5 new dramas commissioned for BBC ONE

[Bob The Skutter]

BBC One have just announced 5 new dramas for this year. A couple seem like they could be interesting, I'll probably check them all out just to see what they're like anyway. I have to say seeing Frank Spotnitz doing one of the shows surprised me.

One Night, 4 x 60 event drama, written by Paul Smith, made by BBC Drama Production

Paul Smith's first commission for BBC One primetime is a gripping event drama set over one blistering hot summer night when nerves are frayed and tensions ride high. An original authored drama about four very ordinary but different people whose fates are linked by a seemingly inconsequential event. Each episode is one character's stand-alone story which tells the events of that night from four different points of view.

Call The Midwife, 6 x 60 series, written by Heidi Thomas (Upstairs Downstairs, Cranford), made by Neal Street Productions

Adapted by Heidi Thomas from Jennifer Worth's best selling memoir, Call The Midwife is a moving, funny, colourful look at midwifery and family in 1950's East End London. It follows a new young midwife, Jenny, who joins an eccentric, loveable community of nursing nuns. We follow their friendships and the extraordinary true stories they encounter, as they are drawn into the lives and homes of the women and families they treat.

Bound (working title), 6 x 60 series, written by Julie Geary (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, Lip Service), made by Tiger Aspect Productions

The series is about of a group of women who have lost the men in their lives to Her Majesty's Pleasure. From the innocent mother-to-be who was unaware that her husband was a murderer, to the sophisticated and complicit career-criminal's wife; these women couldn't be more different, yet the situation they share brings them together. Expect crime and jeopardy, family and sacrifice, and love and romance. But above all else, expect humanity and humour as the unlikeliest of women find in each other the friendship and family they are missing.

Morton, 8 x 60 series, written by Frank Spotnitz made by Kudos Film and Television

Meet Sam. A spy. A hunter. And herself hunted by an enemy more ruthless and determined than any she's ever known. Sam has been running from her past her entire life but when she returns to Mobius, the organisation that employs her, and begins to pursue her pursuer, she will discover the only way to escape that past... is to confront it. This is the story of a spy with a bull's eye on her back, a human target unable to trust anyone at any time, even the man she loves. She is, quite literally, running for her life. Morton is a smart, complex and contemporary spy series.

Great Expectations, 3 x 60, written by Sarah Phelps (Oliver Twist, EastEnders), made by BBC Drama Production

Sarah Phelps' bold new adaptation will give us the heart and guts of Dickens at his very best. Suspenseful and thrilling, this visceral retelling will capture the romance and warmth of the classic to mark his bicentenary, especially for next Christmas on BBC One.

 

[Starkers]

Hmm, Morton's the only one that leaps out at me if I'm honest.

Bound sounds a little like Widows...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^One Night sounds like it could be interesting too.

 

[Jax]

Nothing jumping out at me will wait for some trailers, I hope they produce better stuff than the awful The Deep miniseries in 2010

 

[Captaindemotion]

I'm surprised they're naming a drama character 'Sam Morton', given that that's the name of an actress. Perhaps she'll play the lead?

 

[Starkers]

The Deep wasn't awful, it had potential, the story had just been stretched too far, if it'd been two episodes and several crisies shorter it would have been a lot better.

Bob, I think the think that amuses me about one night is that it will be shown over 4 nights!

As for Sam Morton, well the actress is Samantha so it won't be too obvious if they keep it as Sam--surprised no one in production flagged this up, but there are only so many names in the world, I've worked for the same organisation for both Gillian Anderson and Robert Redford

 

[Bob The Skutter]

The Deep wasn't awful, it had potential, the story had just been stretched too far, if it'd been two episodes and several crisies shorter it would have been a lot better.

Bob, I think the think that amuses me about one night is that it will be shown over 4 nights!

As for Sam Morton, well the actress is Samantha so it won't be too obvious if they keep it as Sam--surprised no one in production flagged this up, but there are only so many names in the world, I've worked for the same organisation for both Gillian Anderson and Robert Redford

I agree, The Deep wasn't awful, it could have been really good but just wasn't. I think they were hoping to replicate Children of Earth but didn't manage it.

Well yeah but One Night shown from 4 different perspectives, so makes sense.

 

[Lonemagpie]

One Night: Rashomon remade again, then. Probably all about adultery, as these dramas usually are.

Call The Midwife: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Bound: Wasn't this called Widows when it was on ITV....? Or was it Band Of Gold - I always get those two mixed up.

Morton: Sounds OK, but not a British show. Perhaps they're looking for a replacement for Spooks?

Great Expectations: doubtless it'll be well done, but the annual Classic Serial is hardly newsworthy.

Now, if they'd announced a Dirk Gently series...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Dirk Gently wouldn't be a BBC One show. BBC Four or maybe BBC Two, not One though.

 

[Starkers]

It was Widows, although this sounds less crime drama more soapy (judging by the blurb) I remember really liking Widows back in the day.

Morton is being made by Kudos? There's no indication it isn't a British show?

 

[Lonemagpie]

It was Widows, although this sounds less crime drama more soapy (judging by the blurb) I remember really liking Widows back in the day.

Morton is being made by Kudos? There's no indication it isn't a British show?

I just meant it doesn't sound like a British show, even though it is.

 

[Starkers]

Ah, gotcha!

It does sound a bit Alias/Burn Notice doesn't it.

 

[Deckerd]

Do you guys get Gary Tank Commander in Englandshire?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Do you guys get Gary Tank Commander in Englandshire?

If you have satellite you can tune in to BBC 1 and 2 Scotland, but otherwise, no.

 

[Deckerd]

You don't know what you're missing. A searing indictment of the Iraqistan war.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

When was it last on? iPlayer should have it if it was recently. If not I'm sure there are other ways to get hold of it.

 

[Deckerd]

There's some clips here or there's the latest ep where they lose their tank at a motorway services.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

There's some clips here or there's the latest ep where they lose their tank at a motorway services.

Well that's that set to record then. And that's me watching episode 1 on iPlayer then.

 

[Deckerd]

There's a really good one of season 1 'best of' scenes.

 

[Lonemagpie]

You don't know what you're missing. A searing indictment of the Iraqistan war.

Unfortunately it's meant to be a sitcom, but is filled with out-of-focus shaky-cam during simple to-camera scenes, and has a total absence of anything resembling funny line or actions.

Still, it's nice to see Dave Anderson in something again...