Latest news with #BBCStudios'
Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
James Trickey: Don't Count On Me
Award winning Comedian James Trickey is set to perform at the Pleasance Courtyard throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year with his debut hour Don't Count On Me, where he unpacks what happens when a life governed by logic starts to fall apart at the seams. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Bristol mathematics graduate, chartered accountant, and (possibly) responsible adult, James has spent the last decade calculating the optimal route through life – only to discover it might be leading him the wrong way. Now, he's taking a risk. Sort of. He hasn't quit the day job yet, but he's finally answering the call of comedy – and it's not exactly tax deductible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Don't Count On Me explores the hilarious conflict between a career in spreadsheets and a calling in stand-up, framed by James' unique upbringing. With a fun-loving white British dad and a formidable Cambodian mum whose early obsession with his financial security makes a lot more sense as the story unfolds, James charts his journey from cautious academic to comedy award-winner – battling identity, pressure, and probability models along the way. James Trickey At once sharply intelligent and disarmingly honest, this is a show about weighing risks, breaking patterns, and learning to trust that not everything needs to add up. James Trickey is quickly establishing himself as one of the UK's most exciting new comedy voices, having recently won the Leicester Square Sketch Off 2024, King Gong (July 2023), and Beat the Frog. He was nominated for Best New Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival 2024, and has earned recognition as runner-up in both the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2018 and Get Up Stand Up 2023. James was also shortlisted for the BBC New Comedy Award 2021, and has appeared in two comedy shorts for BBC Studios' 'Funny Parts: Unhinged' series. Pleasance Courtyard - Cellar: 30th July - 24th August: 9:15pm Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
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Business Standard
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
BBC Studios focuses on BBC Player in India, partners with Tata Play Binge
BBC Player, the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service of BBC Studios, is the key focus area for driving BBC Studios' digital innovation in India, as it announced a new partnership with Tata Play Binge, an OTT aggregation platform, on Thursday, a senior executive told Business Standard. Following this, content from BBC Player will be available through Tata Play Binge. Previously, content from BBC Player was available through Amazon Prime Video as an add-on subscription in India. 'We [BBC Studios] want to invest our time, energy and creativity in growing the platform and understanding the audiences that watch content on Tata Play Binge and, accordingly, curate content that sort of fits with their [consumers'] mindset and sync the BBC Player brand. That is the key focus for now,' said Stanley Fernandes, vice-president, distribution, South Asia, BBC Studios. 'In particular, we know that Tata Play will give us exposure to a new set of young audience primarily due to the digital business model. We are looking forward to seeing growth in this space,' he said. While he did not share the expected boost in revenue and subscribers for BBC Player in the country following the new partnership, he cited that BBC Player's number of active subscribers had quadrupled in the first three months after its launch on Amazon Prime Video in July 2023. He anticipates similar growth from the Tata Play Binge partnership. BBC Studios had earlier stated its aim to double business and profitability by 2028, and Fernandes added that the Indian market forms a key part of this goal. In 2024, BBC Studios generated £1.8 billion in revenue globally. In the Southeast Asian region, he noted that India remains a 'predominantly priority market' for the company. 'BBC Studios is committed to growing our business in India and bringing our wealth of content to audiences across the country. Moving forward, our investment in this area lies in our partnership with Banijay [Asia], and we are excited to see the fantastic British formats we can bring to life for Indian audiences in the future,' said Fernandes. This follows BBC Studios' partnership with Banijay Asia earlier in 2025 to continue its production business in the country. As of now, the company has no plans to partner with any other production house or form a new joint venture in the near future. With the prominence of live entertainment growing in India, Fernandes explained that although BBC Studios has a live entertainment segment, it is not yet a focus for the Indian market.
