A packed RTS Futures event, “Pitching script to screen”, offered aspiring writers and producers tips on how they should hone and sell their ideas to commissioners.
Leading the panel of seasoned comedy and entertainment practitioners was Tom Davis, the star of the RTS and Bafta award-winning BBC Three sitcom Murder in Successville.
Timewasters has charmed critics and attracted healthy audiences with its mix of jazz, time travel and good jokes. Notably, it also has an all-black leading cast but, according to its creator, Daniel Lawrence Taylor, it is, “first and foremost”, a comedy.
BBC Three is at a crucial point in its history. With a new controller, Fiona Campbell, a budget raised to £40m and a regular slot on BBC One on Mondays to Wednesdays, the corporation hopes that it can stem the tide of younger viewers washing up on the shores of Netflix and YouTube.
The eight-part series will showcase the UK’s most fabulous drag queens, under the watchful eyes of judges RuPaul and Michelle Visage.
Each week the glamorous pair will be joined by a celebrity guest judge with Graham Norton and Alan Carr rotating as resident judges on the panel.
The eight-part series will search the UK for the brightest and best drag queens to discover the UK's next drag superstar.
To get the crown, the queens must first be put through an array of challenges, testing the contestants’ acting, modelling and comedy skills.
A series regular in the US version, Michelle Visage has judged eight series of RuPaul’s Drag Race in the US and has collaborated with RuPaul for over two decades.
“We've been working tirelessly to bring the magic of RuPaul's Drag Race to my favourite city in the world: London!” Said Visage.
Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star will be an eight-part series that will see 10 contestants live together and collaborate under the watchful eyes of judges Val Garland, Global Make-Up Director at L’Oreal Paris, and Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist for MAC Cosmetics.
“I’m delighted to be involved with Glow Up,” said Dooley. “The make-up artists are so impressive and talented... and Val and Dominic were a scream to work with. Can’t wait to show you all it!”
The sparkling talent contest, popular in the US, will see ten Brits take part in challenges against each other and battle it out to avoid the weekly elimination of one participant.
Contestants will have their drag queen skills put to the test in the Maxi Challenge, the headline moment of each show, where they may have to perform, model or walk the runway.
“It is a dream come true to extend our royal family to the United Kingdom with our partners at BBC Three,” Ru Paul commented on the new adaptation.
Andrew Scott joins a returning cast which includes Olivia Colman (Godmother), Sian Clifford (Claire), Bill Paterson (Dad), Brett Gelman (Martin), Jenny Rainsford (Boo) and Hugh Skinner (Harry).
According to Executive Producer Lydia Hampson, Waller-Bridge began writing the new series in January this year, and the results, promises BBC Comedy boss Shane Allen, are “knockout”.
Why will young people care about this? he asked at today’s Edinburgh International Television Festival, as he unveiled a slate of new programmes for the digital channel.
Among the commissions is a documentary telling the remarkable story of driver Billy Monger, one of Britain’s most exciting new racing drivers, who last year was involved in an accident which resulted in the loss of both legs.
The series, which explores the power of friendship between three young, ambitious women, will once again feature Synnove Karlsen as Holly, Sophia Brown as Louise and Rachel Hurd-Wood as Rachel.
Joining the original cast is an ensemble of upcoming British talent including Leo Suter (Victoria, Bad Education), Barney Harris (The Hollow Crown), Imogen King (Darkest Hour), Stuart Campbell (Outlander), Izuka Hoyle (Mary, Queen of Scots).
