BBC announce 5 new dramas

Richard Dower

http://www.spoilertv.com/2012/01/five-new-bbc-dramas-announced.html

Adaptations of books by Philippa Gregory and James Herbert are among five new drama commissions announced by the BBC today.

BBC controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson and BBC1 controller Danny Cohen have ordered a serial called War of the Roses, which is based on Gregory’s series of books The Cousins’ War, and The Secret Of Crickley Hall, a three-part drama based on the novel of the same name by Herbert.

Emma Frost is adapting Gregory’s books, while Joe Ahearne is adapting and directing The Secret of Crickley Hall.

Stephenson and Cohen have also commissioned The Moonstone, a three-part adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ book written by Ed Whitmore, and Truckers, a six-part series written by William Ivory.

Finally, Room on the Broom is a 30-minute drama for Christmas made by Magic Light Pictures, which also made The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.

Stephenson also announced today that Death In Paradise is to return for a second series and that Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire, Nicola Walker and Ronni Ancona will star in Sally Wainwright’s new series Antony And Cleopatra.

He also revealed Hayley Atwell has been cast in the lead role of Restless and that Denis Lawson is to join the cast of the BBC drama New Tricks.

brian_t

I rather enjoyed the first season of Death in Paradise and I'm glad to see New Tricks is still going strong. I suppose Luck will be kind the US equivalent of it.

While Luck flies in the face of modern television wisdom – in addition to having what must be the oldest cast on television, it also has barely any female roles – Milch's decision to gamble on experience pays off in interesting, and often unexpected, ways.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-old-favourites-who-keep-on-riding-their-luck-6283847.html

pinkypinky

Delighted to hear Death in Paradise is coming back - I really enjoyed it. Good scripts are everything.

Basq

Nothing about The Fades..

.. me sad!

expectationlost

i wish the bbc would try longer dramas