Currently the Radio Times website lists the final episode of Broadchurch (on 22nd April) to last an extra 5 minutes so it would run from 9pm to 10.05pm.
The first six episodes of Broadchurch are now available to download from iTunes. Each episode costs £1.89.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The original soundtrack EP of Broadchurch, featuring music written by Olafur Arnalds, will be available for download on Mercury Classics from Monday 15 April. Clips have been posted to Mercury Classics Sound Cloud.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The first two episodes of Broadchurch will be shown in Paris on 28th April at Forum des Images.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest Broadchurch news, reviews, interviews, photos, etc., can be found here.
The Politician's Husband
The BBC have posted the first trailer for The Politician's Husband to YouTube.
It has been confirmed that the first episode of The Politician's Husband will premiere on Thursday 25th April at 9pm on BBC Two.
This means that the first episode of the three part drama will be broadcast the same week as the final episode of Broadchurch. More information here.
The BBC Media Centre has added a new David Tennant interview (plus photos) about The Politician's Husband.
This is to promote the three part drama, and extracts from the interview will be used in various publications over the next few weeks.
In the interview, David explains that Paula Milne's writing and the fact that it is a political drama drew him to the project. Read more here.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Amazon are now showing both the front and back cover of The Politician's Husband DVD. It will be released on Monday 20th May.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
In the US, Spies Of Warsaw is available now on Amazon Instant Video. DentonRC says that the US version of the Spies Of Warsaw DVD (released on Tuesday) includes "a 10-minute featurette with Tennant discussing the feature." Other websites indicate that the extra features will be the interview clips which are on the BBC America website.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
More information here.
The Great Scott
From Sunday 14th April 2013 at 3pm on BBC Radio Four for three consecutive Sundays, David Tennant will be starring in a series of radio plays written by Walter Scott.
The first story is The Fair Maid Of Perth and the second one will be Rob Roy. The final story has not been announced yet.
More information (including MP3 links) here.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Richard II
The Richard II performance which was listed in some places for Saturday 7th December has now been removed from both the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Barbican websites. Tickets never went on sale for this performance.
This means that now David Tennant will play 84 performances (39 in Stratford-Upon-Avon and 45 in London).
Most performances of Richard II on the Royal Shakespeare Company website are sold out but The Barbican Centre website still has availablilty for most dates.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest news, etc., is here.
Diary dates
Mon 15 Apr - Broadchurch soundtrack EP available for download on Mercury Classics.
Mon 15 Apr - Watch start a new run of repeats of David Tennant's episodes of Doctor Who.
Mon 15 Apr - Episode seven of Broadchurch premieres on ITV at 9pm.
Tues 16 Apr - Spies Of Warsaw DVD is released in the US and Canada.
Thurs 18 Apr - David Tennant's birthday!
Sun 21 Apr - David Tennant stars in The Great Scott: Rob Roy on BBC Radio Four at 3pm.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
For all the latest news about David Tennant, visit David Tennant on Twitter - the most frequently updated website about David Tennant. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook for more immediate news.
Win 1 of 3 copies of Dead Head on DVD
closing date: 6 May 2013
Eureka Entertainment have announced the release of DEAD HEAD, the
controversial four-part BBC noir drama written by Howard Brenton,
available on DVD from 15 April 2013.
- Classic BBC Noir Drama available for the very first time in the world
-
Superb cast of acting talent who have since gone on to become household
names i.e. Denis Lawson, Don Henderson, George Baker, Simon Callow
& Lindsay Duncan
London based petty crook, Eddie Cass (Denis
Lawson) agrees to pick up a package and courier it across the capital.
When nobody answers the door at the drop off address Eddie opens the
package and finds a woman's severed head in a hatbox. He panics and
dumps it in the River Thames. Returning home Cass is kidnapped by the
mysterious Eldridge (George Baker) and his heavies who inform Eddie that
he has been framed for the murder. The hatbox belonged to his ex-wife
and his fingerprints are all over it. Eddie panics and goes off the
rails - boozing and sleeping rough. Eventually he ends up at his ex-wife
Dana's house, played by Lindsay Duncan. Whilst he sleeps there, his
former partner informs on him, and Eddie once again has to go on the
run. The next morning the newspaper headlines reveal the discovery of
the gruesome hatbox. Eddie's own private atom bomb has gone off...
Written
in 50-minute episodes by playwright Howard Brenton and directed by Rob
Walker the series has a top-notch cast including Denis Lawson (Bleak
House, Holby City, Perfect Sense) as Eddie Cass, Don Henderson , George
Baker (The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service,
Hopscotch), Simon Callow (Amadeus, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and
Lindsay Duncan (Rome, Under the Tuscan Sun)
Never repeated, but
never forgotten - this much loved series from the BBC is set to be
released in the UK for the first time on any home entertainment format.
Available in a 2-disc Special Edition DVD from 15 April 2013.
To enter the competition, visit the Film News website here
Source: Film News
Titan Books to release insider's guide to "Once Upon a Time"
promo photo for Once Upon a Time: An Insider's Guide
Credits: promotional photo from Amazon.com
Amazon.com released pre-order details yesterday for the "Once Upon a Time" insiders guide, to be published October 1, 2013.
