There’s a new twist on being dead that’s headed our way via BBC3 later this year when new zombie drama In the Flesh is unveiled on the channel…

And while it sounds like a really good drama on paper – we have the full lowdown on the show for you after the jump – I can’t help but wonder if it can possibly hope to be as good as The Walking Dead, which of course returned our screens last night on FX.

However, In the Flesh goes one step further than The Walking Dead in that in the forthcoming drama, the dead become reanimated and rehabilitated in order that they can be among the living without chewing their heads off… Read more & comment »

It’s been reported today that the BBC is braced for viewer backlash when its new comedy drama Bluestone 42 debuts later this year.

The show centres on the work of a bomb disposal unit in Afghanistan, and of it, TV Biz reports, “Plans for the pilot were met with uproar from military families.”

However, it seems the broadcaster was undaunted by the outrage and in fact, went on to order seven more episodes.

The show’s co-writer James Cary said, “We didn’t want to offend anyone so we did an enormous amount of research, talked to lots of soldiers and had a military adviser on set every day.” Read more & comment »

The BBC have today announced the cast line-up for a new BBC Three zombie drama which is entitled, In The Flesh, which includes The Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson and Shine On Harvey Moon star, Kenneth Cranham.

Written by Dominic Mitchell, the drama will be directed by Jonny Campbell, who worked on the award-winning drama, Eric And Ernie.

The BBC’s press release states…

Playing the role of Kieren Walker, Luke Newberry leads the cast together with David Walmsley (best friend, Rick Macy), Emily Bevan (fellow zombie, Amy Dyer) and Harriet Cains (sister, Jem Walker). Joining them are Ricky Tomlinson (Ken Burton) Steve Evets (Bill Macy) and Kenneth Cranham (Vicar Oddie) (Hellbound: HellRaiser II).

In The Flesh is the story of teenager Kieren Walker and his reintegration back into both the local community and the heart of his family. After his death four years ago, his friends and family thought they’d never see Kieren again… Read more & comment »

When comedy writer Sharon Horgan (who’s pictured above, front and centre) began considering who to cast in her new BBC3 sitcom Dead Boss – which she co-wrote with Holly Walsh – she was desperate to get Ab Fab creator and star Jennifer Saunders on board.

And luckily for her, though busy with writing new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous and the script for Spice Girls the Musical, Jennifer jumped at the chance to play the role of Margaret, who’s the governor of Broadmarsh Prison.

Sharon herself plays the role of inmate Helen Stephens, who’s desperate to prove her innocence after she’s imprisoned for murdering her boss.

Of enlisting Jennifer to star in the show, Sharon said, “It was like a dream cast to get Jennifer on board.

“I had never worked with her before, only admired her from afar, like a TV stalker… Read more & comment »

Fans of BBC3 comedy White Van Man will doubtless be annoyed to hear that the BBC has axed the show.

The show – which was written by Adrian Poynton – starred Two and a Half Pints actor Will Mellor as the show’s main protagonist, Ollie, who took over his ailing dad Tony’s (Clive Mantle) handyman business.

And it seems that the news of the show’s cancellation will come as something of a surprise to Will, who recently told Digital Spy that a third series was in the pipeline.

He said, “We’re already story-lining [series three] so we’re definitely heading towards that.”

However, Adrian Poynton has confirmed the show’s cancellation, and he told The British Comedy Guide that the reason White Van Man was axed was due to BBC Three wanting to “take its comedy output in another direction”. Read more & comment »

The BBC has reported that BBC3 is to air a new show which examines what us Brits “really think and get up to.”

Promising to be a show that “delivers an alternative social census of the UK and caters for the nation’s number one obsession – themselves” the new series will be based on the results of a huge nationwide questionnaire, which asks everything about the respondents’ lives.

That includes their sex lives, their “moral compass” and what-if questions such as, what’s the least you would charge if someone wanted to chop off your toe?

Other questions that’ll be asked include, how often do you really delete our internet history? And who’s more likely to have a favourite child – mums or dads?

Radio 1 DJ Greg James and comedian Russell Kane will co-host the show over six weeks, and during each edition, they’ll reveal the results of the unique questionnaire… Read more & comment »

Peter Mitchell, who stars on Hollyoaks as head teacher Pete Hammill, has revealed that he’s leaving the show.

He made the announcement on Twitter, citing his desire to pursue other acting roles as the reason for his departure.

He tweeted, “To those asking, I can officially confirm that I have left Oaks to concentrate on other projects.

