TV picks: New Year's Day
Doctor Who
BBC One, 6:55pm
(Credit: BBC)
With no Christmas special on Christmas Day, Series 12 of Doctor Who kicks off on New Year’s Day.
Dracula
BBC announces Christmas TV specials
From the much-awaited return to Barry Island with Gavin and Stacey, to the spine-tingling new adaptation of Dracula, viewers won’t be short of choice for TV over the holidays.
Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special
BBC One
BBC Arts commissions new programmes in year-long celebration of literature
The programmes explore both classic and contemporary fiction, from celebrated authors and those less well-known.
BBC’s regular book programmes such as The Radio Two Book Club with Jo Whiley, The Verb on BBC Radio Three, World Book Club on the World Service and Open Book on Radio Four will feature specials throughout the year.
A festival has also been set up in partnership with libraries and reading groups around the UK.
Claes Bang to star in BBC One’s Dracula adaptation
Inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic, Dracula will re-introduce the Transylvanian vampire to the world as he plans to terrorise Victorian London.
“I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Dracula, especially when the script is in the hands of the incredible talents of Steven Moffat [and] Mark Gatiss,” commented Claes Bang on his new role.
BBC One and Netflix to co-produce new adaptation of Dracula
The three-part series, written and created by Sherlock’s Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, will be a reintroduction to literature’s most famous vampire as he plans to cause chaos in Victorian London.
Moffat and Gatiss said, “There have always been stories about great evil. What’s special about Dracula, is that Bram Stoker gave evil its own hero.”
BBC's Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, said of the new project, “Genius duo Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss turn their attentions to Dracula for unmissable event television on BBC One."