The book will be published by Titan Books,
as a companion to the tv show which is nearing the end of its second
season. The show already has a tie-in magazine, by Titan publishing and
Marvel Comics is working on a graphic novel based on the Fairy Tale
Land relationship between Regina Mills and the Huntsman, Graham.
Read more at Examiner
Trainspotting sequel
From Examiner:
Danny Boyle considers bringing back Robert Carlyle for 'Trainspotting' sequel
British director Danny Boyle,
writer of "Trainspotting", talks to Irish Independant about his 1996
hit and a possible sequel reuniting the original actors, according to a
video segment, released today on the Irish newspaper's website.
As the interviewer discusses Danny's latest film release, "Trance",
he mentions his other films, not the least of which is the '90s hit,
"Trainspotting" a wild look at the gritty, violent heroin culture. Robert Carlyle
portrayed psychotic Begbie, whose hair-trigger temper and misguided
judgments for his friends' heroin addictions made for a memorable
performance.
'California Solo' stars Robert Carlyle, now on DVD
From Cleveland.com:
Robert Carlyle stars as Lachlan MacAldonich, once upon a time a Scottish
rock musician, now a worker on an organic farm outside of Los Angeles.
Busted for drunk driving, he faces deportation, an unpleasant
possibility that forces him to confront his past. The 2012 independent
film was written and directed by Marshall Lewy, who says he wrote it
with "Trainspotting" star Carlyle specifically in mind. The film also
serves as an avenue for his views on oppressive U.S. immigration laws.
The 2012 film co-stars Danny Masterson and Alexia Rasmussen. It made the
festival rounds last year, including the Cleveland International Film
Festival. Unrated, 95 minutes. Extras: a deleted scene and
behind-the-scenes footage. From Strand Releasing. Released in March.
Broadchurch
was reviewed on the BBC Radio Four programme Saturday Review from 7.15pm today.
The reviewers were Tom Sutcliffe and guests artist Grayson Perry, playwright
Laura Wade and writer Susan Jeffreys.
Click here for a MP3 of the six minute review but they all
enjoyed the drama and said that they would be watching the series. The MP3 contains a clip of the drama. The first part of it is from the video
posted yesterday but this audio is slightly longer.More information here. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Richard II
The latest
Barbican newsletter for its members says that Michael Pennington will play John
of Gaunt in Richard II and that booking at The Barbican for RSC Shakespeare
Supporters will start on Tuesday 5th March.
Also at The Barbican there will be 10 seats for £5 at each performance for
people aged between 16 and 25, plus 30 stalls tickets for only £10 for each
performance which will go on sale at 10.30am at The Barbican each day. These
day seats will be limited to one per person.
All other tickets at The Barbican will be £55, £45, £35 and £25. There are no reduced
prices before the Press Night.
The website
of the Royal Shakespeare Company now lists a Richard II performance for
Saturday 7th December. This was previously listed by the RSC and then removed.
It is not listed on the Barbican Centre website. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The Royal
Shakespeare Company has confirmed that Thursday 12th December is the
London Press Night for Richard II. The performance starts at 7pm that evening. The RSC has also confirmed that Wednesday 15th January is a rare London weekday
matinee performance and not an understudy performance. This confirms that David will play 85 performances in total - 39 in
Stratford-Upon-Avon and 46 in London. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
An article
in The Telegraph about theatre membership schemes mentions the
high RSC membership sales to buy tickets for David Tennant's production of
Richard II. However there are still lots of tickets available. For example, for
the final Stratford-Upon-Avon performance there are 25 in the stalls, 35 in the
circle and over 100 in the upper circle currently free.
The full
transcript of David Tennant's Broadchurch interview in The Times has been
posted to Tumblr. David also speaks about Richard II (it says that rehearsals start in August)
and Doctor Who.
California Solo, the indie film that opened to mixed reviews and a
limited theatre release on Nov. 30th 2012 will be available to Robert Carlyle fans from March 5, 2013. California
Solo, written and directed by Marshall Lewy, stars Robert Carlyle as once-famous musician Lachlan MacAldonich. Lachlan now manages a
California Organic farm and has a once-weekly musical podcast,
discussing “flameouts”, great musicians who had passed away. After
getting caught with a DUI, Homeland Security is threatening deportation
unless he can mend some fences and rebuild some bridges in a hurry if he
wants to stay in the country he's made his home.
It was reported in
several interviews Robert Carlyle was a first choice for lead character
Lachlan for his involvement in the Britpop scene of the 1990s. He
remains friends with the Gallagher brothers from Oasis as well as other
members in Blur and The Jam. After reading the script, Carlyle
accepted the role within days, feeling strongly connected to the
character.
Carlyle fans who missed a theater screening of “California
Solo” can catch it March 5, 2013 on DVD. It is currently available
for pre-order on Amazon.com. Robert Carlyle can also be seen on ABC hit “Once upon a Time” Sundays, which resumes Feb 10.
