Waterloo Road re-opens after fire

Waterloo Road, the setting for BBC One’s school based drama, opens for a new 20 episode term later this week following the devastating fire which gutted half the school at the end of the last series.

French cop show ‘Spiral’ gets UK DVD release

Acclaimed French crime drama Spiral gets a long-awaited UK DVD release courtesy of 2|Entertain. The 2005 drama first aired on Canal+ and has been showin in the UK by BBC Four where it won consistently good audience figures.

The gangster fixations of EastEnders

Tonight EastEnders decided to have yet another go at passing itself off as gang-based drama, as always seems to be the case the whole affair came across less The Long Good Friday and more Bullseye! (the 1990’s Caine/Moore film, not the Jim Bowen quiz).

Torchwood series three filming underway

Filming is now underway on the third series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood as the show prepares to make the jump to BBC One.

Despite the second 13-part series receiving strong viewing figures and good reviews the corporation has decided to cut the the new series to just five episodes which will air across a single week.

New Tricks back for sixth series

Cop show New Tricks which stars Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam as retired coppers investigating unsolved murders will be back for a sixth series, the BBC has announced.

The show, which also stars Amanda Redman, has been a ratings hit for the channel with the latest series peaking at 9.24 million viewers. According to BARB the drama has been the most watched programme on British TV for the weeks ending 13 July, 3 August and 10 August 2008.

Penry-Jones Stars in 39 Steps Remake

Spooks star Rupert Penry-Jones is to star in a new BBC One adaptation of John Buchan’s ‘The 39 Steps’.

The one-off drama, set in 1914, has been adapted by Lizzie Mickery who has been asked to “to re-imagine it for a modern audience more familiar with James Bond and Jason Bourne“ by producer Lynn Horsford.

Enter The Wrong Door With BBC Three

BBC Three is promising to take viewers into a parallel universe governed not by the laws of nature, but by the laws of comedy and where the special effects of Hollywood are a part of everyday life. Produced by BBC Vision, The Wrong Door includes a feast of celebrity cameos including appearances by Brian Blessed, Dom Joly and Dr Fox and boasts unimaginable locations and impossible visual effects.

The Woes of Robin Hood and Bonekickers

The spectacle of the BBC’s trying to create any sense of excitement out of the news that Jonas Armstrong is leaving their dire ‘remake’ of Robin Hood is embarrassing. Never has an ‘action hero’ been less inspiringly written and directed than here. A role like this needs charisma and presence and Armstrong lacks both in sufficient quantity. As for the Merry Men, has there ever been such a third rate cast assembled for a prime time series?