It's Friday - Must Be News Roundup Time!
Happy Friday, everyone! That means it’s time for our weekly News Roundup post, where we fill you in on all things interesting in British entertainment. It’s also 11/11/11, so let’s just pretend that there’s a creative Doctor Who joke inserted here somewhere. (I was trying to come up with puns on “The Eleventh Hour” that were actually funny all morning, with no luck. Alas.)
But, before we jump into that, a quick heads-up for our Eastenders fans. Every week we repeat Friday’s Eastenders episodes on Saturday mornings. Due to the special programming marathon airing for Veterans Day today, we won’t be visiting Albert Square this afternoon. However, the Saturday repeats tomorrow will go on as scheduled. So, if you must have your Eastenders fix as soon as possible, we’ve got you covered! However, we’ll also be airing a four-episode block next Friday, to make up for the preemption today. Let us know if you’ve got any questions on this programming shift, and we’ll sort you.
Now, go ahead and click through for news on Remembrance Day observations, Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, The Only Way is Essex, Absolutely Fabulous and more!
More on Remembrance Day… as you spend today reflecting in whatever way suits your fancy, it’s worth taking a look at these truly gorgeous and haunting photos of World War I battlefields from the Mail. Also worth a look is the beautiful Remembrance Day Poppy Installation at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where 5,000 poppies are scattered under the cathedral dome, to honor child soldiers.
Are you a big Doctor Who fan? Find out how you can appear in a new BBC America special – the “Best of the Christmas Specials.”
This is not only the coolest thing I’ve seen all day, but probably all week: a necklace made in the style of Fourth Doctor Tom Baker’s scarf.
Comedic-drama A Song for Marion, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Eccleston, and Gemma Arterton looks like it will get an American release from the Weinstein Company.
The Evening Standard Theater Awards nominations have been announced and Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch will be facing off against Jonny Lee Miller for Best Actor for the same role, in the same production. The actors alternated the roles of Doctor Victor Frankenstein and the Creature in the National Theatre’s production of Frankenstein.
We mentioned before when NBC’s Community debuted their hilarious Doctor Who parody called Inspector Spacetime. Well, hurrah, they made another one! (The “Blogons” are just fantastic.)
Over 10.5 million people tuned in to the second series finale of Downton Abbey last Sunday, the highest overnight ratings to date for the ITV drama. No wonder they’re doing Series 3!
And speaking of Downton Series 3 – Dame Judi Dench herself is apparently quite enamored of the costume drama. Might she be angling to join her old friend Dame Maggie Smith on the show?
The new series of Upstairs Downstairs is filming at Newport’s Tredegar House.
Much talked about reality series The Only Way is Essex, about a group of party promoters, club managers, beauticians and “models” in southwestern Essex county, is now available on Hulu. While this is not perhaps my ideal example of alternative programming methods to watch UK programming – I must say I’m so pleased this seems to be becoming a thing now. (See also: Misfits, Skins)
Sweetie Darling! Jennifer Saunders says she is planning to write an Absolutely Fabulous movie! Apparently she’s planning to pen the script next year when she’s done with that Viva Forever Spice Girls musical. (No comment.)
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes is set to start filming yet another remake of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet next year. True Grit’s Hailee Steinfeld stars, alongside Burberry model Douglas Booth and Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick.
And there’s more casting news from new Bond movie Skyfall – The Hour star Ben Whishaw will be joining the production. Also announced as taking part are Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies) and Ola Rapace from Wallander.
