With the nights, dare I say it, drawing in and hopefully the silly season behind us Charlotte Courthold looks forward to some quality television.
Recently the schedules have been very disappointing with ever more repeats and re-runs of old series.
BBC and ITV both start their pre Christmas big hitters with Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor again dominating Saturday nights. With new judges, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora both defecting from the other side to sit on the X Factor panel, the BBC are rightly disgruntled.
However, they have announced a strong dancing corps of celebrities including Ainsley Harriott, Kellie Bright, Jeremy Vine and Carol Kirkwood to delight – or not – us on the Strictly dance floor. I am reserving judgement as in the past some of the celebrities have been more entertaining than expected.
Drama series to look forward to are the BBC’s version of War and Peace starring Lily James and James Norton among others. This is a big project and Andrew Davies’ adaptation promises a luscious production.
An impressive international cast is announced as ITV’s epic drama, Beowulf, continues to film on location in the North East. Kieran Bew leads a remarkable cast as one of literature’s greatest and most enduring heroes, Beowulf.
Created by James Dormer, Tim Haines and Katie Newman, this action-packed 13 part drama series, produced by Stephen Smallwood for ITV Studios, is set in the mythical Shieldlands, a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures.
The Durrells is based upon Gerald Durrell’s classic trilogy of Corfu memoirs including the much loved ‘My Family and Other Animals’. Set in 1935, this timeless drama is full of warmth, humour and fun. Keeley Hawes will play Louisa Durrell in ITV’s brand new six part series and international film star Leslie Caron will also feature.
Neil Morrissey is joining the cast of Grantchester, for the second series of the ITV drama, which is set in the 1950s and follows an unlikely crime-fighting duo – the charismatic, charming clergyman Sidney Chambers (James Norton) and gruff, down-to-earth Police Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green).
ITV is treating us to a final series of Downton Abbey with most of the original cast, which will be aired before Christmas. Filming has now finished and Gareth Neame, executive producer said: “I think the final season is very strong and I believe the fans of the show around the world will be happy and satisfied with what happens to our characters.”
If you like police dramas with strong women leads you can enjoy a three-part special of Scott & Bailey featuring a single crime story and written by Sally Wainwright (Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley). Both Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp return to the roles of super cool Scott and her hot-headed partner DS Bailey; where they tackle one of the biggest and darkest cases they have ever had to face. ITV has commissioned the show to be broadcast later in the winter.
And the hit BBC police drama, Happy Valley is being given a second series as it announces filming is to start shortly with a stellar cast including a couple of escapees from Coronation Street. Last year, the critically acclaimed multi-layered series was a huge ratings hit for BBC One during its six-week run, pulling in a weekly consolidated audience of almost 8 million viewers and an average overnight audience of 5.5 million.
Personally I am keenly awaiting the new series of Peaky Blinders scheduled for October on BBC 2. It is set in 1922 and promises an enthralling tale of ambition, corruption, violence, desire, and above all an extraordinary family living through extraordinary times.
For something a little less violent ITV is showing a 7th series of Doc Martin from September with Martin Clunes as the grumpy Dr Martin Ellingham in eight more episodes of the comedy drama set in Cornwall.
Plenty to look forward to once you have drawn the curtain and snuggled up on the sofa.