Metro
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Don't ever call David Attenborough a national treasure – even if he is one'
In almost 100 years on this planet, Sir David Attenborough has made an incomparable impact on the world that he loves to marvel at with wonder. The natural historian and broadcaster – who turns 99 today – has played a pivotal role in educating the masses about the animal and plant kingdoms, and is widely regarded as one of Britain's most cherished stars. However, according to Mike Gunton, who worked as an executive producer on the acclaimed Planet Earth III, there's one thing you should never call Sir David, he told Metro. And if there's anyone who should know what to call the legendary broadcaster, it's Mike. His collaborations with Sir David date all the way back to the late 1980s, when he came on board to help make the BBC documentary The Trials of Life: A Natural History of Behaviour. According to the producer, the programme was supposed to be Sir David's last series… but of course, we know that prediction turned out to be absolutely, incredibly wrong To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mike's since served as an executive producer on documentaries including The Green Planet, Dynasties, Planet Earth II and Africa, all of which featured Sir David's calm and knowledgeable narration. While chatting to Metro in 2024 ahead of the Planet Earth III Live in Concert event, we spoke about their work together, and couldn't help but point out that the biologist is frequently recognised as a 'national treasure' in the UK. However, the creative director of BBC Studios' Natural History Unit, stressed that Sir David is not particularly fond of that label. 'He hates it, by the way,' Mike revealed. 'I say hates it… If anybody says he's a national treasure, he sort of slightly raises his eyebrows and says, 'Really?' That's a generational thing.' Available on BBC iPlayer: Planet Earth trilogy Blue Planet I and II Frozen Planet I and II Africa Asia Life (of Birds, on Earth) Zoo Quest in Colour Dynasties I and II The full collection can be found here. Available on Netflix: David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet Secret Lives of Orangutans Life in Colour Our Planet I and II Available on Disney+: Ocean with David Attenborough (from May 8) Secrets of Wild India We then noted that Sir David's work is of far greater importance than a title, to which Mike responded: 'You've hit the nail on the head.' Over the years of working together, there are countless fond memories that could take up several hours of discussion. One of Mike's highlights went back to their first collaboration on The Trials of Life, which came out in 1990 after taking more than three years to make. 'One of the reasons why I was hired was to go on location with him and come up with all these crazy things of getting him climbing termite mounds and all the rest of it,' he recollected. 'So lots of the things that I've done with him have been saying, 'I'd like you to do this, David, I'd like to climb up the top of this tree.' On the Private Life of Plants, when he was 94, 'I'd like you to row across this lake.' He's always been completely up for that.' The producer continued: 'The thing that he brings when he's on camera, on-screen is – and it goes back to what you're saying about the national treasure – he's not interested in himself at all. 'He's just interested in telling you, in the most interesting and joyful and intense way, what's exciting and interesting about this piece of natural history. That's unfakeable – that only comes from fantastic knowledge and fantastic passion.' More Trending Mike hailed the 'unbridled curiosity' that Sir David exhibits, adding that 'at 98, he's still absorbing science, absorbing knowledge'. In Planet Earth III, which was released in 2023, the team behind the nature documentary pushed the boat out even further with the scale of the production and the technology they used. They filming in 43 countries and several world firsts, gathering rare footage of blue sharks and humpback whales. A previous version of this article was published on July 30, 2024 Planet Earth III is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Race Across The World stars reveal 'weird mystery' of being separated as children MORE: Race Across The World fans fuming over 'injustice' of first couple eliminated MORE: I'm begging Stacey Solomon to put an end to her reality show
The Star
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
"Tucci in Italy" takes audiences on a journey through food, culture and history
