Merlin drama ‘will not replace’ Hood or Who
BBC1 boss Peter Fincham’s plan to revamp Merlin for Saturday evenings will not spell the end for Robin Hood or Doctor Who.
Not under threat... David Tennant as Doctor Who Photo: BBC
The executive said that the reworking of the Merlin legend, which is being developed by independent production house Shine and BBC Wales, is likely to broadcast at 7pm on Saturday nights for 13 weeks in 2008.
He explained that this did not mean that Robin Hood or Doctor Who would have to go but that each production could be played out at different times of the year depending on schedules. He said: “We have only scratched the surface of family viewing. Our appetite is not exhausted. We could certainly accommodate a third drama.”
Merlin, which is still in the early stages of development and is being penned by a team of writers lead by Julian Jones, is understood to focus more on the wizard and his magic as a young man rather than the stories of Arthurian legend.
Fincham added: “There is a lot of talk about ‘three-generation TV’ - programmes that people watch with their kids and their parents. There’s not enough of this and I think it’s important for the BBC to do more.”
Also from The Stage
External links
The Stage Online is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Latest news [RSS]
- Just William back on the BBC
- Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye is to adapt Richmal Crompton’s Just William books for the BBC, marking the third…
- Move north rejected by majority of BBC middle managers
- More than 50% of staff in the five BBC departments relocating to Salford’s MediaCityUK, the new base for BBC North,…
- Del Boy back in Only Fools and Horses prequel
- Derek Trotter, the character made famous by David Jason in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses, is to return to…
- Cardiff’s Sherman Cymru theatre wins Arts and Business award
- Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold and Cardiff’s Sherman Cymru theatre have been recognised at this year’s Arts and Business…
- Sales of Theatre Tokens up 14%
- Sales figures for Theatre Tokens in the first four months of this year are 14% higher than they were in 2008.
- Acosta to perform with Ballet Nacional de Cuba at Coliseum
- Carlos Acosta is to perform with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba for the first time in the UK next year, as part of the…
Content is copyright © 2009 The Stage Newspaper Limited unless otherwise stated.
All RSS feeds are published for personal, non-commercial use. (What’s RSS?)