PBS America has closed a deal to acquire Frontline’s fast turnaround documentary about America’s battle against terrorism, tracing events from 9/11 to the recent bombings in Boston, Massachusetts. The documentary, titled Boston Bombing: Top Secret America, aired on PBS in the United States on April 30th and will premiere in the UK on PBS America on Thursday May 30th at 9pm.
Channel 4 has commissioned independent production company Mentorn Media to produce a one-off 60 minute documentary about boy-band One Direction titled I Heart One Direction. The documentary is being produced for Channel 4’s “Cutting Edge” factual strand and will air this Summer.
EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that the BBC is developing a new hour-long dramedy series from Shelagh Stephenson set in a dating agency titled Seeks Similar. Stephenson is an established writer who was written for numerous theatre productions. Her TV writing credits include Casualty, Downton Abbey and the BBC Two docudrama Shirley. One source tells me that this project is in development for BBC Three, but I’ve been unable to confirm that.
EXCLUSIVE: Following on from yesterday’s scoop that BBC One and Origin Pictures have set Strike Back helmer Dan Percival to direct their adaptation of Death Comes To Pemberley, I have learned that Philipa Lowthorpe has signed on to helm Jamaica Inn for BBC One and Origin Pictures. Lowthorpe, represented by Independent Talent, has just come off of a stint of directing Call The Midwife, also for BBC One. Her previous credits include A Skirt Through History, Sex, The City and Me and Five Daughters.
Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter), Robert Glenister (Hustle), Tom Chambers (Waterloo Road), Tim Pigott-Smith (The Hour), Tom Beard (Hunted), James Wilby (Titanic) and James Fox (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) have been cast in The Coppers Tale, the second part of BBC One’s two part serial The Great Train Robbery.
Over the past two months, TVWise broke the news that Sky Living was developing a new six episode comedy series from Big Talk Productions and writers Hatty Ashdown and Anthony MacMurray, and that the series had recently been greenlit with Chloe Thomas attached to direct. Sky confirmed all of that today while also revealing that the sitcom is about a gang of four girls (and a couple of guys) who work in the world of ‘promotions’. The main cast includes Kerry Howard, Diana Vickers, Miranda Hennessy, Cariad Llloyd and Tracy-Ann Oberman. Sky Living’s press release follows below…
UKTV has announced that they will be adding a new member to their already large portfolio of entertainment channels.
EXCLUSIVE: Caitlin Moran and Big Talk Productions are getting back into business with Channel 4. I’ve learned that Channel 4 has given the green-light to a broadcast pilot for a new comedy series from Caitlin Moran and Big Talk Productions titled Raised By Wolves.