This May, National Geographic invites audiences to take a mouthwatering adventure with acclaimed Academy Award ® Nominee, Emmy ® - and Golden Globe ® -winning actor Stanley Tucci as he travels across Italy in Tucci in Italy. From Tucci's SALT Productions, alongside BBC Studios' Specialist Factual Productions, the five-part series follows Tucci on a visually stunning and deeply personal exploration of the country's breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and the complex connections with its food that have shaped each region's distinct culture and, of course, their iconic pasta. Tucci in Italy premieres Wednesdays at 20:30 (CAT) from May 21 on National Geographic (DStv 181, Startimes 220) and will also be available to stream on Disney+ in South Africa. More than just a travelogue, the series is a rich, narrative-driven exploration that delves deep into the heart of Italy's culinary traditions. In Tucci in Italy, Tucci meets with locals, chefs, fellow foodies, fishermen, artisans and even cowboys to unearth hidden gems and untold stories, resulting in a curated journey across the full series. With National Geographic's signature immersive storytelling, the series offers a fresh perspective on both well-loved and undiscovered corners of Italy, blending stunning cinematography with Stanley's signature wit and charm. Tucci said, 'Italy is a feast for the senses, and Tucci in Italy is an invitation to the table. It's about more than just the food; it's about the people, the history, and the passion that makes Italy so special. I hope you'll join me on this new adventure. I believe that eating well is inspiring, and I hope to inspire viewers to embrace the beauty and richness of Italian culture.' Across five unforgettable episodes, Tucci indulges in a lavish Sienese feast in Tuscany, uncovers futuristic farm-to-table delicacies in Lombardy, and rediscovers the rustic soul of Lazio through its timeless culinary rituals. And for the first time, he visits the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige, where he samples pine needle pesto in the Alpine wonderland and experiences Abruzzo's wild seafood traditions atop a trabocco, a centuries-old wooden fishing platform. Along the way, Tucci immerses himself in the stories, passion, and traditions that have shaped Italy's most iconic dishes. This is Italy, as you've never seen it before—an intoxicating blend of flavors, history and heartfelt storytelling. Episodes include the following: Stanley revels in the artistry of the food in this picturesque region. The spirit of culinary creativity is alive in the birthplace of the Renaissance. In Florence, where he spent a memorable year of his youth, he samples a famous, and unexpected, breakfast dish. He heads out on the ranch with traditional Tuscan cowboys and experiences a grand outdoor feast in Siena at the world-famous Palio. Stanley exposes the pioneering spirit of Italy's industrial heartland, where the cuisine and ingredients are defiantly forward-thinking. He samples a futuristic menu made possible by a space-age farm, taste-tests new dishes at the country's famed service stations and discovers one of the world's most expensive ingredients being grown in the shadow of a steel factory. Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italy's northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. He samples an unexpectedly delicious hay soup, skis down a mountain to experience Dirndl Day, eats slope-side polenta, and fly-fishes in a glacial river. Along the way, he uncovers a history of border conflict, which has left its mark on the people and their food. Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, one he's never visited before. He explores how the rugged terrain impacts its food and culture. High up in sheep country, he cooks mutton on a traditional barbecue, savors a Sunday lunch with an unexpected French influence, and reveals the surprising—and deliciously sweet—origins of confetti. Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazio's less visited countryside to understand the relationship between the ancient metropolis and rural heartland. He samples a Roman pizza, porchetta from Ariccia, a rustic fish soup, and a springtime lamb—dishes that share a culinary soul with beautiful ingredients allowed to speak for themselves. . Watch the trailer here: #NatGeoAfrica | #TucciInItaly Instagram: @NatGeo_Africa Facebook: @NatGeoAfrica X: @NatGeoAfrica
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Studios retains the contract to produce BBC Cardiff Singer of the World
Following a tender process BBC Studios has retained the contract to produce BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. The tendering of returning series forms part of the BBC's contestability requirements and our commitment to commission the best programmes for audiences, regardless of who makes them. The tender was launched in July 2024 and from a field of eligible tenderers, BBC Studios' bid scored highest against the published criteria. The BBC will stage a gala concert to celebrate the internationally renowned BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in October 2025. As St. David's Hall is set to be renovated, the concert will be in place of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2025. The competition will return in 2027. Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning BBC Cymru Wales said: 'BBC Cardiff Singer of the World holds an important place in the international musical calendar as well as here in Wales. I know the competition will continue to uncover exceptional voices, adding to the extraordinary alumni who have emerged from this competition over the past four decades. 'This was a highly competitive bidding process and we would like to commend all the shortlisted producers for the high quality and comprehensive bids they put forward.' EWL
