The Friday News Roundup: The "Brrrrrr!" Edition
Happy Friday, Telly Visions
But, be brave anyway, and click on through for news about Luther, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Skins, The Hour, upcoming new dramas The Girl and Dancing on the Edge, and more!
Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch sidesteps questions about whether he’ll be re-doing Frankenstein here in America on Broadway. Someone make this happen, please.
In more Cumberbatch coverage, now that a UK airdate has been set, we’re staring to see some first interviews with the man himself about Sherlock Series 2. This one is courtesy of the BBC Press Office, so it’s pretty safe in terms of spoilers. More of these to come, I’m sure.
And, so as not to forget our fans who love any and all varieties of Sherlock Holmes, there’s a fun read in the Radio Times featuring “Ten Unusual Screen Sherlocks.” How many of these have you seen? And was there really something that existed called Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century? Is this available on DVD somewhere? Because I am rabidly curious now.
In other television news, Robert Webb confirms that Peep Show will return for Series 8.
The Only Way is Essex cast has a Christmas single. Why??
Ralph Fiennes declares himself “chuffed” to receive Richard Harris Prize at BIFAs.
Luther already set to return for a third series, now it seems a feature film adaptation is possible?
Latest comments from Steven Moffat indicate that the rumored Doctor Who feature film would not be a Hollywood reboot but a continuation/expansion of the existing series, though likely there will be a new Doctor in the TARDIS by the time the film gets made.
It also turns out Doctor Who is iTunes’ most-downloaded TV series of the year. Well done, Whovians!
Sienna Miller and Toby Jones will take on the obsessions of Alfred Hitchcock in BBC drama The Girl.
The Thick of It star Peter Capaldi joins the cast of The Hour for its second series. More on The Hour Series 2 can be found here.
Billboard names Adele their 2011 Artist of the Year.
The third series of Downton Abbey will have shorter episodes than the first two (60 minutes instead of 75), so that they can have fewer advertising breaks. Apparently, UK viewers complained about this during ITV’s airing of Series 2, when analysis suggests that 54 minutes of the 75-minute broadcast comprised the actual show itself, and the rest of the time was adverts and promos.
Downton creator Julian Fellowes is set to write a musical based on The Wind in the Willows.
In a bit of life imitating art, the House of Lords is being urged to end rules which deny most hereditary peerages to women. Lady Mary Crawley would doubtless be pleased.
Merlin’s Angel Coulby and Anthony Stewart Head join Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew Goode, Jacqueline Bisset and more in the cast of BBC Two’s new drama series Dancing on the Edge.
Here are the first rumors about potential storylines, etc. for Series 6 of Skins.
An amazing, amazing clip from the BBC’s Frozen Planet documentary, featuring a bizarre underwater icicle of death called a “brinicle”. I believe Discovery will be airing this in America at some point this spring, but I’ll see if I can’t confirm that.
Gavin and Stacey co-writer Ruth Jones confirms that the series will return to television eventually and says she’s interested in writing a musical for the stage!
