Revolting Comedy For CBBC

Sunday, 9 September 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
An upcoming science-based CBBC sitcom featuring a time-traveller from the future promises to be truly revolting.

The new 13-part show, entitled The Revolting World of Stanley Brown, centres on the exploits of 13-year-old Stanley, played by Dean Chapman, as he shares his insatiable curiosity about everything around him with time-traveller Archie (Sy Thomas) - who happens to be his great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson.

Archie has travelled back from the future to spend some time with his hero forefather, using technology destined to be invented by ideas initiated by Stanley and his descendants.

According to Archie and his sentient, mobile, super-computer, Olivia (Open Link Infinitely Variable Interactive Apparatus), Stanley's brilliant insights are what make him special – his curiosity, his ability to make connections, to experiment, evaluate, and persist in finding a solution where other people would give up.

In fact, according to Archie, Stanley Brown was the first in a line of geniuses who kick-started loads of incredible advancements and inventions for future generations. Archie has arrived to witness first-hand, observe, and learn from the brilliant Stanley Brown… as well as coming to have some fun.

Unfortunately, no-one but Stanley can see or hear Archie so there's no one but Archie who seems to understand or care what an amazing mind Stanley has. At the moment, nobody shares Archie's belief in Stanley – certainly not his mum or sister Steph, who both wish Stan was a little more "average" and a lot less trouble.

Archie uses reality-bending powers to show us the unseen world around us in microscopic detail, covering a broad spectrum of content from human biology to physics via explosive chemistry and gory zoology. Together, the two of them open our eyes to the wonders of science – but often misjudge the impact of their experiments, as an explosion of science, comedy, and chaos unfolds.

Archie's arrival may make Stanley's life a lot more complex but it's a lot more fun too – even if he still has to cope with his mum's constant cleaning, as well as Jess the street-smart and confrontational girl next door, and having to look out for his accident-prone friend Mike. Stanley Brown has a lot on his plate, but if anyone can cope with the arrival of a back-packing time-travelling tourist, Stanley can!

Other characters to feature in the series are Daisy (Steph's best friend) and Daniel (Jess's older brother).

Former Sarah Jane Adventures actress Juliet Cowan plays Stanley's mum, Amanda.

The series - written by Tony Cooke, Katie Douglas, Ed Weeks, Hannah Mackay, Mark Oswin, James Griffiths, Caimh McDonnell, George Sawyer, Sarah Morgan, Ben Ward, and A J Jones - is due to start on Friday 21st September at 5.30pm, airing weekly. It is produced by Caroline Clark and directed by David Sant and Dez McCarthy.

1: Snot
2: Gut Instinct
3: Pain
4: Night of the Living Virus
5: Spider
6: Stanley The Time-Waster
7: Stonecold Stanley
8: Scab Hunters
9: Smells Like Teen Spirit
10: Lovebug
11: Wax
12: Hiccupalypse
13: Archie Gets Busted (Series finale compilation episode)

Promotional pictures have been released by the BBC, seen below.





FILTER: - CBBC - Comedy - The Revolting World of Stanley Brown

Wolfblood Storylines Released

Saturday, 1 September 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The BBC has released storyline details for the first four episodes of CBBC's new fantasy action drama Wolfblood.

The show stars Aimee Kelly as Maddy Smith and Bobby Lockwood as Rhydian Morris, pictured, who are both secretly part of a mysterious race known as wolfbloods.

Appearing in the 13-part series as Maddy's best friends Shannon and Tom are Louisa Connolly-Burnham and Kedar Williams-Stirling. Also in the show are Jonathan Raggett (Jimi - previously spelled "Jimmy" in BBC information) and Gabrielle Green (Katrina).

Trailers and a teaser are available to view on the programme's CBBC page. Please note, however, that because of licensing restrictions they might not play outside the UK.

The trailers state that the show will air on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5.15pm on the CBBC channel, with the page adding that the show starts on Monday 10th September.

Maddy and Rhydian meet for the first time. Maddy has been living in Stoneybridge for years with her wolfblood family. She's been taught to conceal her special abilities and keep her family's secret, even locking her parents in the cellar on the full moon.

Rhydian is a foster kid, and until he starts at Maddy's school has never met another wolfblood and thought he was the only one. He's wary of Maddy and she's fearful of him. Not realising that he has been fostered, she thinks his family are invading her territory. When she finds out the truth she tries to explain their heritage to him, but is still worried he will give them all away.

Maddy has kept her wolfblood secret from her best friends Tom and Shannon her whole life, which makes things difficult when Shannon becomes obsessed with the idea there is a beast on the moors, not realising it's likely to be Maddy's mum or dad!

