BFI events

The BFI & Radio Times TV festival is back for 2020 and here are some of the highlights

It’s been every two years since 2015 until now, but this year, it seems to have gone annual since the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival is taking place on the Southbank in London between 17 and 19 April. And here are the highlights, according to the press release:

This year’s Festival will see Russell T Davies, Mary Berry and Gillian Anderson inducted into the Radio Times Hall of Fame, alongside events with comedy legend Ricky Gervais, breakout star of Derry Girls Nicola Coughlan, Sir Lenny Henry in conversation with Alan Yentob, star magician Dynamo, comedian Mo Gilligan, and the team behind The Mash Report including Nish Kumar.

There’s also events celebrating some of the UK’s most popular programmes, including: Last Tango in Halifax, Strictly Come Dancing, Hollyoaks (marking its 25th anniversary), Giri/Haji, Dracula, Grantchester, Killing Eve, Who Do You Think You Are? and World on Fire.

Exclusive previews of some of 2020’s most anticipated new dramas, including: series two of the critically acclaimed comedy-drama After Life created and starring Ricky Gervais who will attend the Festival; the team behind The Inbetweeners turn their hilarious gaze on the world of football in The First Team about the misadventures of three young football players; BBC Two’s adaption of Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel The Luminaries with stars Eve Hewson and Himesh Patel; new Sky Atlantic crime drama Gangs of London, from writer Gareth Evans (The Raid) and starring Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole; a sneak peek at the finale of Julian Fellowes’ prestigious new ITV drama Belgravia; and the new adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s hugely popular Alex Rider series.

The Festival also offers first looks at the much anticipate series three of Killing Eve; the international crime drama The Serpent starring Jenna Coleman; BBC One’s forthcoming adaption of David Nicholls’ bestselling novel Us, starring Tom Hollander, who will appear on stage alongside Nicholls.

The Festival will also reunite Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie for The Goodies at 50! with material from the BFI National Archiveas well as a session featuring a bespoke compilation of dazzling footage of the one and only Prince, also drawn from the BFI National Archive. The Festival will remember the legacy of Dave Allen, the doyen of 70s comedy, with a compilation event featuring clips from all the varied parts of his small-screen career.

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Peter Capaldi in Martin's Close
Today's Joanna Page

That was the TMINE UK TV Christmas that was

Behold! It is indeed a Christmas miracle. For on this yuletide past, TMINE did indeed watch some actual UK TV.

None of it live, of course, all on iPlayer and the like, but nevertheless, UK TV was viewed… and even enjoyed in some cases.

Nevertheless, TMINE is very predictable in its tastes so don’t be surprised when I tell you that one of the shows starred Joanna Page, one of the shows was A Ghost Story For Christmas, one was a horror show written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, one was a sci-fi show about a certain Time Lord/Lady, and one was a reboot of a classic TV show of the 70s.

Full reviews of all of those after the jump. In case you’re wondering, I did watch some other TV as well – all the Netflix shows I’ll be talking about later today while the remaining members of the regular viewing queue will be the subject of tomorrow’s discussions.

But first, watch the Queen like the good patriots you are. It is the afternoon, after all.

Continue reading “That was the TMINE UK TV Christmas that was”
Dracula
UK TV

Dracula’s billboard advertising is pretty interesting

I haven’t seen it yet – probably a job for tonight – but the BBC’s Dracula did at least have some interesting billboard advertising.

The question is – how many people saw it at night, rather than during the day? I can’t imagine it made much sense during daytime, so is it a nifty idea that only works on time-lapse YouTube videos and during awards seasons?

Poppy Montgomery in Reef Break
News

Reef Break cancelled; Christmas trailers galore; + more

Every weekday, TMINE brings you the latest TV news from around the world

UK TV

  • Trailer for BBC One’s Call The Midwife Christmas Special
  • Trailer for BBC One’s Dracula
  • Trailer for BBC One’s The Trial of Christine Keeler
  • Trailer for BBC Two’s Responsible Child
  • Trailer for Channel 4’s Deadwater Fell
  • Teaser trailer for series 2 of Sky One’s Bulletproof
  • Anjli Mohindra and Laura Fraser to guest on BBC One’s Doctor Who

US TV

US TV show casting

New US TV shows

New US TV show casting

  • Desmond Chiam and Miki Ishikawa join Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Peter Capaldi in Martin's Close
BFI events

What TV’s on at the BFI in December 2019? Including Dracula and Missing Believed Wiped

It’s Christmas!

Well, only in BFI calendar-land, which occupies its own time zone.

As usual, there’s an eclectic but truncated mix of shows, with Christmas typically removing not one week but three from most organisations’ ability to do any work. But there is some good stuff:

  • A preview of Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss’s Dracula, complete with Q&A with Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Dracula
  • A preview of this year’s Ghost Story for Christmas, complete with Q&A with Mark Gatiss. But not Dracula or Steven Moffat
  • A preview of Cinderella: After Ever After + Q&A with David Walliams. But not Mark Gatiss
  • A pantomime season featuring lots of TV pantomimes.
  • This year’s Missing Believed Wiped season.

That’s not bad, is it? What do you mean “Oh no it isn’t”?

Full details after the jump.

Continue reading “What TV’s on at the BFI in December 2019? Including Dracula and Missing Believed Wiped”