“I’d like to thank u all for ur love and support throughout the year, it’s greatly appreciated… (sic)”

As well as starring on the hit Chester based soap, Peter has also landed a role on BBC3 comedy, White Van Man… Read more & comment »

Beginning tonight on BBC3 at 9pm, is the much anticipated new drama, The Fades, starring 17-year-old Iain De Caestecker as the troubled Paul, who sees the spirits of the dead.

In tonight’s premiere episode, Paul struggles with home and sixth-form life as apocalyptic visions haunt his dreams and a supernatural creature stalks his home town.

And when he crosses paths with an outcast loner called Neil who can explain what Paul is seeing, his life is transformed.

Click ‘Read more’ to see three spoiler clips from tonight’s episode… Read more & comment »

In the city of Newport in Wales, a 15-year-old schoolgirl is about to pass from a world of classrooms to one of caskets and coffins – dealing with death on a daily basis.

This revealing documentary – which airs tonight on BBC3 at 9pm – follows Rachael Ryan as she turns 16 and becomes Britain’s youngest female undertaker.

Dad Mike runs the family firm and hopes one day to pass the business on to Rachael and her sister Louise. Can Rachael be sure that a life of death is her destiny?

Click ‘Read more’ to learn more about the Ryan family, and to see two sneak peek clips from tonight’s show. Read more & comment »

Award-winning writer, Jack Thorne (Skins, Cast Offs, This Is England 86) explains the genesis of his new fantasy horror series for BBC Three and who or what are The Fades.

“The Fades is a fantasy horror series about 17-year-old Paul (Iain De Caestecker) who becomes embroiled in a battle between the living and the dead. But fundamentally I think The Fades is a love story between Mac (Daniel Kaluuya) and Paul.

“As a kid I didn’t have a best friend that I could share everything with and could be a team with, and this show is about a kid that’s got one – it’s a love story about two best friends.

“The Fades are dead people, spirits that are trapped here in our world. There is no reason why fades are chosen. Death is random and the Fades are those that are left behind… Read more & comment »

It’s been revealed today that Billie Piper is set to return to our screens in a new BBC3 sitcom entitled, Tom and Jenny.

Billie, who has of course starred in Doctor Who and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, will play the part of Jenny, who is one half of a couple who still live together after splitting up.

Directed by Ben Palmer, the show is expected to air later this year.

A BBC insider said, “Billie is really excited and she can’t wait to move into comedy.” Read more & comment »

The British Comedy Guide reports today that Ideal, the sitcom penned by and starring Johnny Vegas, has been cancelled by the BBC.

Ideal recently concluded its seventh series on BBC3, and as Comedy Guide points out, it’s just the latest in a string of comedies to be axed by BBC3 controller Zai Bennett.

Confirming that the show had been ditched, Ideal writer and co-creator Graham Duff said, “As some of you may have heard, the BBC have decided against commissioning an 8th series of Ideal.

“The reason given was that the new channel controller wanted to make a clean sweep… Read more & comment »

The Sun today reports that the BBC is risking a storm of controversy as it plans to air a comedy about British bomb disposal experts who’re based in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The paper adds that yesterday, as the show’s upcoming premiere was announced on BBC3, news footage on BBC1 was reporting on the latest death in Afghanistan of a soldier killed by an IED – improvised explosive device. The show will in fact be entitled, ‘IED’.

A BBC spokeswoman said, “We would never set out to offend the courageous people in the forces… Read more & comment »

Of the offerings from BBC3’s comedy store, Mongrels ranks as one of the best, but to be honest, that’s not necessarily saying much.

In case you missed it, it’s a puppet-show “for adults”, which equates to meaning it relies on poor taste jokes and swearing, issued forth from – albeit cleverly crafted – puppets.

There were jokes about Harold Shipman, 9/11 – yes, they went there – and Michael Buble’s testicles, which tried too hard to shock; they didn’t shock, they were just in bad taste. Read more & comment »

The BBC has been blasted for “exploiting” Laura Hall, the woman dubbed as “Britain’s drunkest woman” for a documentary film.

The Sun reports that 20 year old Laura – who’s been banned from every pub in Britain – will be filmed in the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa for a BBC3 film.

The paper reports, “The jobless alcoholic saved up her benefit for the two-week trip to the infamous resort in Cyprus.

“She flies tomorrow with a pal and a camera crew from BBC3.

“Social workers from her home town of Bromsgrove, Worcs, accused the BBC of ‘outrageous exploitation’.

One of those social workers is quoted in the paper as saying, “What on Earth are they thinking?

“Laura is incredibly vulnerable. She will die if she keeps on drinking to excess.

“Now she is getting a kick out of being filmed. It’s making her drink even more.

“The BBC should be above this.” Read more & comment »