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Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Channel 5 revives Play For Today to 'help shape future of British drama'
Play for Today is being revived on Channel 5, to give young writers, actors and producers from lower-income backgrounds a way into TV, helped by established talent Following the previously announced pilot, 5 has announced the first four commissions and casting that will form its new Play for Today slate. The single dramas were greenlit by Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5. Special Measures, from new screenwriter and playwright Lee Thompson kicks off the double order from LA Productions, is a state of the nation drama looking at the growing pressures facing schools in the UK. Jack McLoughlin (Kate & Jake, The Death of the House Party) will be making his directorial debut. Former EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer will lead the drama; set in the heart of Liverpool. Manor Lane High is a school on the edge - underfunded and overwhelmed, the school's staff are stretched thin. Just before the school day begins, Drew, the exhausted head of English, abruptly resigns for good. Left reeling, Amy, the deputy head of English, must step in and steady the ship. But she barely has time to gather her thoughts— Chris, the frantic deputy head, breaks the news: Ofsted inspectors are arriving in 15 minutes for a surprise inspection. Caught between burnout and bureaucracy, can this fractured school survive the day? The second production Never Too Late from Vertigo Films is an irreverent take on ageing, following a rebellious woman forced to start over in a retirement village. Set in a deceptively peaceful retirement village, this darkly comic drama follows sharp-tonged, fiercely independent Cynthia as she's reluctantly moved in by her daughter. Cynthia clashes with eccentric residents, oppressive rules, and the surprise reappearance of her old rockstar fling from the 1970s. What begins as a mission to get kicked out becomes something more complicated, as she's forced to confront long-buried secrets, strained family ties, and the unexpected possibility of starting over. It's a story about second chances, unlikely friendships, and how the messy, defiant reality that life – and love – don't end with retirement. EastEnders legend Anita Dobson will lead the cast as Cynthia, former Coronation Street actor Nigel Havers will star as Frank, It's A Sin star Tracy-Ann Oberman (It's a Sin, EastEnders, Friday Night Dinner) as Cynthia's daughter Amanda. Inspired by the iconic Play for Today format, each production will champion new voices and focus on bringing low-income talent into the spotlight behind the scenes in writing, directing and production roles. Commenting on the Play for Today initiative Commissioning Editor, 5, Paul Testar said: "Play for Today is synonymous with high quality standalone television dramas and we're incredibly excited to be reviving it with a new slate of single films on 5. "What makes this particularly important for us as a public service broadcaster is the opportunity to support emerging talent behind the scenes – from writers and directors to production teams – especially those from lower-income backgrounds who haven't always had clear pathways into the industry. It's a chance to tell great stories while helping to shape the future of British drama." The next offering from LA Productions is Big Winners. It's a story about Edith and Arthur Thistle – for 53 years, they have managed to get by—never rich, never extravagant, but always together. That all changes in an instant when they win fourteen million pounds in the lottery. Arthur dreams of spending big, finally tasting the high life. But before the celebrations can begin, Edith drops a bombshell: she wants a divorce. Big Winners is about opportunity, who gets to seize the day and who gets left behind. A thrilling, funny, deeply emotional exploration of lives lived, and lives missed. Sue Johnston (Truelove, The Responder, The Royle Family) and Paul Copley (Downton Abbey, Last Tango in Halifax, The Archers) will lead the cast as Edith and Arthur. Alexa Davies (Cobra, Funny Woman and Raised by Wolves). and Mia Tormey will star as Jade and Kaylee. Finally, from Vertigo Films is Intruder a real-time, single-location psychological thriller with the tension of a ticking bomb. Lenny Bray was once a national treasure - now he's just a man in a mansion, hiding from headlines and haunted by whispers. But when a young man shows up at his door late one night—barefoot, bleeding, and carrying a story Lenny hoped was buried—everything unravels. Across one harrowing night, Lenny and his wife Maggie must confront a stranger's explosive accusations—and their own complicity in a past steeped in power, silence, and manipulation. Darkly comic and emotionally raw, this is a story about guilt, truth, and what happens when survivors come knocking. Alan Davies (McDonald & Dodds, Flack, Jonathan Creek) and Nikki Amuka-Bird (I, Jack Wright, Knock at the Cabin) will star as husband and wife Lenny and Maggie with newcomer Logan Mersh as Ben. Directed by Daniel Rands, NFTS graduate and winner of the BBC and Toledo scholarships. His latest short film Tapeworm premiered at the NFTS 2024 showcase, earning acclaim for its bold storytelling, striking cinematography, and a BSC Emerging Cinematographer Award for Edward Hamilton Stubber , who is also the DOP on The Intruder. David Whitehouse is onboard as writer. Production has begun across all titles with the first drama set to air on 5 at the end of the 2025.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Huge boost for snooker fans as free-to-air channel snaps up rights to broadcast major events for first time ever
