|
BBC To Sue
Over Dance Show
BBC Worldwide is suing an Italian television network owned by
Silvio Berlusconi over claims that it has copied Strictly Come Dancing.
A hearing is due to take place on Friday about a new show called Baila!,
which is set to debut on Mediaset's Canale 5 later this month.
BBC Worldwide contends it copies Strictly's concept, but Mediaset has denied
the accusations.
In a statement Mediaset said: "This is perhaps the first time in the
history of television that an accusation of plagiarism is levelled against a
programme that hasn't even yet been broadcast.
"It will be the judge to make the final decision, but Mediaset remains
convinced that Baila! is a different programme to the BBC's format and that
of Rai's Dancing With The Stars.
"We simply want the opportunity to show this to the public as well."
Strictly Come Dancing, which pits celebrity amateurs against each other in a
weekly ballroom dancing competition, has been sold to more than 35
countries.
In many of them, including the US version, it is known as Dancing With The
Stars.
An authorised Italian version is already run by another broadcaster, Rai,
which took Mediaset to court in Rome over the format earlier this year.
A separate hearing for that case has been scheduled to take place on Friday.
Mediaset contends it based its programme on a different format - Mexican
show Dancing For A Dream - which has become renowned for its racy,
sexualised dance routines.
September
21
2011 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Doctor Who - Christmas Special
Production has started on the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas
Special in which the Doctor finds himself in war-torn England embarking on a
magical and mysterious adventure with a young widow and her two children.
A guest cast including Claire Skinner, Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir and
Alexander Armstrong, appear in the episode.
Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, said: "The Doctor at
Christmas – nothing is more fun to write. Maybe because it's so his kind of
day – everything's bright and shiny, everybody's having a laugh, and nobody
minds if you wear a really stupid hat. Of all the Doctors, Matt Smith's is
the one that was born for this time of year – so it's the best news possible
that he's heading back down the chimney."
The special, set during the Second World War, sees Madge Arwell and her two
children, Lily and Cyril, evacuated to a draughty old house in Dorset, where
the caretaker is a mysterious young man in a bow tie, and a big blue parcel
is waiting for them under the tree. They are about to enter a magical new
world and learn that a Time Lord never forgets his debts.
Claire Skinner said: "I am thrilled to be in Doctor Who playing Madge who is
a bit of super-mum. It's a magical part."
September
21
2011 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Simon Cowell - Why
Cheryl Cole Was Sacked
Simon Cowell has said he axed Cheryl Cole from the US X
Factor because "she looked bewildered".
In an interview with Piers Morgan, the music guru also said tonight is the
biggest moment of his career, as The X Factor premieres on American TV.
Cowell told Morgan that Cheryl Cole had not settled into working in the
States.
September
21
2011 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Now
available on audioboo - Click here
Next Day
Previous Day
|
