Events

Previews of forthcoming events and reviews of past events.

Edward Woodward as Callan
The Weekly Play

The Weekly Play: Callan – A Magnum For Schneider (1967)

4 March 2019 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

Just in case for some insane reason you don’t already have them on DVD, this is just a quick reminder that possibly the best TV programme ever made, Callan, is getting a very rare repeat, thanks (of course) to Talking Pictures. I think the last time it was repeated was on UK Gold in the early to mid 90s, so don’t expect it to come round again for another 20 years.

The action starts with the original Armchair Theatre production that launched it, A Magnum for Schneider, which coincidentally again is this week’s Weekly Play. It sees working class ex-spy David Callan (Edward Woodward) blackmailed by his former boss Colonel Hunter into returning to ‘the Section’, SIS’s dirty tricks department responsible for everything from extortion through to assassination. His task? The murder of the titular Schneider, a German businessman who may be more than he seems. But has Callan’s nerve gone? And if it has, will his former employers kill him?

It’s a brilliant, unshowy piece of work, with Woodward showing his star credentials from the outset. But Russell Hunter as his informant ‘Lonely’, Ronald Radd as Hunter and Peter Bowles as Callan’s posh fellow agent Meres are all stand-outs. In an era of spy escapism, Callan was a welcome bit of gritty, down at heel British drama.

After A Magnum for Schneider, Talking Pictures will continue airing the series proper with the show’s surviving black and white episodes (no, the BBC wasn’t the only broadcaster to wipe its archives from time to time), in which the marvellous Anthony Valentine took over from Bowles as Meres, and a legion of other great actors eventually took over, Number 2-style, from Radd as ‘Hunter’.

After that, we head into the colour Thames episodes, which thankfully still survive. If you miss it, you’ll be sorry!

UPDATE: Actually, checking Talking Pictures schedules, it looks like A Magnum For Schneider isn’t getting an airing, so it’s straight into the black and white episodes tonight with The Good Ones Are All Dead at 9pm. That means you should definitely watch this week’s Weekly Play!

Morven Christie
BAFTA events

What more TV’s on at BAFTA in March? Including The Bay

26 February 2019 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

Every Tuesday, TMINE flags up what new TV events BAFTA is holding around the UK

Only one addition to the March schedule this week, but it’s a Q&A. And in Glasgow! Sure, it’s an ITV show again, so surprise, surprise, is a crime drama. Remember the days when ITV made something other than period dramas, crime dramas and period crime dramas? I’m not sure I do any more.

TV Preview: The Bay + Q&A

Thursday, 14 March 2019 – 6:30pm
Everyman Cinema, Princes Square, Glasgow

New ITV original drama The Bay from award winning writer and playwright Daragh Carville (Being Human, The Smoke, Cherrybomb) and starring Morven Christie (The A Word, The Replacement).

When Detective Sergeant Lisa Armstrong is assigned to a missing persons investigation, at first it seems like any other – tragic, but all too familiar. As a Family Liaison Officer, she’s trained never to get emotionally involved. Her job is to support families during the worst time of their lives whilst also to be the eyes and ears of the police investigation; a cuckoo in the nest. But there’s something very different about this particular case. With horror Lisa realises she’s got a personal connection with this frightened family; one that could compromise her and the investigation. As she grapples to get justice for the grieving family, Lisa discovers it could come at a cost.

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with actor Morven Christie and Script Executive Sophie Bicknell. Networking drinks in partnership with STV take place in the Everyman bar afterwards.

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I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
BAFTA events

What TV’s on at BAFTA in March? Including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

19 February 2019 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Every week or so, TMINE flags up what new TV events BAFTA is holding around the UK

Finally! After weeks of additions to February’s line-up, BAFTA’s finally letting us know at least some of what it’s going to give us in March. There’s two events so far, both focused on behind the scenes.

I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

BAFTA Masterclass: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Monday, 11 March 2019 – 7:00pm
Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London

Hear from the team behind the BAFTA-winning programme who will share their insights on bringing the hit reality show to our screens.

On the back of their 18th season in the jungle, officially the most watched series in the show’s history, our I’m A Celebrity… panel will re-live some of their best moments. We’ll celebrate the craft of the show, from casting, to Bushtucker trials, to how the team keep the show fresh and inventive, offering you the inside track on the making of this much loved show. Full panel to be announced.