Maddy's mum worries that Rhydian is growing up in care with no wolfblood support, and invites him round for dinner so they can tell him more about his heritage and how he can blend into human society. But the dinner doesn't quite go as she hoped - he is shocked to learn that they are locked up each full moon and thinks it's restrictive and unnatural. Not only that, Maddy learns for the first time that there are wolfbloods living in the wild who are dangerous, hating both humans and "tame wolfbloods".

Meanwhile, Shannon thinks she finally has proof of the "beast on the moors". She has a photo of a wolf and puts up posters of it all around the school. When her proof mysteriously goes missing Shannon is distraught and the laughing stock of the school so she goes on a mission to get a new photo. After her parents' revelation Maddy suddenly realises she is in terrible danger, as the wolf in the photo is a wild wolfblood.

Today is the school art exhibition and everyone has drawn pictures on the theme of family. Rhydian's is a picture of a lonely boy, with silhouettes of parents in the distant background. When the families arrive though, it's obvious that lots of kids have problems with their parents, including Tom's dad, who doesn't turn up, and Jimi's dad, who ignores his artwork.

Overnight, the exhibition is trashed, pictures are ripped, and Katrina's mum's jacket, which she brought in as her project, has been ruined - and she didn't know she'd borrowed it!) Jimi spreads rumours that it was Rhydian, so Maddy, Shannon, and Tom go on the hunt for the real vandal. Who has a grudge against Rhydian?

Maddy's first change is rapidly approaching, as are her exams, which isn't a great combination! Keeping her secret is becoming more and more difficult, especially when it causes her to break promises to her friends and be short-tempered with them.

Under extreme pressure in the first exam, the stress gets too much for Maddy and she starts to transform. Rhydian senses this and causes a distraction by breaking the fire alarm, which only makes the situation with Shannon and Tom even worse.





FILTER: - CBBC

Wolfblood Images Released

Thursday, 30 August 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
A number of images from the first two episodes of the forthcoming 13-part CBBC fantasy action drama series Wolfblood have been released by the BBC.

The show is about two seemingly ordinary teenagers - Maddy Smith, played by Aimee Kelly, and Rhydian Morris (Bobby Lockwood) - who are secretly part of a mysterious race known as wolfbloods, which have lived among humans for centuries, disguising their abilities and blending in.

Also appearing in the series are Louisa Connolly-Burnham (Shannon), Kedar Williams-Stirling (Tom), Marcus Garvey (Daniel), Angela Lonsdale (Emma), Nahom Kassa (Sam), Jonathan Raggett (Jimmy), Niek Versteeg (Liam), Shorelle Hepkin (Kay), Gabrielle Green (Katrina), Rachel Teate (Kara), and Bill Fellows (Bernie).

Episode 1 is due to be broadcast on Monday 10th September and episode 2 on Tuesday 11th September. The times are unconfirmed as yet.








FILTER: - CBBC

Wolfblood Coming To CBBC

Monday, 27 August 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
New children's fantasy action drama series Wolfblood is set to start on CBBC next month.

It tells the story of two seemingly ordinary teenagers who are secretly part of a mysterious race - wolfbloods - who have lived among humans for centuries, disguising their abilities and blending in.

Maddy Smith (Aimee Kelly) is keeping a secret - one so important she can't even tell her best friends Shannon (Louisa Connolly-Burnham) and Tom (Kedar Williams-Stirling) as it could put her whole family in danger.

Maddy is faster and stronger than she appears, she can hear ultrasound, see in the dark, and track a scent from a mile away. It does have its benefits, as the school bullies can't hide their mean tricks from her, but it also has its problems, for example when she has to wear wellies to school because her mum ate her plimsolls.

Living the life of an ordinary teenager is difficult anyway, and having to lock your parents in the cellar when they change on the full moon certainly doesn't help, but she's managing fine until the mysterious Rhydian Morris (Bobby Lockwood) turns up.

Rhydian is a foster kid – the dangerous new boy in class who also hides a secret: he too is a wolfblood. Growing up in care means he knows nothing of other wolfbloods or how to deal with the changes he undergoes. He offers Maddy excitement and adventure, using his powers rather than hiding them. Maddy immediately knows he's a wolfblood, but if he's not careful, soon will everyone else.

Wolfblood follows the tense relationship of Maddy and Rhydian, pictured, as they make their way through the trials and tribulations of high school, rivalries, friendship, and heartbreak – all the normal pains of growing up, just with added wolf powers and the constant danger of discovery. They have to try to cope with Shannon's obsessive belief that there is a "Beast on the Moors", while coming to terms with their amazing abilities and struggling to control them.

