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Should the Tonys be on British TV? Let’s focus on the Oliviers first…
On Sunday, the day of the Tony Awards in the US, theatre fans from the UK were turning to Twitter to ask if there was anyway they could watch the American awards on TV here….
Hemley on TV
The Stage's resident TV expert Matthew Hemley tackles the big issues facing the small screen.
Interviews from hell, and violence on screen in BBC2′s The Fall
This week, I read about fellow journalist Janice Turner’s “interview from hell” with actor Rhys Ifans, which ran in The Times. By all accounts, it didn’t go too well, and has been described by Roy…
Britain’s (finally) Got Talent – let’s hear it for new British musicals
I’m not a fan of Britain’s Got Talent. I usually try my best to avoid it. There are only so many dancing dogs and wannabe pop stars you can handle. And don’t even get me…
Sherlock and Watson vs Scott and Bailey – who are TV’s top detective duos?
So it’s farewell to Janet Scott and Rachel Bailey, of ITV’s Scott and Bailey, the third series of which concludes this week. The series features a brilliant detective duo played by Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones…
Hemley’s BAFTA etiquette – a guide for Sheridan Smith and others
The red carpet has been rolled away for another year, and the winners of last weekend’s BAFTAs will now be wondering where to place their trophies. In Olivia Colman’s case, she will be wondering what…
ITV’s Vicious – the sitcom even Ian McKellen can’t save
When ITV’s new sitcom Vicious premiered last week, I quipped on Twitter that the only way it could be any worse was if Miranda Hart suddenly popped up in it. I’d like to take that…
ITV, the Oliviers and a lesson for next year
A few weeks back I pondered whether the late night slot for ITV’s coverage of the Olivier Awards would be a turn off for viewers. I’m delighted to say it wasn’t, as an average of…
The Broadchurch Effect – a drama about a community that formed a community.
On Monday night, me and millions of other like-minded people – nine million it turns out – sat ourselves in front of the television and prepared ourselves for an event that we’d spent weeks waiting…
The Oliviers on ITV – why the late-night “highlights” could be a turn off
There’s just over a week to go now until this year’s Olivier Awards, and ITV – which will broadcast the event – has revealed a little more of its coverage plans. It will screen a…
BBC1 is looking for ‘The Voice’ – just not a musical theatre one
Another week, another insult to musical theatre – although this week it had nothing to do with ITV and Andrew Lloyd Webber. No – this week it was the turn of BBC1 show The Voice…
ITV celebrates Andrew Lloyd Webber – but where was the musical theatre talent?
When ITV announced Andrew Lloyd Webber – 40 Musical Years, the composer himself was quoted as saying: I was flattered when ITV approached me about a 90-minute special, but I said I would only do…
The camera never lies – how well do drama schools prepare their students for TV?
If you watched The Lady Vanishes the other weekend you will have seen Tuppence Middleton playing the lead role of a socialite whose sanity was called into question when she claimed a woman had gone…
Director neglector – where are all the female television directors?
Let’s play a game. Off the top of your head, how many female theatre directors can you name? I’ll go first: Marianne Elliott, Deborah Warner, Fiona Shaw, Katie Mitchell and Phyllida Lloyd. Five points to…
Victoria Wood vs The Only Way is Essex – and why I’m siding with TOWIE (this time)
I prefer Victoria Wood when she’s cracking a joke, to be honest. Or singing a song about being spanked on the bottom by a women’s magazine. But Wood wasn’t smiling, or singing, when she offered…
Is arts programming on TV dying? It’s a song and dance over nothing…
BBC2’s The Review Show is being moved. To BBC4. Where it will be monthly instead of weekly. On the face of it, I should be disappointed. Angry, maybe. I mean, this is another blow for…
Get Your Tits Out for the Lads – why is it okay for women to be naked on screen?
What did you most enjoy about this year’s Oscars? Seeing all the great and good of the acting world honoured for their skills and expertise? Having a little giggle at Jennifer Lawrence taking a tumble…
I’m ready for my close-up: TV will make you a star, but theatre won’t
Frances Ruffelle is a name most people passionate about, or working in, theatre will recognise. You don’t need me to tell you that she was the original Eponine in Les Mis, that she appeared in…
Can the Oliviers be a ratings hit? (and why they don’t need Kimberley Walsh)
I’m going to put it out there – I think organisers of the Olivier Awards have a massive challenge on their hands. A challenge relating to how they plan to attract, and retain, viewers for…
Made in Chelsea (for a fraction of the price)
This week I learned two things about the Channel 4 series Made in Chelsea. The first is that it hires extras. The second is that it’s underpaying these extras, according to union BECTU. The first…
Keep Cowell Out! What the theatre industry should learn from TV about Simon Cowell…
Theatre producers beware! If you’re approached by a man who looks suspiciously like Simon Cowell, who goes by the name of Simon Cowell and who has more than a whiff of arrogance about him and…
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