Read the full interviews here…. http://www.avclub.com/articles/robert-carlyle-on-california-solo-america... http://collider.com/robert-carlyle-marshall-lewy-california-solo-interview/
Is
it a bad sign that the idea of a reality TV show about criminals racing
to the death does not seem as outlandish as it once might have? It is
not hard to believe that a significant number of people worldwide would
pay to watch something like that on their computer in the privacy of
their home.
Because the concept isn’t completely unfathomable and because it’s a direct-to-DVD sequel, Death Race 3: Inferno
really should be wilder than it is. Part 2 is solid B-movie fun and a
big improvement over Paul W. S. Anderson’s remake. It is unfortunate
then that part 3 feels like a step back. It wisely shifts the action
outside of the maximum security prison but fails to adequately exploit
the new location.
British billionaire Niles York (Dougray Scott) bullies his way to a
hostile takeover of Weyland Industries. His goal is to franchise Death
Race, taking it global while increasing the number of locations and
frequency of races. He has purchased crumbling prisons around the world
and hopes to stage a race every 2 weeks.
The first such race takes place in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa.
The famous racer known as Frankenstein (Luke Goss, who took over for
Jason Statham in part 2) is racing for his freedom, having won 4
consecutive races and being promised his release after the fifth. His
team has been reassembled to support his cause, including Goldberg
(Danny Trejo) and Katrina (Tanit Phoenix, lovely but a lousy actress).
Frankenstein will spend 3 days racing through the Kalahari against 9
fellow criminals, including the first female racer. The smarmy and
devious York will do his best to prevent him from winning, but the
famous driver has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Death Race 3 falls short by playing it way too safe,
not taking full advantage of its premise or the new location. It lacks
imagination. There are too many explosions to count (along with frantic
editing and copious slow-motion) and most people perish in fiery crashes
that have a perfunctory feel. The majority of the kills have little
creativity.
One particular scene highlights the movie’s problems. Before the first
stage of the race begins, there is a pre-Death Race event to pick the
navigators. It features 16 beautiful women, including an IRA terrorist
and twin Swedish serial killers, fighting to the death for 10 spots. But
they all look the same, it’s nearly impossible to make out who is
fighting whom, and it’s over almost before it really starts. An
opportunity wasted.
There’s also way too much melodrama, most of it involving the budding
relationship between Frankenstein and Katrina. It is unnecessary padding
and doesn’t belong in a movie like this.
Despite all of its problems, there is some fun to be had. The cast
(outside of Phoenix) is good. Trejo in particular appears to be enjoying
himself and gets some memorable and amusing quips. There’s infrequent
but solid gore, particularly when a missile makes waste of a contestant
attempting to escape. And every once in a while it displays a biting
wit, such as when a voiceover notes that racing like this should not be
attempted at home and unauthorized piracy of the event is “punishable by
death, or life imprisonment if under age 15.”
The random wit and gore end up being the exception to the rule though. Death Race 3
promises excess, but fails to deliver it. If part 4 ever rolls around,
here’s hoping for fewer explosions and more gleeful and nasty
depravity.
Source (including DVD photo): Shock Till You Drop
Mystery thriller "Labyrinth" on DVD and Blu-ray, and as a Special Edition
The
series follows two women, modern-day archeologist Alice Tanner and
medieval Alais Pelletier du Mas who lives through the Crusades and
Cathar massacres in medieval France—and their quest to find the Holy
Grail. Alice, a volunteer at a French archaeological excavation,
discovers the skeletal remains of two people in a cave, as well as a
labyrinth-engraved ring, which attracts the attention of unscrupulous
individuals. In 1209, newly married Alais is living in Carcassonne, a
stronghold of Cathars who have been declared heretical by the Church.
Alais and her father are protecting three sacred books that reveal the
secret of the Holy Grail from the Crusaders.
Wed 12 Dec - British Comedy Awards are announced live on Channel Four. Twenty Twelve (narrated by David Tennant) is nominated in Best Sitcome category.
Sun 16 Dec - David Tennant attends the Midnight Fan Convention.
Sun 16 Dec - Autism-friendly screenings of Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger! in cinemas around the country (UK)
Midnight Convention
From David Tennant on Twitter:
As it is only a week until lots of visitors to the website will be meeting David Tennant at the Midnight Fan Convention, here are some tips we previously posted about how to get the best out of the experience.
David Tennant finds a shrine to Martin Freeman in our exclusive clip from
Nativity! 2.
The seasonal sequel shows the Doctor Who actor as new teacher Mr Peterson, who
has stepped into the shoes of the former Office star.
He incurs the wrath of devoted colleague Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton) when he
stumbles across his "private cupboard", filled with photos and
memoirs of predecessor Mr Maddens (Freeman).
After entering the school into a national Song For Christmas competition, Mr
Peterson finds himself in his own version of the Nativity as he and his
heavily pregnant wife – played by Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page – embark
on a long road trip with the kids.
Pam Ferris returns as no-nonsense headmistress Mrs Bevan and Jason Watkins is
back as the rival school leader Gordon Shakespeare.