The series is produced by Foz Allan and executive-produced by Gina Cronk. The directors are Will Sinclair and Declan O'Dwyer. The music is composed by Andy Price with a title song sung by Lisa Knapp. The series has been designed by Cat Meredith, with visual effects by Munich-based Trixter, and has been shot entirely on location in the north-east of England.

Earlier this year, Cronk said:
We were looking for a rural location to film the series. The Charles Thorp comprehensive school, Hookergate Campus at Rowlands Gill is perfect. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and near the extraordinary village of Blanchlands. We knew it would work brilliantly on screen. We've filmed in the north-east many times, including most recently for the Tracy Beaker Returns series, and it's great to be back.

CBBC Controller Damian Kavanagh, who commissioned the programme, said:
We’re always looking for programmes which bring something new to the channel for our audience to enjoy, and Wolfblood is a really exciting concept and one I believe will capture the imagination of our viewers. CBBC has always had a strong record of producing acclaimed children's dramas and with such a strong team working on this show I can't wait to see the end result.

The show was created by Debbie Moon and is a co-production between CBBC and ZDF/ZDFE.

The first two episodes of the 13-part series are currently unplaced in the schedules for the week beginning Saturday 8th September.




FILTER: - CBBC

The Thick Of It Back On 8th September

Saturday, 25 August 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The award-winning political comedy The Thick Of It returns to TV screens in the UK on Saturday 8th September for a seven-part series.

Previously described by creator Armando Iannucci as a cross between Yes Minister and The Larry Sanders Show, the satire, starring Peter Capaldi as foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (pictured), will be on BBC Two at 9.45pm for the start of its fourth series.

The show is set to feature government embarrassments, ministerial mistakes, Coalition rows, backroom deals, policy U-turns, spin-doctoring, political back-stabbing, wild media speculation - and more time spent with one's family.

Roger Allam is back as MP Peter Mannion, the new Secretary of State for The Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship (DoSAC), supported by his team of special advisers who are headed by Number 10's Director of Communications Stewart Pearson (Vincent Franklin), and thwarted by his new Coalition partner, DOSAC's Junior Minister Fergus Williams MP (Geoffrey Streatfeild).

Also returning is MP Nicola Murray, played by Rebecca Front. Both she and Tucker are now consigned to Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition but are still desperately hoping for a return to power. Front and Capaldi won BAFTAs for their roles at the 2010 awards, with the show also being named Best Situation Comedy.

The ensemble cast is completed by Chris Addison, Joanna Scanlan, James Smith, Olivia Poulet, Will Smith, Ben Willbond, and Rebecca Gethings.

Tensions are running high in DoSAC. It is launch day for "Silicon Playgrounds", the Coalition's new digital youth policy masterminded by Junior Minister Fergus Williams. Number 10's spin doctor Stewart Pearson delivers the bombshell that the PM wants digital-illiterate Peter Mannion to launch the policy, rather than Fergus. What could possibly go wrong with that? All Fergus gets left with is drawing up the list of staff redundancies, and Terri Coverley [Joanna Scanlan] is pretty sure she can make his hit list if she plays her cards right, finding help from an unexpected direction.

The Thick Of It
began life on BBC Four in 2005, and a feature film spin-off, In The Loop, was released in the UK in April 2009. As well as the four series there have also been two TV specials, which aired in 2007.

A US remake of The Thick Of It, announced in October 2006, didn't get beyond a pilot episode, despite networks such as ABC, HBO, Showtime, and NBC having originally expressed an interest in the series. In 2009, Iannucci entered into fresh talks with HBO over the possibility of an American adaptation and since then the series Veep, although not a direct spin-off, has been written, directed, and produced by Iannucci for HBO.




FILTER: - Comedy - BBC Two

Sherlock Series 3: Teaser words

Friday, 24 August 2012 - Reported by Harry Ward
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss today revealed the three "tease" words for Series three of Sherlock at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Moffat tweeted: "So. The three tease words for the next run of Sherlock ... Rat. Wedding. Bow.". Gatiss had early jokingly posted false teaser words to his Twitter account: "Off to Edinburgh for #Sherlock event at the TV festival. I'm revealing the 'three words' for S3 early. Pipe. Slippers. Bed. There you go."

The three words for series two were "Woman. Hound. Fall". The "Woman" referred to the character of Irene Adler. "Hound" was The Hounds of Baskerville and the "Fall" was The Reichenbach Fall.

The YouTube channel for the festival released a video of highlights from the Sherlock event.




FILTER: - BBC - Sherlock