Adapted from Andrea Levy’s best-selling award-winning novel, BBC One’s two-part drama Small Island is an epic love story about the determined pursuit of dreams in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers.
Set against the backdrop of the Second World War in a time when landlords would put up signs that read “No Irish, no coloureds, no dogs”, Small Island follows the interlocking lives of Londoner Queenie (Ruth Wilson), the young Jamaican couple who become her lodgers, Gilbert and Hortense (David Oyelowo and Naomie Harris), Queenie’s husband Bernard (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the mysterious and handsome Michael (Ashley Walters).
Last night’s show was the last of the episodes, which is truly sad. It’s been an awe inspiring programme in so many ways, not least of which is the fact that Mount Bosavi is an area so new to science – and to man – that the majority of its creatures are unafraid of humans, simply because they’ve never encountered them before.
This show has truly brought the enormous diversity and adaptability of nature to our screens; we’ve seen birds that use volcanic ash to incubate their eggs, we’ve seen – finally! – the new species of rat that’s enormous but cute, and a new species of Cuscus that could become the next big thing cuddly toywise.
Lost Land of the Volcano has offered many spectacular sights, not least of which have been the frequent shots of Steve Backshall in a state of semi-undress and/or wet, which to be honest, would’ve been worth tuning in for, without the 40 some new species discovered. Read more & comment »
Romola Garai (Atonement, Vanity Fair) stars as the “handsome, clever and rich” Emma Woodhouse in BBC One’s fresh and witty adaptation of Jane Austen’s comic masterpiece Emma.
Adapted by BAFTA-winning writer Sandy Welch (Our Mutual Friend, Jane Eyre, North And South) this humorous and perceptive serial from BBC Drama Production provides a rich insight into one of Austen’s most complex characters.
BBC One Daytime commemorates the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War with a new five-part all-star period drama – Land Girls.
The stellar cast line-up includes Nathaniel Parker (The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Bleak House), Christine Bottomley (Hope Springs, Massive, Early Doors), Sophie Ward (Holby City), Summer Strallen (Hollyoaks), Mark Benton (The Street), Danny Webb (Our Friends In The North), Jo Woodcock (Tess Of The D’Urbervilles, All The Small Things) and Becci Gemmell (Home Time).
Can You Bank On Me features two ex bankers who until recently enjoyed earning huge salaries and all the trappings of a high flying lifestyle. The bankers will spend a week working with a struggling business that’s been on the receiving end of the credit crunch.
Was anyone else blubbing like a girl by the end of last night’s The Street? Jimmy McGovern’s already powerful drama upped its game a tad last night I thought, as it incorporated domestic and local strife with the global crisis that is terrorism. It also addressed cultural and religious differences and how the army treats its injured soldiers. And as one might expect from a writer as gifted as he is, he did it with aplomb.
The story began with TA soldier Private Nick Calshaw calling home and getting the answering machine. As Nick spoke, there were panicked shouts in the background, a baby started to cry, and someone shouted, “Shoot her!” A massive explosion followed and then the line went dead.
Ellie, Nick’s sister, was the first one to hear it and she frantically called her parents, Alan and Kim, who rushed home, frantic with worry that they were listening to their son’s final moments. Nick’s fiancée Gemma, likewise ran out of the school where she was teaching on hearing the news and later, two Army officials called at the house to tell the Culshaw’s that there’d been an incident involving their son. He was alive but injured. Read more & comment »
The BBC has announced today that BBC One Daytime will be marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War this September with a week of special programmes, including, ‘The Week We Went To War’ and a new period drama series ‘Land Girls’ which stars Nathaniel Parker and Christine Bottomley.
World-renowned singer Katherine Jenkins will present The Week We Went To War, being made by Finestripe Productions.
The week-long series of programmes will centre on everyday heroes, from families who took in evacuees, to ordinary people who ran into bombed buildings to save their neighbours.
The war effort is especially relevant to Katherine, as she has been dubbed ‘The New Forces’ Sweetheart’ for the charity work she has done entertaining the troops.
Katherine said of the role, “I’m really looking forward to presenting this series of programmes as it’s important that we mark the anniversary of the Second World War… Read more & comment »
The second series of Ashes to Ashes draws to an end tonight on BBC One but will finish after its next it has been announced.
“Fans have theorised since Life On Mars and throughout Ashes To Ashes about who Gene Hunt actually is and what his alternative world really means,” said a spokesperson for the show. “The climax of series three will finally reveal all in a stunning finale.”
In his first ever British TV interview Eminem joins Jonathan Ross this week on his BBC One show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.
He talks candidly about dissing celebs (Sarah Palin, Jessica Simpson, Amy Winehouse) on current single We Made You: “These aren’t personal attacks, it’s like picking names out of a hat… (but) Sarah Palin, I want to nail her!”
Maxine Peake (Hancock And Joan, Red Riding) stars as Juliet Miller in this major new five-part thriller which takes an uncompromising and insightful look at our criminal justice system, but this time through the journey of one woman, made by BBC Drama Production for BBC One.
Peake leads an impressive cast that boasts some of Britain’s top acting talent including Matthew Macfadyen (Little Dorrit), Denis Lawson (Bleak House), Steven Mackintosh (England Expects) and Sophie Okonedo (Winnie Mandela, Tsunami: The Aftermath).
Martin Shaw returns to Sixties Northumberland in Inspector George Gently in four feature-length films written by Peter Flannery (The Devil’s Whore, Our Friends In The North) and Mick Ford (William and Mary) – the first two films to be shown on BBC One in May 2009.
The series throws Chief Inspector Gently into a maelstrom of murders and mayhem, whilst lovingly recreating the Swinging Sixties as it finally hits the North-East of England, in perfect and nostalgic detail.
April 6th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: BBC-One, Emma
Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon, Tamsin Greig, Robert Bathurst and Jodhi May will star in Sandy Welch’s four-part adaptation of Austen’s comic masterpiece Emma, a BBC Drama Production for BBC One, it was announced today.
Romola Garai (Atonement, Daniel Deronda) stars as the “handsome, clever and rich” Emma Woodhouse.
I watched this video on BBC’s Youtube channel today and was a little spooked out by the whole thing.
It shows peggy Mitchell walking down the aisle to meet Archie but on the way her dress is altered, neckline raised and then she is given a spooky white spray tan which makes her looks a little ghostly.
Maxine Peake (Hancock And Joan, Red Riding) stars as Juliet Miller in this major new five-part thriller which takes an uncompromising and insightful look at our criminal justice system, but this time through the journey of one woman, made by BBC Drama Production for BBC One.
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