The Friday News Roundup: Slow News Week Edition
Is it just me, or has most of the internet apparently taken the week off for Spring Break? Very slow news week around the world of British entertainment, but there are still some good tidbits to share. If you’ve seen something newsworthy that didn’t make this list, leave us a comment!
On to the Roundup for this week! Downton Abbey fans will be particularly interested, as the first storyline hints for Series 3 have started to surface, but click through for bits and bobs about Doctor Who, Titanic, Sherlock, The Fades, Doc Martin, Derek, Spies of Warsaw and more!
The Telegraph pulled off a great April Fool’s Day joke when it ran a story last weekend that Simon Cowell was doing a cameo in Downton Abbey.
There’s a good piece in CNN about the increasing trend of American networks remaking British series, as well as the current popularity of UK programming in the US right now.
Here comes the nitpicking: Fans and historians pick out inaccuracies in Julian Fellowes new mini-series Titanic.
Unfortunately, Titanic seems to be having a bit of a ratings problem in the UK.
Great feature and interview in The Telegraph with Doc Martin’s Martin Clunes.
Very funny: An American’s Guide to Being British by Morgan Spurlock.
Sherlock is nominated for Best TV Drama at this year’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards.
Google + launches its first TV spot in the UK and I think you’ll all recognize the voice that’s reading Shakespeare in the background… (Swoon!)
Danny Boyle is set to direct a James Bond short film to open the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Speaking of Bond, current 007 Daniel Craig has said that he will keep playing the super spy “until they tell me to stop.”
Game of Thrones star Sean Bean apparently only person who doesn’t like Downton Abbey.
Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery is on the cover of the TV issue of Vanity Fair with Homeland's Clarie Danes, Modern Family's Sofia Vergara and The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies.
Interesting article about whether it’s time for a female Doctor on Doctor Who.
Sherlock co-creator (and actor) Mark Gatiss dismisses rumors that they had to reshoot the series’ pilot because the original was “rubbish.” (I’ve seen it – I’m sure many of you have, it’s really not.)
Get some teasers and tidbits on Downton Abbey Series 3 from Masterpiece producer Rebecca Eaton. This coverage is somewhat spoilery, so avoid if you don’t want to know anything at all about the upcoming season. More on this topic from The Huffington Post and The Hollywood Reporter.
UK network Sky is set to make a “multi-million pound investment” in commissioning more feature-length British movies for television.
Tenth Doctor David Tennant is set to star in upcoming BBC drama The Spies of Warsaw.
Dislike this news: BBC Three has announced that (awesome) supernatural drama The Fades will not be returning for a second season.
Preview Ricky Gervais’ new comedy, simply called Derek.
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell to get her own reality show. (Why?)
First look at Ray Winstone in the trailer for the big screen adaptation of The Sweeney.
Not news, really, but, still - beautiful pictures of spring flowers from all around London.
Awards website Gold Derby discusses the television shows likely to be up for BAFTAs this year - and explains some of the recent rule changes in the drama categories.
BBC America is set to air the 158th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race live from the River Thames tomorrow (April 7) at 8:45 am.
Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat talks about plans to film Doctor Who in New York.
In more Who news, the Daily Mail has some behind the scenes shots of stars Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill filming in Cardiff.
A headsup for DC area readers who may have missed this post – this summer the National Theatre is presenting encore screenings in cinemas of Danny Boyle’s amazing 2011 production of Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. DC dates have been set, and it’s August, at the Shakespeare Theatre’s Sidney Harman Hall. Well worth seeing, if you missed it the first time ‘round.
