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Totally viral

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by · Comments Off 

But who out of this lot will survive?

But who out of this lot will survive?

The BBC’s new take on Terry Nation’s Survivors starts this Sunday and it’s actually really good. As per Little Dorrit we’re getting a bit of scheduling madness in that it then continues on Tuesday, where it’ll stay for the rest of its run.

OTT was fortunate enough to talk to Adrian Hodges, the Primeval supremo who’s penned this revival. 

“I can very, very clearly recall watching the first episode [of the original series].” he says. “And I can remember the impact it had, and the shock that was felt by everybody who saw it. Subsequently, when I became a writer, that was the kind of thing I was always looking to create. Sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t. That’s the way it goes.”

Read the full interview here >>

Blue Peter went gold

Sunday, October 26, 2008 by · Comments Off 

Liz Barker

Liz Barker

Yesterday, Kaleidoscope – The Classic Television Organisation, held their Blue Peter Goes Gold event at The David Lean Room, BAFTA in London’s Piccadilly.

We were there, and – courtesy of Michael Hoskin – here are pictures from the day. Read more

The end of the world – coming soon

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 by · 5 Comments 

Is this the end? Or a new beginning?

Is this the end? Or a new beginning?

Please God, don’t let me be the only one“. 

Surely not the sentiment of the BBC press office last night at the Apollo West End in Piccadilly as they launched Adrian Hodges’ remake of Terry Nation’s, er, novel based on the 1970s post apocalyptic TV series.

In fact there was a pretty good turnout – this is a show that from the announcement of its commission has really captured the imagination of the TV industry. Read more

OTT talks to Charlie Brooker

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 by · Comments Off 

Brooker, faeces injesting

Brooker, in the early stages of ingesting faeces (maybe)

To tie-in with next week’s debut of Charlie Brooker’s E4  zombie/Big Brother-fest, Dead Set, we’ve got an interview with the man himself.

Among other things, he reveals why he could never survive in the BB house: “If I’m sharing a small bungalow with people and there’s one loo, I can’t bear it. I have to wait till they’ve all gone to bed before I’ll have a shit. Knowing there’s cameras around, I just wouldn’t be able to poo. I’d probably start ingesting my own faeces…”

More here >

Blue Peter: 50th Anniversary Book

Thursday, October 16, 2008 by · 4 Comments 

Blue Peter: 50th Anniversary

Blue Peter: 50th Anniversary Book

Most people will probably only recognise Richard Marson’s name from the newspaper reports on his departure as Blue Peter editor. Yet Marson has been known in media circles for far longer than that as something of a TV expert, spending many years writing for Doctor Who Magazine in the 80s and penning the authoritative book on the history of Upstairs Downstairs. Read more

Is the BP theme broken?

Friday, October 10, 2008 by · 13 Comments 

A musical shipwreck?

A musical shipwreck?

As the BBC’s – ahem – flagship children’s programme readies for its 50th birthday celebrations, Michael Hoskin, from cult TV website TV Cream, is asking a pertinent question. Has the theme tune been ‘broken’?

The show returned to our screens last month after its traditional summer break, and sporting an updated version of the famous signature tune – ‘Barnacle Bill’. Nothing odd in that… except is that tune actually still ‘Barnacle Bill’? Or is it now the equally nautical ‘The Sailor’s Hornpipe’? Read more

Brooker C. and the zombies

Thursday, October 9, 2008 by · 5 Comments 

Jaime Winstone crashes Big Brother

Jaime Winstone crashes Big Brother

Charlie Brooker’s new comedy-drama, Dead Set, was launched to the press tonight. A zombie drama set in the Big Brother house, it stars Jaime Winstone, Riz Ahmed, Andy Nyman, Davina McCall (who’s very good indeed) and, er, Bubble from BB series two.

The screening was introduced by Andrew Newman, C4′s Head of Entertainment and Comedy, and a fittingly Nathan Barley-esque (now that’s a phrase that’s gone out of heavy rotation) figure. “It’s gripping, dark, excting, gruesome and really original,” he said, before going on to rubbish rival networks. Read more

The Third Coming

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 by · 4 Comments 

Zachary Quinto as Sylar

Zachary Quinto as Sylar

The morning after Heroes series three debuted in the US, the BBC screened the opener for journalists at the Curzon cinema, Soho.

Roly Keating, Controller of BBC2, introduced the preview: “Huge apologies for the short notice, as you may have gathered we didn’t know till the last minute if we were going to have the materials to do this screening, as what you’re about to see only broadcast in America in the small hours of last night. This is as close to an American premiere as you’re ever going to get. Read more

High hopes

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 by · Comments Off 

Meet the Britannia High punch-ables!

Meet the Britannia High pupils

“I’ve got quite a bit to get through – I’ve been doing this more years than I remember, certainly a lot more than 30 and this is by far the most complicated project I’ve been involved in.” That was outgoing Director of Entertainment and Comedy at ITV, Paul Jackson, this morning, unveiling to the press ITV1′s big white hope for Saturday nights, Britannia High. Read more

Merlin

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 by · 2 Comments 

Magic for Saturdays

Magic for Saturdays

Britain doesn’t have a particularly deep well of folk myths to draw from, so it’s not surprising TV screens have for so long been empty of even low-key attempts at tales of myths and legends.
Read more

Could it be magic?

Friday, September 12, 2008 by · Comments Off 

Colin Morgan as Merlin

Colin Morgan as Merlin

Thursday, September 11, and the BBC launched its new Saturday night ITV1-slayer, Merlin, to an enthused press.

The screening was held at the BFI IMAX on London’s South Bank, before the assembled filed along to The OXO Tower for the – inevitably – lavish reception. Read more

The Family

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 by · 6 Comments 

The Family

The Family

“There’s nothing remarkable about this family at all, except one thing…”

So runs John Simm’s narration at the top of C4′s keenly anticipated new fly-on-the-wall series. Very much posited as a successor to Paul Watson’s 12-part documentary of the same name – which followed the fortunes of the Wilkins of Reading over two months in 1974 – this series, unbelievably, proves itself equal to the task. Read more

Viva Bannerman Road!

Friday, September 5, 2008 by · Comments Off 

Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane

Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith

This afternoon, CBBC premiered series two of The Sarah Jane Adventures to the press. And, a very upbeat gathering it was too, filing into the Rex Cinema on Rupert Street in the middle of London. Read more

Ken Campbell, RIP

Monday, September 1, 2008 by · 2 Comments 

Ken Campbell, 1941-2008

Ken Campbell, 1941-2008

Although his heart, and much of life, lay on the stage, Ken Campbell graced a succession of high-class TV series with equally convincing bit parts, cameos and supporting roles. Read more

OTT in September

Monday, September 1, 2008 by · Comments Off 

Belle et Sébastien

Belle et Sébastien

Okay, in the past we’ve gone with three new articles at the start of every month, but we’re just building up a head of steam here. So to begin with here’s TJ Worthington on Belle and Sebastian.

Geoffrey Perkins, RIP

Saturday, August 30, 2008 by · 3 Comments 

Geoffrey Perkins (centre) with Simon Jones and Geoffrey McGivern in 2005

Geoffrey Perkins (centre) with Simon Jones and Geoffrey McGivern in 2005

A car accident has robbed British television of one of its most ubiquitous masterminds of comedy. Read more

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