The Friday News Roundup: We're Back Again Edition
Anyway, all is back to normal again and my life is sadly Cumberbatch-free once more except for my TV on Sunday nights, so let’s get back into what really matters, which is all the interesting bits and bobs from the world of British entertainment in the past couple weeks. Click through for tidbits about Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Parade’s End, Call the Midwife, Doctor Who, Top Gear, Rev and loads more.
Here are some more photos from Downton Abbey Series 3 filming.
The Daily Mail a nice feature and some photos I hadn’t seen before from upcoming WWI drama Parade’s End with Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall.
Merlin exec Julian Murphy confirms that the show’s in talks for sixth series. (Filming on Series 5 is currently underway.) The Merlin powers that be also weighed in on the future for Gwen, Morgana and Merlin himself. (Little spoilery but not really.)
Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat talks about writing out current Companions Amy and Rory. He also did a really excellent interview with NPR last week.
Moffat also said that Sherlock should remain “event television” and stay at three episodes per series. (My whole brain is crying, by the way.)
Sherlock won Best Drama at the South Bank Awards.
In more Sherlock news: there has been a veritable embarrassment of riches the past week in terms of fantastic Benedict Cumberbatch interviews. My favorites include: this wonderful interview with Metro New York, this chat with IndieWire, this one with NPR, this one in the New York Times, and this hilarious appearance with MTV, where he has to talk about fanfiction. Oh, and this one from the New York Post is also excellent.
Readers of The Sun also voted the Sherlock star “The Sun’s Sexiest Man.”
A little closer to home: the Washington Post hilariously-on-purpose misspelled Cumberbatch’s name as Bandersnatch Cummerbund. Cue the internet firestorm.
This is really kind of amazing: Prince Charles does the weather forecast for BBC Scotland.
More from the world of Downton: star Hugh Bonneville talks about the torrential rains that have been hampering filming on Series 3.
Want to catch one of the encore screenings of Danny Boyle’s award-winning Frankenstein with its equally award-winning stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller? Find a venue near you. (This bit is not newsworthy, but: I’m going to one of the DC ones in August, if any of you lot would like to say hi during.)
Jonny Lee Miller defends CBS’ upcoming American Sherlock Holmes atrocity adaptation Elementary.
The BBC is planning a Christmas special for ratings behemoth Call the Midwife, will challenge Downton Abbey for holiday ratings crown.
Bad news for Top Gear fans – no new episodes until 2013.
Collider.com talks with Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton about Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Endeavor and more.
Awesome: The Top 50 Most Beautiful British Insults.
BBC Two’s Rev looks likely to return for a third series.
An interesting read on Doctor Who, the Companions, and some recent Steven Moffat comments about what sorts of people would travel with the Doctor.
More details on upcoming BBC thriller Mayday.
Doc Martin’s Martin Clunes is set to star opposite Hermione Norris in ITV1 drama A Mother’s Son.
Heartbroken: The Inbetweeners will not return, says star James Buckley.
The BBC has commissioned several new programs including a new Three Musketeers drama called The Musketeers, an adaptation of the 1938 Alfred Hitchcock film The Lady Vanishes slated to air this Christmas, and a supernatural zombie drama for BBC Three.
For some reason that will never be understood, people keep giving television series to stars from The Only Way is Essex.
Primeval star Douglas Henshall is set to star in BBC One’s two-part crime thriller Shetland.
The Atlantic says “Americans Can’t Get Enough British TV.” To which I say, duh, and where have you been?
So, this happened. Dalek impersonator wows judges on Britain’s Got Talent.
Penelope Wilton talks The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, unhappy marriages and Downton Abbey spoofs.
Skyfall director Sam Mendes compares James Bond’s longevity to the Doctor in Doctor Who.
More in movie news – click if you want to know the (presumed, not officially confirmed) identity of the villain that Benedict Cumberbatch is playing in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel.
Brendan Coyle talks about his new Sky1 comedy-drama Starlings. Coyle also did a nice new interview with the Telegraph about his new show and talked a bit about Downton, too.
Another cast member is apparently not returning for Series 4 of Misfits. I am heartbroken about this one – that was my favorite!
Outnumbered’s Claire Skinner is set to star in ITV’s Homefront.
Friday Night Dinner and Black Mirror both won top honors in the comedy and sitcom categories at the Rose d’Or Television festival awards.