Now that the issue is no longer on sale, scans of David Tennant's interview in The Big Issue have been posted onto Tumblr
Source: DToT
The Big Issue website has now posted David Tennant's interview. Read it here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Extras DVD
David Tennant's sketch is on the Extras Complete Collection DVD, which includes a photo of him on on the cover. The DVD is available from Amazon
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The Spies of Warsaw
The first episode of The Spies of Warsaw will be broadcast on 11th January 2013 at 8.20pm in Poland. (It will be dubbed into Polish.) As we previously posted, the drama will be broadcast on 6th and 13th February in the US and the UK broadcast (on the station BBC Four) will be sometime in January. More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Broadchurch
Broadchurch has finished filming and is now in post-production, with an expected broadcast in Spring 2013. More information can be found here.
Shakespeare Uncovered: PBS Premiere on January 25
In a unique series of six films debuting on PBS Friday, January 25 at
9 p.m. (check local listings), Shakespeare Uncovered will combine
history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis, and the personal
passions of its celebrated hosts – Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn, Joely Richardson, and David Tennant – to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare’s greatest plays.
Produced by Richard Denton
for Blakeway Productions & THIRTEEN for WNET in association with
the BBC and Shakespeare’s Globe, each episode explores and reveals the
extraordinary world and works of William Shakespeare
and the still-potent impact they have today. The films combine
interviews with actors, directors and scholars, along with visits to key
locations, clips from some of the most-celebrated film and television
adaptations, and illustrative excerpts from the plays staged specially
for the series at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
Behind every Shakespeare play there is a story: for instance, how he
and his company dismantled their theater and rowed it across the river
Thames when their landlord cancelled their lease – then staged Henry V
for the first time. There are echoes of the playwright’s life -- who
named his twins Hamnet (a boy, who died at age 11) and Judith -- in
plays like Twelfth Night, where the plot turns on the adventures of
separated twins; and Hamlet, where the drama begins with the grief of a
son who has lost his father. The series shows Shakespeare as an
impresario who, four centuries ago, defined early the tenets of show
business – drawing on historical sources, stealing and adapting ideas,
bringing back popular characters, writing prequels, and developing
dramatic ideas from the politics of the day.
Each program’s host has
deep personal experience with Shakespeare’s work and relates not only
the stories of the plays themselves, but also the stories of how they
came to be written, how they have been performed, and how they have
survived over 400 years.
The six episodes will air as follows: Friday, January 25, 2013
- Shakespeare Uncovered: Macbeth with Ethan Hawke 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
- Shakespeare Uncovered: The Comedies with Joely Richardson 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
Friday, February 1, 2013
- Shakespeare Uncovered: Richard II with Derek Jacobi 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
- Shakespeare Uncovered: Henry IV & Henry V with Jeremy Irons 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
Friday, February 8, 2013
- Shakespeare Uncovered: Hamlet with David Tennant 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
An acclaimed Hamlet in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s hit production (also a recent Great Performances production), David Tennant meets fellow actors who’ve tackled this most iconic of roles, including superstar Jude Law,
and compares notes on the role’s titanic challenges. Tennant digs deep
into the text about the doomed Danish Prince alongside the actors Simon Russell Beale and Ben Whishaw.
With them he works to plumb the deeper meanings of the play and the
reason it is widely considered the greatest of Shakespeare’s canon. The
historical sources and religious wars, existential questions of the
meaning of life and death, the idea that ghosts exist and may speak –
all these and a searing personal drama, too – comprise this Everest of a
play. Tennant also finds that many actors who have played Hamlet share
an experience that is deeply and profoundly personal. This is also,
perhaps, the reason audiences feel the play touches them more than any
other before or since.
A Thousand Kisses Deep coming to DVD
A Thousand Kisses Deep stars Dougray Scott (My Week with Marilyn,
Mission Impossible II), Jodie Whittaker (Attack the Block, One Day, St
Trinians), Emilia Fox (BBC’s Silent Witness, The Pianist, Merlin) and
English acting legend David Warner (Titanic, Tron). The film is as
electrifying as it is ambitious and comes to DVD 4 February 2013.
Witnessing
the tragic and apparent suicide of an elderly woman, Mia (Whittaker) is
left shattered and unnerved as she finds on the deceased a photograph
of herself and her former lover (Scott).
Persuading a building’s
custodian Max (Warner), Mia gains access to the woman’s flat hoping to
find some answers to explain the tragedy. However, when inside, she
finds only more questions as she is surrounded by her own possessions
and an eerily familiarity.
Confused and disturbed, Mia is left
fighting her past to see if she can change the future in this shocking
and twisting psychological thriller.
A Thousand Kisses Deep is available for pre-order from Amazon.
RUN TIME: 81 mins
CERT: 15
RRP: £14.99
EXTRAS: “A Thousand Cuts” – Behind the scenes
Deleted scenes
Source: Film-News
Big Issue David Tennant will be featured in The Big Issue's first bumper Christmas magazine, on sale from tomorrow (26 Nov). Sneak preview here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Nativity 2
All the latest reviews and interviews can be read here
The Mumsnet advent calendar had an exlusive clip on Tuesday from Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger! from right at the start of the movie.
Odeon Cinemas have a competition to win a £1,000 shopping spree if you book tickets for Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger! through their website.