A NEW TV deal has ensured three major ranking snooker tournaments will remain on free-to-air TV. The British Open, Players Championship and Tour Championship will all be broadcast live on 5 next season. 1 The WST has penned the "pioneering agreement" with the terrestrial channel. It will see all three tournaments broadcast on 5 from 2026. Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer, 5 and Paramount UK commented: "We are delighted to bring the World Snooker Tour to 5. "The Tour Championship, Players Championship and British Open are top ranking tournaments featuring the world's best players and making them available to view on free-to-air TV continues our mission to keep elite live sport accessible for fans across the UK." WST Chairman Steve Dawson added: "We are delighted to be working with 5 for the first time and to add a new broadcaster to our tour. "Snooker has a long history of providing fans with free-to-air events with extensive live coverage so this is fantastic news for everyone who follows our sport. "The Players Championship and Tour Championship are elite events contested only by the best of the best. "Players are striving all season to climb the one year list and earn a place in these prestigious tournaments. "And from 2026, 5 will also broadcast the British Open which is a historic event with its own unique identity including a random draw. "We look forward to working with the 5 team on these events and ensuring that an outstanding product is delivered to snooker's consistently huge audience. "Our sport had incredible viewing figures throughout last season and we expect to see that trend continue as we grow across the world." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Crisis? What Crisis? ITV Studios Bosses Reject Talk Of Gloom In The Scripted Market But Note British Limited Series Are Under Threat
Bosses at ITV Studios have rejected the notion that there is a UK scripted funding crisis while batting away questions around sale rumors. Speaking at the Creative Cities Convention (CCC), MD Julian Bellamy and sales boss Ruth Berry struck an upbeat tone as they refused to accept that the drama market is in crisis despite it being labelled as such by numerous industry figures. More from Deadline Legacy Media? UK Pubcasters Balk At Outdated Term & Say "We've Got To Be Phoenixes Rising From The Ashes" 'Saturday Night Live UK' Commissioner Says British Version Is A "Risky Proposition": "We Don't Have That History Of Live Comedy In The UK" Paramount UK & All3Media Bosses Debate Trump Tariff Plan Spooking The Industry: "Let's Keep Calm & See What Happens" 'I don't subscribe to the word 'crisis',' said Bellamy, flagging that three of the five biggest British dramas in the past year were made by ITV Studios – four if you include The Gentlemen from newly acquired Moonage Pictures. 'You have to take a step back. We have a pretty strong track record and scripted is a key growth engine.' Bellamy did note that the U.S. co-pro market is 'challenging' and 'very British limited series that don't have a lot of international resonance ' are becoming harder to get off the ground, as he joined industry calls for an enhanced high-end TV tax credit. Concurring with Bellamy, Berry said 'crisis feels a strong word' but it's all about level of risk. 'Cost inflation has outstripped sales inflation,' she noted. 'You have to take a portfolio view and that is where we are very fortunate with the scale of our business. It's not a crisis but it's about being careful across the group and being on top of market trends to make the decisions that we are.' ITV Studios hits over the past year or so include the likes of Mr Bates vs the Post Office, although that one remains unsold in most territories. The super-indie has spent big on scripted outfits in recent months, buying Moonage, Eagle Eye Drama and Sherlock maker Hartswood Films. Yesterday at the CCC, the writer of Mr Bates, Gwyneth Hughes, suggested there is 'overstaffing' of TV crews and these crews should slim down in order to save money. While striking a more optimistic tone, Bellamy said producers could 'develop fewer, bigger things for market or take them slightly later' to commissioners in order to act smarter and negate rising costs. Sale rumors Rumors swirl around the sale of ITV Studios, with both RedBird IMI and Banijay understood to be showing keen interest. Bellamy declined comment on the sale talk but said he is happy with the production arm's current scale following the splashy scripted indie buys. He said 'we don't engage with most approaches for investment and are highly disciplined.' 'We're open to any opportunities to build out our studio group but we're comfortable with our scale,' he said. 'The scale debate was happening when I started nine years ago. To me it's still fundamentally quite straightforward – if you are looking to scale it has to be the right fit.' Bellamy and Berry were speaking on the second day of the CCC before BBC Director General Tim Davie. Best of Deadline Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025 TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paramount UK & All3Media Bosses Debate Trump Tariff Plan Spooking The Industry: 'Let's Keep Calm & See What Happens'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways 'The chat in the UK market is let's keep calm and see what happens.' That was the verdict of Paramount UK boss Sarah Rose on Donald Trump and Jon Voight's controversial film and TV tariff plans currently spooking the sector. More from Deadline The UK market is a huge beneficiary of U.S. film and TV production and British film bodies, for one, are already planning to sit down with the government to discuss what could be a dramatic fallout if the tariffs get rubberstamped. Speaking on a Question Time panel at today's Creative Cities Convention (CCC), Rose appealed for calm. 'It's a tweet,' she added. 'There are lots of people analyzing it but the chat in the UK market is to keep calm and let's see what happens.' While Rose held back from commenting in depth given that her bosses are American and currently going through a knotty sales process, she did say, 'My U.S. colleagues wouldn't say Hollywood is dying' in response to some of the POTUS's claims. The tariff plan is more than just a tweet now, however, with Deadline revealing Voight's blueprint in full yesterday. Jane Turton, who runs The Traitors super-indie All3Media, which has a presence in the States, noted that TV as well as film falls under the tariffs plan per Voight's proposal. Concurring with Rose, she said Trump is 'not talking about a failing Hollywood but is possibly talking more about tax breaks and incentives.' 'The UK has made a huge success of its relationship with the States and [the U.S.] is still a net exporter of IP,' she added. But Marcus Ryder, who runs the UK's Film & TV Charity, said it is not enough for senior figures like Turton and Rose to simply claim they need more detail. 'Often [Trump] tweets stuff and it does become policy,' added Ryder. 'What is disconcerting is you've got two people here saying they don't know what it means and that is disempowering. It means anxiety and uncertainty is sky high with regards what it means to people's livelihoods.' The panel were speaking at the CCC after YouTube UK boss Alison Lomax. BBC Director General Tim Davie and ITV Studios boss Julian Bellamy will speak tomorrow. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