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Zai Bennett

Meet the Commissioners: Sky Channels

Friday, 15 March 2019 – 9:00am
David Lean Room, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN

An exclusive opportunity to hear from the commissioning team across Sky’s portfolio of channels on their programming priorities and plans for the year ahead.

The senior team at Sky, led by Director of Programmes Zai Bennett, will discuss their content plans and share their ‘wishlists’ across a host of genres – drama, entertainment, comedy, arts and children’s and their views on how to resonate with their audiences.

Sky’s investment and commitment to original programming is at an all-time high. The team will drill down into recent commissions, as well as look to the future and talk through their ambitions for the channels, covering how they like to work with producers and support and attract on and off screen talent.

Speakers:

  • Zai Bennett is Director of Programmes, Sky Entertainment UK and Ireland
  • Cameron Roach is Acting Head of Drama
  • Jon Montague, Head of Sky Comedy
  • Lucy Murphy, Head of Kids Content
  • Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Head of Entertainment and Arts Commissioning

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The Likely Lads
Events

What TV’s on at the Prince Charles Cinema in March? Including a celebration of the Likely Lads

13 February 2019 Rob Buckley Post a comment

The Prince Charles Cinema off Leicester Square is a nice little place for watching cult movies. TV? Not so much… until now, since as well as a showing of The Likely Lads movie, it’s showing two newly recovered episodes of the TV series and will be running a Q&A with the show’s creators, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

Tuesday 12 March

MORE THAN LIKELY : A CELEBRATION OF THE LIKELY LADS

The Likely Lads (1976)
Directed by Michael Tuchner
Starring James Bolam, Rodney Bewes
feat. Q&A with writers Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais
1976 / 1965 | 138mins | UK | rated (15)
Doors at 18:30 / Event Finishes approx 22:20

Spinning off from the BAFTA-winning 1970s sequel to the incredibly popular 1960s sitcom, James Bolam and Rodney Bewes star in this 1976 movie as Terry Collier and Bob Ferris, two life-long friends with vastly different outlooks on life. This feature presentation has been beautifully restored from original film elements.

And the night just gets better – for the very first time since they last aired over 50 years ago, we present two recently recovered episodes from the original BBC TV series:

A Star is Born: With one eye on a £25 prize and the other on Rhona the barmaid, Terry enters himself and Bob as a singing duo in a talent night at the local: but the lads can’t agree on the choice of song, or who gets first billing in the group name…

Far Away Places: The lads are contemplating their summer holiday, but lack of money is a problem: as is the choice of destination. Bob favours the continent, while Terry is all for tradition and can’t be persuaded to go abroad…

Then, to round off the evening, Likely Lads creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais will join us for a very special Q&A session.

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Derry Girls
BAFTA events

What (still yet more) TV’s on at BAFTA in February? Including Derry Girls

12 February 2019 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Every week or so, TMINE flags up what new TV events BAFTA is holding around the UK

February’s BAFTA bounty never seems to end. Still nothing for March, but after our previous five separate announcements for February, here’s a sixth. Amazing stuff.

TV Preview: Derry Girls

Thursday, 21 February 2019 – 6:45pm
Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN

A preview of the second series of the hit Channel 4 comedy by a Q+A with the creative team.

Derry Girls is the creation of acclaimed writer Lisa McGee and follows Erin (Saoirse Monica Jackson), Orla (Louisa Harland), Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) and James (Dylan Llewellyn) as they navigate their teens in Derry in the early 1990s.

It’s a time of armed police in armoured Land Rovers and British Army checkpoints. But it’s also the time of Murder She Wrote, The Cranberries, MJ and Lisa Marie, Doc Martens, bomber jackets, The X Files, Nirvana and Wayne’s World.

Commissioned for Channel 4 by Head of Comedy Fiona McDermott and Commissioning Editor Jack Bayles, Derry Girls is a commission for Hat Trick Productions and is a showcase of creative talent from Northern Ireland, entirely set and made locally.

We will be screening the first two episodes followed by a Q+A with writer Lisa McGee, cast Saoirse Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan and Dylan Llewellyn, and director Michael Lennox.

With thanks to Channel 4.

Tickets will be available to collect from reception.

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