Collinson Street

ITV has announced former Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson is to become producer on Coronation Street. Read more

Be screening you

ITV1 launched its remake of The Prisoner to British press last night at the Odeon West End in London’s Leicester Square, screening the first two episodes to journalists.

Written by Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise to Candleford, Out of the Blue) and co-produced with America’s AMC, it’s a worthwhile undertaking indeed, despite the huge expectation the project provokes. In an era when US TV is big on puzzles and ellipitical plotting, The Prisoner fits in very well indeed. And what it really has in its favour is this version is a series, with a finite run (six episodes) and a definite end. So there’s no fear of a plot in flux, as showrunners consider the possibility of further seasons. We will get answers. Read more

Now Three is Five

So it’s happy fifth birthday, today, to ITV3. And a tip of the hat to ITV4 which is also celebrating – four years of service.

By way of a tribute, one-man OTT-updating machine Dominic Small returns with a history of ITV’s digital strategy. From ONDigital, to ITV2, there have certainly been ups and downs. As Dominic reminds us, the network’s nascent dabbles in the digital market weren’t very successful…

“ITV regional operators did dip their toes into the satellite pool quite early on, with mixed results. Many of the ITV franchisees of the time worked together to launch a new UK-based satellite channel with Europe-wide broadcast, though this pioneering venture – Superchannel – was not as successful as had been hoped and later ended up in the hands of an Italian firm, and subsequently the American broadcaster NBC, who dumped much of the UK content for US-produced output.”

For more, Read the feature »

The Y Factor

What’s Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Culture Secretary, discussing here? Read more

The Cube

“The games they play are very simple – but when they play them inside the Cube… Read more

Upstairs, Downstairs again?

ITV has announced the commissioning of Downton Abbey, by Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes. Read more

Treble Trigger

What have been the most memorable moments from this season’s FA Cup? Read more

Hell’s belle

Claudia Winkleman has been named as the new host of Hell’s Kitchen. Read more

Eightiesmania: The Return!

Now That’s What I Call 1983 – ITV1′s latest slice of ’80s nostalgia screens in November. Read more

The X-Factor

Any series that can boast “now with no Sharon Osbourne” must be on to a winner. Read more

Krypton back-tor!

ITV1 has just announced the return of The Krypton Factor. Read more

It’s your region

A woman on the Today programme this morning insisted Lookaround was her favourite thing on TV. Read more

High hopes

“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

Frost to melt away

ITV1 has confirmed A Touch of Frost will finish next year.

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Primeval/Doctor Who collision!

ITV1 has announced a new drama starring Douglas Henshall and Paul McGann.
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Law & Order: UK casting news

ITV1 has announced the cast for the upcoming Law & Order: UK. Read more

For three nights only

ITV1 has released details of some of the acts to feature in their three-week variety revival.

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Harry’s nuts!

The eighth series of Harry Hill’s TV Burp is due to start on 18 October on ITV1.

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Making the Grade

Once I would have been appalled at the idea of scrapping ITV, but not anymore. Read more

The doctor is still in

As David Butler and Bob McKenzie used to constantly mention, predictions are a tough business. That’s certainly my excuse for my post a month ago where I suggested ITV1′s current repeat run of Doc Martin would be inelegantly pulled from the schedules before the end. Four weeks on, not only is it still there, but the ratings are actually going up! Read more

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