Four has acquired Spanish period drama The Plague in a deal with international distributor Sky Vision and given the green-light to The Dead Room, a new one-off ghost story from Mark Gatiss starring Simon Callow, Anjli Mohindra, Susan Penhaligon and Joshua Oakes-Rogers. Additionally, the channel has ordered a new factual series about the Yorkshire Ripper and a science documentary about eugenics. The programming announcements were made today by BBC Four Controller Cassian Harrison during a joint Meet The Controller session with BBC Two Controller Patrick Holland at the Edinburgh TV Festival. You can see the BBC Two shows that were announced here. BBC Two Orders New Romesh Ranganathan Series, ‘The Amazing Race’ Style Series ‘Race Across The World’ & More
It was BBC Two's turn at bat at the Edinburgh TV Festival today, with Controller Patrick Holland taking the opportunity to announced a slew of new commissions for the channel. Leading the new slate is a The Ranganation, a topical weekly show fronted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan. While other highlights include The Amazing Race style series Race Across The World; and two documentary series: one on the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and a three-part series about the rise of the Nazi's in Germany in the 1930s. Rounding things off is a new Mary Beard series on nudity. Andrew Scott Joins BBC Three’s ‘Fleabag’ For Season 2
Andrew Scott, best known for his role as Moriarty on Sherlock, is joining the cast of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's BBC Three comedy Fleabag for its second season, which has now started filming. Details about the character he will be playing are being kept under wraps. "I can’t believe they let me do this AGAIN. I’m so happy to be back with the incredible Fleabag team and I’m as surprised as anyone about where this series has taken us… thank God for Andrew Scott", Fleabag creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge said in a statement.