It’s not often, particularly with all the cutbacks major networks are going through, that some new studios are opened. But BBC Wales has just opened a really rather big complex in Upper Boat that’s dedicated to filming Doctor Who and Torchwood. Kudos guys!
UK TV
A new dawn breaks for announcer warnings
Warning: May contain scenes of violence
Warning: May contain strong language
Warning: Contains scenes of nudity
We’re all familiar with those kind of post-watershed caveats that TV announcers utter in those particularly concerned voices of theirs.
So what should we make of last night’s The F Word which contained these two particularly new and original warnings.
Warning: contains scenes of tail docking and castration
Warning: Gordon and Jonathan Ross are going to learn the best way to kill an eel
It’s as though someone at Channel 4 suddenly had an LSD flashback to the 60s. Suddenly, I’m looking forward to next week’s episode, just to see if they dream up something even stranger.
Warning: During this programme, Gordon Ramsay will use just the power of his mind to destroy all vegetarians within a range of 20 metres.
Warning: When the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars.
I’m not sure I can wait.
UK TV
And the role of John Simm will be played by… Brad Pitt
A while ago, I was wondering where State of Play 2 had got to. It’s somewhere. I know it is. And I want it bad.
It looks more likely that the Hollywood adaptation of State of Play is going to arrive first, though. Today’s big surprise is that Brad Pitt of all people is apparently interested in taking on John Simm’s original role.
According to Variety, “Pitt is also circling Universal’s ‘State of Play,’ the pricey Americanized adaptation of the acclaimed British miniseries. Matthew Carnahan is writing the script. Pitt is interested in playing a journalist and former campaign manager of a fast-rising politician who unravels a murder conspiracy involving his former boss.”
Just can’t see it myself. Still, Pitt is very much trying to be an actor these days. He was also the one who ensured that Se7en retained its original downbeat ending, saying he’d walk from the project if a happier one were tacked on. So, we can only hope that he brings his power to bear and delivers us a State of Play movie that we can all be proud of.
Assuming he ends up doing it, of course. You know how fickle these stars can be.
UK TV
I, Claudius repeats coming soon
If you like TV classics, they don’t get much more classic than I, Claudius. BBC Four is going to be airing the entire series, starting at 9pm on Saturday 5 August and broadcasting pretty much an episode a night until 17 August.
Don’t miss it: whenever anyone talks about declining standards and how TV just ain’t what it used to be, this is the kind of show they have in mind. You can view a trailer and find out more from BBC Four’s web page.
Armando Iannucci’s Time Trumpet coming soon
Armando Iannucci is pretty much a comedy genius. He’s been a writer, performer and producer on TV and radio, cranking out hits such as The Day Today, I’m Alan Partridge, Lionel Nimrod’s Inexplicable World, The Thick of It, Knowing Me, Knowing You, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, The Friday Night Armistice and, surprise, surprise, Armando Iannucci’s Charm Offensive.
Coming to our screens very soon (10pm on BBC2 next Thursday in fact) is Time Trumpet aka The Time Trumpet. The spiel from the Radio TImes goes like this:
Comedy series written by Armando Iannucci. Set 30 years in the future, it looks back at events today, speaking to older versions of current celebrities. Sixty-year-olds Ant and Dec talk about the day Charlotte Church vomited herself inside out. Plus the end of Blair, the rise and fall of David Cameron and a very old Tom Cruise. Also featuring Stewart Lee, Richard Ayoade, Matt Holness, Adam Buxton.
A 10-minute trailer has already aired and here it is for your enjoyment. Don’t forget to watch it!