Maxine Peake Drama Gets Transmission Clearance

A BBC Four drama starring Maxine Peake is finally to be shown more than a year after its original air date.

Room At the Top is an adaptation of John Braine's classic 1950s novel, and also stars Matthew McNulty from Lark Rise To Candleford and Misfits.

It was scheduled for transmission in April 2011 but was pulled after a copyright wrangle between Remus Films and the estate of the deceased writer.

Production company Green Meadow, said the dispute had now been resolved.

The two-part drama will be shown on BBC Four "in the near future", it added.

In a statement, Great Meadow said: "The producer of the TV adaptation of Room At The Top, Great Meadow Productions, is pleased to announce that the issue of copyright between Remus Films and the Estate of John Braine, represented by David Higham Associates, has been resolved."

David Higham Associates is the literary agency that sold the license to the TV rights in Braine's novel to Green Meadow.

This was subsequently challenged by the film company, Remus.

The parties involved have declined to comment on the nature of the legal dispute.

The drama tells the story of working class boy Joe Lampton, who leaves his village for the affluent mill town of Warley.

He takes lodgings at The Top, an area of town where the better-off members of society live, and joins the local amateur dramatic society.

His plans to marry into high society hit a stumbling block when he falls for two women, and is unable to choose between them.

May 28 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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The Voice Creator Admits Changes Needed

Ratings for BBC One's The Voice UK have been "a little bit disappointing", its creator John de Mol has admitted, but he is meeting the BBC to discuss changes for the second series and a children's version of the programme called The Voice Kids.

Dutch media mogul and Big Brother co-creator De Mol said although The Voice "still has good ratings, they could have been better".

On Saturday The Voice's semi-final slipped to 4.5 million, with Sunday's results show averaging 4.7 million – although audience levels were affected by the hot weather over the weekend.

Speaking before Saturday's semi-final De Mol said he "had to admit" the live shows "have the most resemblance with other talent shows".

De Mol said the fact the BBC had split the live and results shows over Saturday and Sunday nights, as also happens on NBC in the US, might "take away some of the tension".

De Mol said he was pleased with how the BBC has handled The Voice, adding: "Television is not maths ... We are due to have a big meeting after the final and will talk about what we should change for the second series ... There may be a few slight changes."

He said he was "thrilled" with The Voice coaches Jessie J, Tom Jones, Danny O' Donoghue and Will.i.am.

May 28 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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Channel 4 Paralympics

Channel 4 today outlined its plans for coverage of the Paralympic Games.

More than 150 hours of all-day everyday coverage will be broadcast during the twelve days of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Multiple channels and platforms will broadcast live sport on Channel 4, More4 and online at Channel4.com.

In addition, Channel 4 will broadcast three further streams of uninterrupted live coverage of a range of sports at the Paralympic Games. These will be available as three dedicated channels on the Sky platform, in both standard and high definition, as well as online at Channel4.com - with the streams also expected to launch on Virgin Media.

Channel 4 has also announced the launch of dedicated Paralympics apps for both mobile and tablet devices - compatible with iOS and Android. The apps, which will be free to download, will enable users to review the latest Paralympic action with comprehensive catch up clips of events. The tablet app will also allow users to watch live streamed action. The apps and the Channel4.com/Paralympics website will also feature continuously updated live text commentary, news, results and medal tables.

The coverage will be hosted by a  team half of whom will be disabled - including eight new faces drawn from a nationwide talent search.

Former Paralympian and Channel 4 regular, Ade Adepitan, joins leading broadcaster, Clare Balding, to host Channel 4's daily peak time coverage. The acclaimed Australian comedian and broadcaster, Adam Hills, will wrap up all the events of the day in a highlights show "with a difference".

Established Channel 4 news anchor, Jon Snow, will front the coverage of both the Opening and Closing ceremonies.

May 28 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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The Daleks Are Coming Back

Doctor Who supremo Steven Moffat has revealed that the Daleks are coming back.

Moffat, who picked up a special award at the TV Baftas on Sunday night, said he had not begun work on the new series of Sherlock as he was busy working on the Time Lord's Christmas special.

He was tight-lipped on details of the show but revealed the return of the Doctor's worst enemies.

He said: "The Daleks are coming back and they're worse than ever. Just you wait until you see what they're going to do. If I even told you the title you would say, 'Ah'."

May 28 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Reader Comment

Daleks in Doctor Who? Yawn!!!!  The only saving grace is that the Special Weapons Dalek is back.

Irby from Kirk Hallam

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Dirk Gently Axed

Actor Stephen Mangan has announced that his BBC Four series Dirk Gently has been axed.

The series was adapted by Misfits creator Howard Overman from the novels by Douglas Adams.

Mangan posted on his Twitter account: “It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to report that the BBC have decided not to make any more.

The BBC has yet to comment.

May 28 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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June Brown In BBC Documentary

EastEnders actress June Brown is to present a documentary as part of When I'm 65, a new BBC One season about ageing.

The programme has the working title June Brown: Why Old People Matter, with the 85-year-old actress raising her concerns about what she sees as a lack of respect for the elderly in the UK and a divide between young and old.

She will meet elderly people and those in the public eye to find out their views on society's attitude to ageing and will also face "her own plans for how to grow old gracefully".

The season will begin on BBC One from early July, with The Apprentice stars Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford, broadcaster Gloria Hunniford, actress Lesley Joseph, actor and historian Tony Robinson and BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson also presenting shows.

May 28 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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