DimensionsUK have a competition to win tickets to the autism-friendly screening of Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger! on 16th December.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Some autism-friendly screenings of Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger! have been added for 2nd December (as well as 16th) in over cinemas around the country.
More information here
FemaleFirst have posted an exclusive clip from Nativity 2 Danger In The Manger! where David Tennant is shown playing both twins. View it here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Children in Need
The auction for the David Tennant signed Pudsey Bear raised £720 for Children In Need after 69 bids.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Doctor Who
A special Doctor Who DVD box-set of 41 DVDs, which covers Series 1 to 6, has been released in America and Canada. More information here.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Headway Essex David Tennant has issued his annual patron's message for Headway Essex, a screengrab of which is below.
The article, and Headway's full annual review, can be read here
All the latest news about David Tennant can be found on David Tennant on Twitter with regular news alerts several times a day on Twitter
James McAvoy and Hayley Atwell take to the Donmar stage for an afternoon of tragedy
You don't realise how little you actually get to hear James McAvoy's Scottish brogue. So little in fact that the first few lines he spoke this afternoon, at the Donmar's rehearsed reading of Bajazet, had me thinking he was putting it on.
It is at once a testament to his skill at adopting accents for his many film and TV performances and a shame that he doesn't get to play roles where he can use his own lovely, natural voice. I so want to hear more of it and @_gabriellasf is right he must play Macbeth (just not at the Globe).
But James McAvoy's Scottish accent was just one of the bag of treats of this afternoon's one off. Joining McAvoy in a seated performance where much is said in just the manner of turning the script pages were Hayley Atwell, Ruth Negga and Alex Jennings. It's the sort of cast list that you couldn't ever imagine being brought together for a fully fledged production but such is the joy of rehearsed readings.
We were also treated to a brief introduction by Alan Hollinghurst, who translated the Jean Rancine play for a production at the Almeida back in 1990 and the Donmar's current production of Berenice in which Mrs McAvoy, Anne-Marie Duff, is starring.
The two plays are different beasts he said in that the latter is more subtle in its tragedy and the former a blood bath by comparison.
I enjoyed Berenice and Bajazet equally, the first is a love triangle this is essentially about two women who love the same man and are prepared to make big sacrifices to get what they want. Bajazet (McAvoy) is caught in the middle. He's at the mercy of Roxane (Atwell) whom he doesn't love and who is his murderous old brother's lover and Atalide (Negga) his child-hood sweet heart who would rather he submitted to Roxane than face inevitable death.
Both of these Rancine plays have satisfyingly strong female characters and male characters facing interesting dilemmas. He writes wonderful exchanges between the sexes and I'd love to see a full production of Bajazet. In fact I was imagining it in my head as the actors spoke the words. Of course in my imagined version the dramatic denoument would all take place on stage and not be Greek tragedy-esque, reported action.
Rehearsed readings are nearly always rare treats wrapped up as something very casual and unassuming and this was no exception.
And if you want to hear Mr McAvoy talking in his natural voice here's a little YouTube clip of him on Parkinson - he just happens to be talking about filming sex scenes but don't worry about that ;0)
Source: Rev Stan's Theatre Blog 'Arthur Christmas' - DVD release on 6 November
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (Sony) When 21st-century technology goes awry on
Christmas Eve, Santa's younger son Arthur steps in to make sure that no
child's gift is left behind. The animated comedy, from the same folks
who made the "Wallace & Gromit" movies, is so full of clever visual
humor and throwaway background jokes that you may need multiple viewings
to take it all in. But what's more remarkable is the movie's
overwhelming cheeriness and unabashed belief in believing. With voices
by James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Bill
Nighy. (PG; some mild rude humor)
Source: JS Online
BBC One commissions second series of 'The Paradise'
Bill Gallagher’s BBC One hit The Paradise - currently
airing on Tuesday nights - will return for a second series of eight
episodes next year.
Made
in-house by BBC Drama Productions, the period drama set in the
impossibly glamorous world of the first ever department store has been
attracting a strong loyal audience so far with an average consolidated
audience of 5.9 million/22.5% share.
Danny Cohen, Controller of
BBC One, says: “The Paradise has been the biggest new drama series on
British television so far this Autumn, and it has been really
interesting to experiment with period drama on BBC One beyond the
traditional Sunday night slot. I’m delighted that the show will be
returning for a second series, and can assure its loyal following that
there are still some dramatic twists to come in the three episodes still
to air this Autumn."
The popular series, adapted from the
much-loved classic French novel by Emile Zola, follows smart, ambitious
and big hearted Denise Lovett played by rising star Joanna Vanderham who
arrives in the city to find work. The store provides the catalyst for
her rags-to-riches story as she falls in love with the exhilarating and
dangerous charms of the modern world and her eyes are opened to a whole
new world of possibilities.
The series showcases fantastic
performances from a wonderful cast that includes: Sarah Lancashire, Emun
Elliott, David Hayman, Elaine Cassidy, Matthew McNulty and Patrick
Malahide.
Bill Gallagher, writer and creator, said: “I'm very
grateful that there's such a strong audience for The Paradise, and for
the terrific support the BBC has given to the show to make that
possible. It's such a great ensemble of actors and such a rich group of
characters that it's an exciting prospect to have eight more episodes to
make.”
