UK TV

Spiral (Engrenages) – season three. What’s happening?

Well, after a bit of investigation, I’ve tracked down what’s happening with season three of Engrenages (Spiral), which has just finished its BBC4 run.

So season three is going to be 12 episodes long and it’s been shot in and around Paris (particularly the 19th arrondissement, and inside the Palais de Justice and the Hôtel Dieu) in two blocks: 25th June to the 2nd October this year was the first block, with the second block running from 12th October to the 29th January next year.

As for the plot, it’s going to “delve into the deranged mind” of a serial killer, the Butcher of Villette, who kills and mutilates young girls. The show will look at the difficulty of dealing with a high-profile media crime, where even the slightest mistake can have terrible consequences (I’m translating here, in case you couldn’t guess).

Interestingly, the BBC is assisting with the show, at least financially, so that should mean BBC4 should be picking up the third season at some point. As for who’s coming back from the cast, we have Caroline Proust (Laure), Audrey Fleurot (Karlsson), Grégory Fitoussi (Clement), Philippe Duclos (Roban), Thierry Godard (Gilou) and Fred Bianconi (Fromentin), at least. No word on Samy, I’m afraid.

I’ve dropped a line to the Beeb about air dates and whether they’re going to show it and I’ll let you know if/when they get back to me.

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Preview: Misfits 1×1

Misfits

In the UK: Thursdays, 10pm, E4. Starts November 12

Stick around lads and lasses because this is a very special preview. Not only is there going to be a competition at the end of this, there’s also going to be the very first “not great quality” The Medium is Not Enough podcast involving me (and my not very dulcet tones), some other journalists and the creator of E4’s Misfits Howard Overman.

Anyway, there are two things British TV traditionally does very badly. One is youth shows. Usually, they’re embarrassing – witness more or less anything on BBC1, BBC2 and, ironically enough, especially BBC3 that’s aimed at “young people”. Okay, there’s E4’s Skins, but that’s a rare diamond in the rough of British TV.

The second is superhero shows. No Heroics, Phoo Action, My Hero: oh dear, oh dear, and can I just add, oh dear?

What’s this though? Light at the end of the tunnel?

Now, from E4, comes Misfits, in which ASBO kids on community service get struck by lightning and end up with super powers. It’s funny, clever and far more adult than a whole load of shows I could mention. Trailers now, review, competition and podcast after the jump.

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