The Friday News Roundup: Friday the 13th Edition
Click through for lots of interesting goodies – including quite a bit of Downton Abbey coverage, along with Sherlock, Doctor Who, The Hour, The Inbetweeners, Ripper Street, The Only Way is Essex, Antony and Cleopatra, and more!
As it was probably to be expected, the US premiere of Downton Abbey has brought a surge of Downton-related interviews, features and interesting tidbits from all corners of the internet. Some highlights:
- Downton’s “hand-me-down” costumes – where you might have seen some of those dresses before.
- How have Downton’s costumes influenced modern day fashion? Check out this photo gallery from The Washington Post.
- Elizabeth McGovern interview that’s worth reading.
- Publishers and booksellers seek to capitalize on America’s newfound love affair with Edwardian drama.
- A report on the excellent ratings for Downton’s first night back in the States.
- Slightly odd, but strangely interesting read – why liberals love Downton Abbey.
- But probably the most awesome Downton-related thing you will see this week is this: Downton AbBeyonce, featuring Downton scenes retold through Beyonce/Destiny’s child lyrics. Yes, clearly this series has officially “arrived” in America!
Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch does a tremendously charming Q&A with The Guardian.
More in Cumberbatch news – wow – this story in the Telegraph about how he survived a kidnapping attempt while filming the period drama The Ends of the Earth in 2004 is pretty amazing. And, courtesy of some awesome fan in the comments to that piece, apparently Cumberbatch himself wrote about this event for the Prince’s Trust at some point, and it’s a very good read.
The flat that stands in for 221b Baker Street in Sherlock is up for rent! It’s not weird that I kind of want to live in it, is it?
Sir Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid lead the cast of new romantic comedy series Antony and Cleopatra.
20 fabulous Doctor Who parodies, including The Muppets, The Little Prince, Toy Story, The Simpsons, Adventuretime, Dr. Seuss and more.
Karen Gillan talks about her Doctor Who future during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
Rumors of classic monsters returning to Doctor Who in the new series.
This isn’t even news, it’s just awesome: Doctor Who composer Murray Gold playing the “I’m the Doctor” theme on the piano.
io9 profiles Caroline Skinner, producer of The Fades who is now the new executive producer for Doctor Who with the departures of Piers Wegner and Beth Willis.
Top Ten Songs About London Streets. Bowie’s “Maid of Bond Street” is my pick here, but, a neat compilation!
Abi Morgan talks the second series of The Hour.
Happy 30th birthday to the Duchess of Cambridge!
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announces her country’s intention to cut ties with the British monarchy. (Queen Elizabeth is their head of state.)
The Inbetweeners movie is actually going to get an American cinema release!
The BBC is set to adapt popular novelist Philippa Gregory’s historical novels about the War of the Roses for television. Well, at least this has to be better than that dreadful The Other Boleyn Girl film!
Radio 3 will premiere a recently discovered piano composition by Johannes Brahms.
Kate Winslet to star in Kenneth Branagh’s latest directorial effort, an adaptation of the novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson: Offending People ‘Round the World. Now apparently he’s upset the entire nation of India.
Maria Fowler and Harry Derbridge are both also out of The Only Way is Essex.
Matthew Macfadyen has been cast as the lead in the new BBC drama Ripper Street. Yes, please!