With three more episodes still to go, the final episode of
series one will air on the 13 of November on BBC One at 9pm. Viewers
will learn whether Moray (Elliott) will marry Katherine (Cassidy) or
follow his heart with Denise.
Written and created by Bill
Gallagher and produced by BBC Drama Production. The executive producer
for the BBC is Susan Hogg and the producer is Simon Lewis. The series
was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning
and Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC One.
Source: BBC
Win 'Threesome' series one on DVD
Comedy Central's homegrown sitcom about three friends raising a baby together stars Amy Huberman and The Paradise's Emun Elliott and Stephen Wight
From Radio Times staff:
Enter our competition for your chance to catch up with the first series of Comedy Central's hilarious homegrown sitcom Threesome.
Starring Amy Huberman, and The Paradise's Emun Elliott and Stephen
Wight, Threesome is the story of Alice, Mitch and their gay best friend
Richie, whose debauched night together results in an unexpected
pregnancy - and a decision to raise the baby together.
Series two of Threesome is currently airing on Mondays at 9:30pm on Comedy Central, and series one will be available to buy on DVD from 12 November. To celebrate the launch, we have five copies to give away - just follow the link below for your chance to win...
The competition closes at midnight on Monday 12 November.
Exclusive: Brave bonus content
Disney always packs its releases with full of amazing behind-the-scenes content, and this time we're getting a first look at some of the goodies in the animated film Brave!
Brave hits storeson Nov. 13, and Disney tells us it's going to feature all sorts of added fun in addition to the exclusive clip above! Kelly MacDonald makes a brilliant, headstrong adventurer and she looks like she had so much fun bringing Merida to life! Brave
is the captivating No.1 animated movie of the year and an epic tale of
heroic journey, breaking tradition and colorful exploration of the
mother-daughter, familial dynamic.
As if the contagious spirit of Merida wasn't compelling enough, the release will contain La Luna (the theatrical short that accompanied the big-screen experience), a brand new short, The Legend of Mor’du,
behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, commentary, and production
insight concerning the exploration of the Scotland environment that
propelled Brave, a look into the magic and mystery of Scottish legend, art galleries, bloopers, and so much more!
Whether you choose the Ultimate Collector's Edition: 5-Disc Combo Pack, the Collector's Edition: 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, or the DVD, it's sure to be an adventure fit for the whole family.
Be sure to grab your copy and keep an eye out for our SheKnows exclusive interview with some of Brave's real-life stars hitting the website in the next couple of days!
Source: SheKnows
Comedy World Cup
The Channel 4 YouTube page now has episode 6 of Comedy World Cup added, here.
The link for those outside the UK to watch episode 6 of Comedy World Cup is here.
Channel Four's YouTube link to video for the final of Comedy World Cup from last night (UK only) is here.
4OnDemand'a link to video for the final of Comedy World Cup from last night (UK only) is here.
Tree Fu Tom
The DVD of the first series of Tree Fu Tom was released in the UK on Monday (22 Oct)
- details here
Ebay auction David Tennant drew and signed a doodle for the Steps For Young People charity which was auctioned on eBay.
The auction ended earlier today (Sunday) and raised £311for the charity.Details here. Secret Universe
The iPlayer link (UK only) for the David Tennant narrated documentary Secret Universe: The Hidden Life Of The Cell is valid for 7 days.
The link for those outside the UK to watch Secret Universe: The Hidden Life Of The Cell is here
A different link for Secret Universe: The Hidden Life Of The Cell which will play worldwide is here
Seven Stories Seven Stories in Newcastle have a new exhibition which opens on Saturday and is voiced by David Tennant. A teaser video has been shared by the Seven Stories marketing department, here.
The Spies of Warsaw
BBC America are now listing they will broadcast The Spies Of Warsaw in the Winter of 2013, whereas previously they specified January.
Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger
There will be some charity screenings of Nativity 2! Danger in The Manger on 11th November. All proceeds will go to Children In Need.
Cinemas participating are listed here
The Birmingham Mail report on a competition for children to sing at the première of Nativity 2! Danger in The Manger (plus the winner will appear in Nativity 3). Details here.
An exclusive clip of Ridley Scott terrorizing the hell out of the Prometheus crew Watch Ridley Scott go old school and just scare the heck out of his
actors in attempt to capture genuine fear on film. We've got an
exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the director's efforts to shock
actress Kate Dickie, who played Ford, the ship's doctor. It's both diabolical and wonderful at the same time. Say what you will about the plot of Prometheus
— the practical sets, creatures, and landscapes were astounding. And
it's pretty great to see a big-time director going back the basic "scare
the shit out of the actor and catch it on film" trick. No need for
green screen, just shoot a giant Hammerpede out of a dummy's mouth.
Magic! The crafty Scott did the exact same thing while filming the infamous Alien
chestburster scene. Scott kept most of the actors in the dark as they
watched John Hurt's stomach explode with xenomorph. Oh, Ridley! This clip comes from the special features on the Prometheus DVD, which debuts on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 9, 2012. Source (with the video clip): io9 Sorry: unable to embed the video clip here.
