All posts tagged: Britbox

BritBox’s Lovely Jane Austen Spinoff

BritBox’s Lovely Jane Austen Spinoff

Published by Daniella Wilson

To hear Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) tell it, she is no one special. She is not “the beautiful one” of her sisters, nor “the quick-witted one,” and she is certainly not “the ones who are good at games and full of youthful energy.” If she is anything, she is the odd duck, seemingly doomed to a future of getting overlooked by suitors and dismissed by her family. It is both ironic and entirely appropriate, then, that this very ordinariness is precisely what makes her such a striking heroine in The Other Bennet Sister, BritBox’s wildly charming effort to reframe the resident frump of Pride & Prejudice. With its refreshingly grounded tone, generous sense of empathy and, above all, absolutely marvelous lead, the series pulls off the neat trick of convincingly expanding on Jane Austen while standing proudly on its own two feet. The Other Bennet Sister The Bottom Line Grounded yet enchanting. Airdate: Wednesday, May 6 (BritBox)Cast: Ella Bruccoleri, Indira Varma, Dónal Finn, Laurie Davidson, Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Richard CoyleCreator: Sarah Quintrell, based on …

‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Is BBC’s Biggest U.K. Drama Launch in a Year

‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Is BBC’s Biggest U.K. Drama Launch in a Year

Published by Daniella Wilson

While audiences in the U.S. keenly wait on The Other Bennet Sister‘s BritBox release, the BBC can boast some fantastic viewership numbers. The first episode of the BBC-BritBox adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s bestseller has captured the hearts of BBC viewers with a consolidated audience of 7.3 million people. Since the show launched on March 15, the 28-day figure makes The Other Bennet Sister the biggest launch of a new drama in the U.K. across all platforms and streamers since May last year, with 4.1 million (56 percent) of the audience viewing through BBC iPlayer. Playing the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice, Mary Bennet, titular star Ella Bruccoleri caught up with The Hollywood Reporter about fan reaction only last month. “It’s a story about the transformative power of kindness, really,” she said in the sitdown interview. “It’s about realizing that you’re worth more than just your appearance. And it’s about found family. I think it’s quite an affirming watch.” The show is set to drop on BritBox May 6. Lindsay Salt, director of BBC …

David Mitchell’s ‘Ludwig’ Returns in First Look Season 2 (Exclusive)

David Mitchell’s ‘Ludwig’ Returns in First Look Season 2 (Exclusive)

Published by Daniella Wilson

Everyone’s favorite puzzler-turned-detective is back in the throes of Cambridge’s major crimes team, and The Hollywood Reporter has the first look. Britain’s beloved actor-comedian David Mitchell, who spoke to THR about bringing the series to the U.S., returns to Ludwig later this year with co-stars Anna Maxwell Martin, Ralph Ineson, Dylan Hughes, Dipo Ola, and Dorothy Atkinson all featuring in the photos released to THR on Wednesday. Joining them for season two of the BBC–BritBox hit is Fleabag‘s Sian Clifford as local MP Joanna Kemper, and Dept. Q‘s Mark Bonnar as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher. The duo is photographed in their new roles below. Ben Ashenden (Black Mirror) has also joined the cast as DC Ethan Cole, alongside Rumi Sutton (After the Flood) as DC Caitlin Sullivan. Karl Pilkington reprises his role as DCI Matt Neville. Sian Clifford as local MP Joanna Kemper in ‘Ludwig’ season two. Courtesy of the BBC/BritBox Mark Bonnar joins ‘Ludwig’ as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher. Courtesy of the BBC/BritBox The first installment of Ludwig, created and written by Mark Brotherhood, …

‘Hijack,’ ‘Lupin’ Creator Thriller Series ‘Gone’ to BritBox US, Canada

‘Hijack,’ ‘Lupin’ Creator Thriller Series ‘Gone’ to BritBox US, Canada

Published by Daniella Wilson

BritBox has struck a deal to take the upcoming psychological thriller series Gone from George Kay, the creator and writer behind the likes of Hijack, The Long Shadow and Lupin, for the U.S. and Canada. The drama star David Morrissey (Sherwood) and Eve Myles (Keeping Faith). All3Media unveiled the deal on Wednesday as part of a raft of pre-sales during the London TV Screenings week in the British capital. The six-part series, set to premiere in the U.K. on ITV this spring, centers on the disappearance of Sarah Polly, with suspicion quickly falling on her husband, local headmaster Michael, played by Morrissey. “Outwardly respectable and obsessively ordered, Michael finds his carefully controlled world unravelling when he comes up against Detective Annie Cassidy, portrayed by Eve Myles,” reads a synopsis. “What follows is an intense psychological duel, as Annie chips away at Michael’s composed exterior in a tense game of cat and mouse that threatens to expose what lies beneath.” Beyond the central mystery, Gone also digs into themes of trauma, trust, and the long shadow cast by elite institutions. Further pre-sales for …

BritBox President Robert Schildhouse Promoted at BBC Studios

BritBox President Robert Schildhouse Promoted at BBC Studios

Published by Daniella Wilson

BritBox President Robert Schildhouse has been promoted to CEO of its rebranded direct to consumer business that includes BritBox North America and BBC Select. Last year, BBC Select, the documentary streaming service from BBC Studios, was brought under Schildhouse’s leadership. This has allowed BBC Studios “to deliver a more focused approach to its streaming operations and to create economies of scale.” It is now the third-largest doc streamer in the U.S. At BritBox, Schildhouse has overseen some of the most lucrative projects from the streamer. His credits include The Other Bennet Sister and the hotly anticipated Agatha Christie‘s Tommy & Tuppence with Imelda Staunton. The exec said he is “honored” to step into this new role for BBC Studios. “This has been an incredible time of growth for both BritBox and BBC Select, following a transformative few years for both our streaming businesses. I’m […] excited about what’s to come as we continue to build on our momentum and serve passionate fans of British storytelling.” BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell said: “Today’s announcement is a testament …

Imelda Staunton in Agatha Christie Show ‘Tommy & Tuppence’ (Exclusive)

Imelda Staunton in Agatha Christie Show ‘Tommy & Tuppence’ (Exclusive)

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Hollywood Reporter can unveil first-look images of The Crown alum Imelda Staunton as a martini-wielding Aunt Ada in the upcoming BritBox adaptation of Agatha Christie‘s Tommy & Tuppence. Released on Monday — marking 50 years since the famed mystery novelist died — the photos show Staunton alongside co-stars Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor, Misfits) and Josh Dylan (Buccaneers, Mamma Mia 2). “In the first contemporary English-language television series adaptation of Agatha Christie’s stories, Tommy and Tuppence are a detective duo for the ages,” promises BritBox. “Thomas will star as Tuppence, an actress and force of nature who won’t take no for an answer. Dylan will co-star as Tommy, a meticulous, charming crime writer who has lost his passion but finds it again when whirlwind Tuppence re-enters his life.” Staunton rounds out the trio as Ada — a wry, retired private detective and funny powerhouse who loves her great nephew, Tommy, because he never undermines her. “Only a fool would do so,” teases BritBox. Josh Dylan and Antonia Thomas in ‘Tommy & Tuppence.’ Photographer: Lara Cornell/Courtesy of BritBox …