BB FANS

Eddie Izzard - Long John Silver

Eddie Izzard is to appear as Long John Silver in a new Sky adaptation of Treasure Island.

He will play the infamous one-legged pirate in Sky1's new version of the 18th century tale by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Elaine Pyke, Sky One's head of drama, said Treasure Island would be "a hugely exciting, morally complex and compelling story of pirates, heroes, friendship and treachery".

Treasure Island will be shot in several exotic locations including Puerto Rico and Ireland with filming beginning next month.

The two-part, four-hour family drama will be shown during the Christmas period in 2012.



Sky Line-Up

Sky has confirmed details of its new line-up of entertainment channels from early 2011.

Sky said that the combination of Sky1, the newly re-branded SkyLiving and new channel, Sky Atlantic will ensure that customers have access to a wide range of high-quality content which will appeal to all ages and interests, spanning drama, entertainment, comedy and factual programming.

The three channels will appear side-by-side on the front page of Sky�s electronic programme guide (EPG). Sky1 will remain at 106, with Sky Living at 107 and Sky Atlantic at 108. All three channels will also be in high definition (HD) and a selection of their content will be available for customers to watch whenever they want through SkyAnytime+, Sky�s video-on-demand service.

SophieTurner Laing, MD of Entertainment, News and Broadcast Operations at Sky, said: �In Sky1, Sky Living and Sky Atlantic we have three outstanding channels which will sit loud and proud at the top of the EPG. Investment in stand-out content is at the heart of our strategy and we�re delighted to be able to offer customers so much choice and quality across our expanded entertainment line-up. Taken together, these channels will have real cut through. Quite simply, they will be channels worth paying for and will give even more customers reasons to choose pay TV.�

waveguide.co.uk

Farewell Jack Duckworth

Jack Duckworth was one of Coronation Street’s most popular characters and, as the nation prepares to say goodbye to him, a one-off special, on Wednesday November 10, pays tribute to one of the best loved figures in soap.

Bill Tarmey first stepped into the role in 1979 and went on to make the part iconic, establishing Jack as a work-shy, womanising, pigeon fancier and providing some of Coronation Street’s most memorable moments. Farewell Jack looks back at the character’s re-invention as Vince St Clair, the time he dressed up as a woman to join the ladies bowling team, and the moment when Vera served his beloved pigeons to him in the shape of a pie.

In this 30-minute documentary friends and Coronation Street colleagues pay tribute to the work of Bill Tarmey and the actor shares his memories from playing one of TV’s national treasures.



Take That Documentary

ITV1 is to screen a new programme documenting the reunion of Take That.

The fly-on-the-wall documentary charts the last 12 months following Robbie Williams' reconciliation with Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen.

It features the writing and recording of the new album Progress.

The programme - Take That: Look Back, Don't Stare - will be broadcast on ITV1 next month.



Elizabeth Hurley Documentary

Elizabeth Hurley has begun shooting an hour-long programme about her life for Sky Living HD.

The one-off documentary will follow the British actress over the last few months and up until the end of 2010 as she goes about her daily life.

Viewers will see Hurley get her hands dirty on her farm in Gloucestershire, playing with her son Damon, light up the Empire State Building in aid of Breast Cancer and house-hunt with husband Arun in India.

Speaking about the show, called Living with Elizabeth Hurley, she said: "I'm having a lot of fun shooting the show and my cows, pigs and sheep are all thrilled they're going to be on TV."

Sophie Wurzer-Williams, commissioning editors for Sky Living HD, said: "I am absolutely thrilled that Elizabeth is working with Sky Living HD, she is a huge star and this one-off special is a chance to have a sneak-peek at Elizabeth Hurley as you will never have seen her before."

The hour-long documentary will be screened in early 2011 on Sky Living HD.

waveguide.co.uk

David Tennant In BBC Drama

David Tennant is to star in a new BBC Two drama which brings to life the story of the Busby Babes and the air disaster which claimed many of their lives, it was announced today.

The Manchester United players became the youngest side to win the football league but the squad was ripped apart when eight perished in the Munich air crash in 1958.

The drama, United, will bring to life the disaster which virtually wiped out manager Matt Busby’s team and the battle to overcome the devastation.

Tennant – who recently starred in BBC One drama Single Father – will play coach Jimmy Murphy. Murphy was not involved in the fatal crash but helped to piece together the team as Busby recovered from his injuries.

The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade and had stopped to refuel in Munich. But the Ambassador prop-plane, operated by BEA, skidded off the runway on the third attempt to get airborne for the onward flight.

Half of the 44 passengers – including players, United staff, journalists, supporters and crew – were killed.

Actor Jack O’Connell, who has appeared in Skins, will play Bobby Charlton.

