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BBC Revives The 39
Steps
John Buchan's classic thriller The 39 Steps is to be revived
in a one-off drama for BBC One.
The novel is being adapted for the screen by Lizzie Mickery,
whose writing credits include the BBC Messiah and one-off dramas Sinners and
Dirty War.
It will be produced on location in Scotland by the BBC's in-house drama
team.
Set in 1914 Britain, the novel centres on South African mining engineer
Richard Hannay as he is reluctantly caught up in a spy plot.
Producer Lynn Horsford said: "With this adaptation we wanted
to stay faithful to the spirit and period of the book, but asked the writer
Lizzie to feel free to re-imagine it for a modern audience more familiar
with James Bond and Jason Bourne.
"Buchan has crafted such a thrilling adventure that still stands the test of
time. The jeopardy is real and I can guarantee an edge-of-your-seat chase
movie, perfect for all the family to watch at Christmas."
17:11
August
20 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Search For
Vorderman Replacement
Channel 4 today confirmed it will launch a nationwide hunt
for a replacement for Carol Vorderman on Countdown.
Channel 4 said the talent search was open to all - men and women - with no
previous television experience necessary.
However, it added that the successful applicant must have "excellent numeric
and literacy skills" and "the charm and charisma" to appeal to viewers.
Helen Warner, Channel 4's head of daytime, said: "We realise that Carol's
shoes are extremely difficult ones to fill.
"However, just as we found Carol through an ad in a local paper, we really
hope we can do the same again and find another outstanding mathematical
mastermind."
The deadline for applications is September 19.
17:05
August
20 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Original
Reality TV Star Dies
The star of the first ever British reality TV show, which
gave a fly-on-the wall insight into the lives of a working-class family, has
died.
Margaret Sainsbury, who as Margaret Wilkins was the famous
matriarch in the 1974 documentary series The Family, collapsed at her home
in Berkshire. She is thought to have had a heart attack.
More than 10 million viewers watched the 12-part series
during which cameras followed the family in their flat above a greengrocers
shop in Reading.
The show featured the mother-of-four ruling the roost over
her husband Terry and children Gary, Marian, Heather and Chris.
Renowned documentary producer Paul Watson, who made the
series for the BBC, said that Margaret was an "extraordinary woman" and a
real TV star who hated modern reality shows such as Wife Swap and Big
Brother.
He said: "She was the head of a wonderful and interesting
family who taught the middle classes to reassess their lives and how they
viewed the so-called working class. She was brilliant."
Margaret divorced Terry a year after the series and married
second husband Albert Sainsbury who was by her side when she died.
Paul said: "She was a friend for life and when I had a stroke
four years ago she was on the phone every day. She was a pal. It is one of
the pluses in my life to have known her and the family."
16:30
August
20 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Regional Rail
Docs For BBC One
Pete Waterman and Edwina Currie are to look at the effects of the
closure of many of Britain's rural railways in the 1960s in a series of BBC
One regional programmes.
The Corporation has commissioned nine independent
producers to make half-hour documentaries exploring the impact of the
notorious Beeching Report of 1963 in their area.
Ten programmes will be screened simultaneously across ten
regions in a primetime slot in October.
Currie will front a programme for the South East and London, while railway
enthusiast Waterman will look at the East Midlands.
Meanwhile in a film for East Anglia, Coast presenter Nicholas Crane will
uncover an ambitious plan to put the railways on the map.
The programmes support the BBC Four season dedicated to Britain's steam
railways, The Golden Age of Steam.
00:06
August
20 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
I'm assuming that all these documentaries will be
available nationwide on iplayer.
I'd be interested to see the programme emanating from my
old stomping grounds in the early 60s.
Deke
...............................................................................................................
Bit hipocritical of Edwina to be on his show when her
government carried on the wholesale destruction of our railways which has
caused so many problems we have today
simon lewis
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