From a life of drugs on a tough housing estate to sharing a
love scene with Scarlett Johansson - Britain's unlikely new movie star
Paul Brannigan's life story could make a Hollywood film on its own
Both his parents were heroin addicts and he started taking drugs at 11. He
was expelled from school at 14, sent to jail over a gun battle at 17,
and there’s a scar on his face from a knife fight with his own brother. So how do you go from there to becoming a Hollywood actor sharing a love scene with Scarlett Johansson? Ask Paul Brannigan... it’s his life story. It’s certainly a long way from his gritty Glasgow council estate to the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival. And
25-year-old Paul could have been forgiven for pinching himself as he
was mobbed by A-list stars at his film’s première in the glitzy French
resort. But the dad of one is learning to take this sort of thing
in his stride since he was plucked from a life of deprivation and crime
to star in The Angels’ Share. A huge critical success, it has
already been hailed as the new Full Monty. And Paul’s natural acting
talent has impressed the industry’s top names. So much so that the
former jailbird has just finished filming steamy love scenes with
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson for a new sci-fi movie. The gorgeous actress plays a man-eating alien who tries to seduce Paul’s character. “At first I was really nervous to meet her but she’s nice and laid
back, she made me feel relaxed and confident,” he reveals. “She was
fantastic and down to earth. She was asking me about my wee kid and my
background. And she gave me some nice comments about my timing which
boosted my confidence. “I play a happy guy who’s out on the pull. I’m chatting Scarlett up and she seduces me.” Paul may even have even used his own chat-up lines on film. “I
can’t actually remember because I was a wee bit p***ed at the time! We
were having a drink together. We had the script and then you just fling
in the odd line yourself. Y’know, ‘You have beautiful eyes’. It was
great fun but to be honest I get more starstruck with my football team
Glasgow Celtic.” It’s a typically down-to-earth approach from a
man who just months ago was still trapped in a life of drugs, crime and
violence. So when it came to playing Robbie in The Angels’ Share,
a lad in trouble with the law who is determined to make his life better
for the sake of his new-born son, he had plenty to draw on. “Robbie’s
story is very similar to my past. I was like Robbie, like many young
kids growing up, there’s millions of Robbies out there. “Like any other boy from Glasgow I was involved in gangs and alcohol and taking drugs. Just a rough, rough life. Read more (with photos) at The Mirror
Sunday Mail 2012 Great Scot awards
The entertainment category was won by feel-good film The Angels’ Share,
which scooped the Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival. It was written
by Paul Laverty, directed by Ken Loach and stars Paul Brannigan. Source: Daily Record
English director Ken Loach reveals how he loves filming Scotland's working class stars
The man behind The Angels' Share and Sweet Sixteen says he wants to make one final film in his 'second home' He’s the Englishman who has been a voice for the plight of Scotland’s working class in six of our best movies. But
the 76-year-old Ken Loach is finding it harder and harder to make
movies and wishes his American counterpart Woody Allen, who is the same
age, would stop so that he can retire too. But the softly spoken
director hopes he can make at least one more film in his “second home”.
He said: “I hope there’s another Scottish film. It’s always possible but
I’m not sure how many are left in me. “Directing is a young man’s job really. I wish Woody Allen would stop and then I could stop. “But I enjoy making films. I like to keep out of trouble and off the streets.” Ken,
from Nuneaton, Warwickshire may be best known for the film Kes but in
Scotland, he is loved for his gritty portrayal of real life and for
discovering talent, often using real people rather than actors for key
roles. Robert Carlyle, who’d then appeared in Taggart and The Bill, starred
in his 1991 film Riff-Raff, as did Peter Mullan, whose harrowing
portrayal of a recovering alcoholic in 1998’s My Name is Joe won him the
best actor award at that year’s Cannes Film Festival. Loach then
discovered former footballer Martin Compston as the star of his 2002
film Sweet Sixteen. He also gave a role to Gary Maitland in the film and
used him again in this year’s The Angels’ Share. Sweet Sixteen also gave William Ruane and Annmarie Fulton their big break, both going on to River City. William
has worked with Ken a further three times – appearing in 2005 film
Tickets (which also featured Compston and Maitland and saw three
directors creating interlocking stories about different groups of people
on a train to Rome), his Irish movie The Wind That Shakes the Barley,
and The Angels’ Share. The director’s 2004 Scots film Ae Fond Kiss
gave Atta Yaqub his shot at stardom. And Ken’s latest discovery is Paul
Brannigan, the star of The Angels’ Share. But try to pat Ken on the back, for not only making films in Scotland
but giving us some of our finest actors, and he tries to dodge it by
wishing he could give more people the opportunity that being in a film
can bring. His most recent star Paul, for example, has been in jail and had to deal with both parents being heroin addicts. The fledging actor has even claimed that Ken saved his life by giving him the role. Ken, who has been making socially conscious films since 1966’s
television play Cathy Come Home and the 1969 film Kes, said: “There are
many people we would like to have had in The Angels’ Share and we just
didn’t have the parts. “Paul is a bright lad and he would have
found a way but the sad thing is that people need a stroke of luck out
of the blue, which making a film is. And you can never plan for that. “So
many kids just won’t get that and will fail and not do as well as they
could. That is in the hundred thousands through Scotland and the rest of
Europe. It’s a real tragedy. “There are people that are growing
up with no secure financial future and no chance of bringing up a family
in any kind of security, not even finding a place to live. “Every
day they are talking about cutting their benefits, cutting jobs,
cutting this and that. It’s shocking that we have allowed it to happen. “Not
that the Tories are vicious. They are vicious. That’s their class. What
is shocking is that the people who should represent working people have
allowed them to happen without any fight. Of all the main things, that
makes me the most angry.” Read more at Daily Record
The Angels' Share
Release Date:
15 November 2012
Starring Paul Brannigan, John Henshaw, Gary Maitland.