The actor playing Busby is yet to be named. Film-makers have drawn on first-hand accounts to piece the story together.

Peter Salmon, director of BBC North, said: “This was a tragedy that touched the lives of many people in Manchester both directly and indirectly.”

Executive producer Simon Heath said: “Chris Chibnall has written an authentic and moving version of this heartbreaking story, which with the help of a great cast, we hope will be a fitting tribute to those who survived and those who lost their lives at Munich.”

Despite the film being about Manchester United, the BBC said filming would begin later this month in the north east of England.

waveguide.co.uk

Major New BBC Drama

John Simm and Jim Broadbent have been cast in a new three-part drama created by Paul Abbott and written by Danny Brocklehurst for BBC One.

Exile is a psychological thriller that tells an intimate story of prodigal redemption. The serial follows Tom (Simm), who returns to his hometown to be reacquainted with his father (Broadbent), and uncover the truth behind what happened between them years before. But Tom's investigations lead him to expose a mind-blowing scandal, two decades old, that changes their lives forever.

Shaun Dooley, Timothy West and Claire Goose (Waking The Dead) will also star.

Filming begins today in Manchester on the 3 x 60-minute drama and will transmit next year on BBC One.

John Simm said: "Danny's written a great script, it's a wonderful cast, and I can't wait to start work."

Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, said: "Exile is a unique opportunity for the BBC to work with the brilliant Paul Abbott again. This intimate portrayal of a father and son's relationship played by John Simm and Jim Broadbent has been beautifully written by Danny Brocklehurst – a moving and shocking script that will be a real treat for BBC One viewers."




French Radio London

French Radio London Limited (FRL) is to launch in London this Wednesday on the London II DAB digital radio multiplex.

FRL will be the capital's first French language terrestrial broadcast station and is aimed primarily at London's 400,000 native French speakers. It is hoped it will also appeal to the huge Francophile community – 14 million British people visit France every year.

The format will be a lively, music-based mix to appeal to French music tastes, with exciting talk programmes and interviews on a wide range of topics.

FRL is the brainchild of experienced radio broadcast consultant Pascal Grierson, FRL's CEO, who said: "We look forward to broadcasting a unique French voice on London's airwaves.

"This is an exciting development for listeners as well as UK and French based commercial partners who will benefit from a dedicated platform to reach French-speaking London residents and the wider Francophile community. A bientôt sur la DAB!"

waveguide.co.uk

Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln': Could this be the most awards-laden cast ever?
by Adam B. Vary popwatch.ew.com

Jason Donovan's rocky ride from Ramsey Street

By Laura Davis Independent



War of the Worlds will tour in the UK from 2 December until 18 December

BBC Journalist Hanrahan Loses Cancer Battle

BBC journalist Brian Hanrahan has died at the age of 61 after a short battle with cancer.

He was best known for his coverage of the Falklands War and famously told the nation how he watched Harrier jets take off and "counted them all out, and I counted them all back".

Hanrahan worked in eastern Europe and as the BBC's Far East correspondent over the course of 20 years at the corporation.

Sky News

Geoffrey Hutchings dies aged 71

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Stage and screen actor Geoffrey Hutchings, most recently seen in ITV's Benidorm, has died at the age of 71.

Hutchings, who trained at Rada, saw his career stretch from Shakespearean theatre to popular TV dramas, including the BBC's Our Friends in the North.

His British films included John Cleese's Clockwise, Wish You Were Here and the adaptation of Bruce Chatwin's On The Black Hill. He later appeared in Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy.

Hutchings' TV appearances included roles in shows such as Brass, Holby City, Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and a stint in EastEnders.

BBC

You can tell everybody, this is our son:

Elton John becomes a father at 63

• Baby son born to surrogate mother in California
• Couple could face legal issues in UK over payment

Guardian

Boney M lead singer Bobby Farrell found dead in hotel room

Bobby Farrell, the lead singer of Boney M, the chart-topping 70s group, has died while on tour in Russia aged 61, his agent says.

John Seine says Farrell was found dead in his hotel room in St Petersburg today by hotel staff after he failed to respond to a wake-up call.

Seine said Farrell performed as scheduled on Wednesday night, but complained of breathing problems before and after his show.

He was leading a group called Bobby Farrell and Boney M, with three women back-up singers.

The original Boney M, which was based in Germany, disbanded in 1986 after scoring Europe-wide hits with "Daddy Cool" and "By the Rivers Of Babylon."

Farrell was born Alfonso Farrell in Aruba and lived in Amsterdam.

24dash

Just saw the news!
I had many a great night out dancing to this record...youtube

When we lived in Germany their records were much in demand. Somewhere in our collection of vinyl there will be a couple which I must find and convert to MP3. A sad loss

It sure was sad news Jim, and he was so young.