BBC

This Disunited Kingdom | RTS Cambridge Convention 2021

In a year of a Labour Wales, Tory England and SNP Scotland, what does Britishness mean now and in the future? And how can, and should, the British media react? The PSBs are rapidly spreading production round the country. What does this mean for the industry? Is it too late to save UK plc? Top pollster and TV pundit Professor Sir John Curtice puts a series of scenarios to a panel of industry leaders to explore their views of Britishness and the fragmenting media landscape.

Chair

Kirsty Wark, Journalist and Writer

Speakers

First look images released for thriller The Girl Before

Credit: BBC

The cast includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki), David Oyelowo (Selma), Jessica Plummer (EastEnders) and Ben Hardy (X-Men: Apocalypse). 

Adapted from JP Delaney’s novel of the same name, the four-part series has also been written and executive produced by Delaney. 

The series tells the story of Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a young woman who gets the opportunity to move into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect (David Oyelowo). 

New images released for BBC’s Around the World In 80 Days starring David Tennant

Credit: BBC

The Jules Verne adaptation features David Tennant as fearless explorer Phileas Fogg, Ibrahim Korma as the changeable Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as young journalist Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue. 

After getting involved in a ludicrous bet, Fogg and his valet Passepartout take on the challenge of circumnavigating the world in just 80 days.

They are soon joined by aspiring journalist Abigail Fix, who sees the adventure as a chance to write about the extraordinary story. 

Casualty and BBC Writersroom launch writing contest for frontline medics

In celebration of its 35th year on air, the team have planned a competition to find a new writer with first hand medical experience.

Applicants will be tasked with writing part of a Casualty episode based on a brief about clinical Lead Dylan Keogh having a hellish day in the emergency department.

BBC announces new documentary Katie Price: What Harvey Did Next

Credit: BBC

Katie Price: Harvey And Me received huge critical acclaim when it was released and became the biggest BBC documentary of the period for 16-34 years old, garnering over five million views in 30 days on BBC iPlayer.

The documentary helped to start a conversation about the experience of raising disabled children and was recently shortlisted for a National Television Award and a Grierson Award. 

The initial documentary followed 18-year-old Harvey as he transitioned into adulthood and moved further away from home. 

Filming begins for BBC thriller The Control Room

Credit: BBC

The three-part thriller led by Iain De Caestecker (Roadkill) and Joanna Vanderham (Dancing On The Edge) is set in Glasgow and follows Gabe (Iain De Caestecker), an ordinary man who works for the Scottish Ambulance Service as an emergency call handler. 

Gabe’s life is completely turned upside down when he receives a call from a woman who seems to know him and is in a desperate life-and-death situation. 

Desperate to work out who she is, Gabe makes a drastic decision that has devastating consequences. 

How Casualty is breaking all medical records

Casualty’s current series, its 36th (Credit: BBC)

On a mild autumnal Saturday on 6 September 1986, the first week after the summer holidays, the nation collectively sat down in front of the telly. Viewers may have flicked between the four channels available, but most were curious about BBC One’s big new drama, Casualty.

Since the familiar, high-intensity theme tune played out that evening, those 1980s-tastic opening credits may have evolved into something more contemporary but, at its core, Casualty remains the same.