Directed by Ken Loach.
Classification: MA15+, 105 mins.
Official Site:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcQIvmR21VU Country: UK, France.
Robbie, a young father facing prison, is determined to
give his newborn son a better life – but he must first turn his own life
around. Veteran director Ken Loach (Kes, Sweet Sixteen, The Wind that
Shakes the Barley) creates an appealing comedy out of the challenges and
opportunities that Robbie faces in meeting up with three other
unemployed former criminals and from discovering he has a fine nose for
whisky. Source: State Cinema
DVD: The Angels' Share (15)(review)
"You're just a wee thug," claims a distraught mother about Robbie (Paul Brannigan), a scrawny Glaswegian who is desperate to escape his bleak environment for his baby son, and his caring girlfriend.
Thankfully, John Henshaw's compassionate community service supervisor
is on hand to help, instilling in Robbie a passion for whisky. It turns
out the scallywag has a nose for it. The Angel's Share begins as a tale
of grinding poverty and savagery before becoming a much softer, more
palatable, Ealing-style comedy caper. Source: Independent
After
winning the prestigious Jury Prize at Cannes back in May, Ken Loach’s
heart-warming and very funny tale of redemption and second chances is
finally released on DVD this week.
Opening with the expertly cast Gary Maitland’s Albert drunkenly
fooling around near an oncoming train, Loach’s pitch perfect Scottish
film establishes the dark humour and rather endearing stupidity that
lies ahead, while introducing us to the people whose journey we are
about to join in the court docks.
After hearing what each of the gang is charged with, we are
introduced to our main protagonist, Robbie (Paul Brannigan), who
narrowly escapes a hefty custodial sentence due to the new leaf he has
turned after learning he is to become a father and because of the very
positive influence girlfriend Leonie (Siobhan Reilly) has had on his
life.
Due to ongoing family feuds that now simply honour tradition, Robbie
is beaten up in a hospital stairwell when merely trying to visit Leonie
in labour, but after meeting community service volunteer, Harry (John
Henshaw), he finds both friend and father figure. Tasked with looking
after the reprobates, Harry develops more than just a paternal liking to
the group, taking them to a distillery on his day off. And, while most
of the lads are more interested in their tour guide’s shapely figure
than the whisky around them, Robbie starts to realise he has quite the
nose for it. When Leonie hands Robbie an ultimatum regarding his future with his
son after a shocking but very effective flashback encounter with a boy
he attacked, Harry offers him a lifeline with a trip to a whisky meeting
in Edinburgh – but he ends up with a little more company than he
bargained for. With the dim Albert, often reckless Rhino (William Ruane)
and kleptomaniac Mo (Jasmin Riggins) inviting themselves along,
Robbie’s talent for blind tasting is truly proven and attracts the
attention of serious whisky enthusiast, Thaddeus (Roger Allam).
With newfound faith that he is able to make something of himself away
from Glasgow, Robbie takes Albert, Rhino and Mo with him on a whisky
pilgrimage to the opening and consequent auction of the very rare Malt
Mill. But of course, this is done in their own unique way, hitchhiking
for part of the way on a bus full of nuns and wearing kilts so they
don’t look like Neds in their usual tracksuits or like they’re going to
court in suits. Although this, along with the use of The Proclaimers’
500 Miles may seem to stereotype, Loach ensures it suits the silly and
infectious nature of their travels.
It is to the central fours’ credit that the film works so well,
delivering Paul Laverty’s screenplay with carefree ease and letting us
feel part of their jokes while still feeling as if we are peeking in on
private conversations. The magic and effortlessness between this group
is what makes The Angels’ Share so entertaining, but Paul Brannigan’s
vulnerable and affecting breakout performance as Robbie is the film’s
true revelation, guaranteeing he is someone you incessantly root for.
The Angels’ Share may have its fair amount of emotion and heartbreak,
but it’s primarily about the importance of family, friends and second
chances. With no expected, elongated third act, everything is wrapped up
in a perfect fashion to deliver a thoroughly entertaining and thought
provoking film about getting out and doing something with your life,
even when everyone and everything seems to be against you.
Is
it a bad sign that the idea of a reality TV show about criminals racing
to the death does not seem as outlandish as it once might have? It is
not hard to believe that a significant number of people worldwide would
pay to watch something like that on their computer in the privacy of
their home. 
(4/5)
